Persevering in Prayer

As 2023 now comes to an end, I want to take a moment to reflect upon all of the ways we have been encouraged in our “Pray Girl Pray” series this year. Here’s a quick re-cap from each month:

January ~ The Priority of Prayer

February ~ Preparing My Heart for Prayer

March ~ Planning My Place of Prayer

April ~ Proclaiming God’s Word in Prayer

May ~ Positioned to Listen in Prayer

June ~ Proximity and Recognizing God, Our Father in Prayer

July ~ The Privilege of Prayer

September ~ Petitioning in Prayer

October ~ Prevailing in Prayer

For December, my final encouragement to you is to PERSEVERE in prayer. In other words, just keep praying! Although we are ending one year and preparing to begin another, our prayer posture does not change. We must continue to persevere in prayer throughout every season of life. It is ALWAYS praying time!

There are three main keys to persevering in prayer. First, we must be persistent. I am reminded of the parable Jesus told His disciples about the persistent widow. In Luke 18:1 (ESV) we find these words: “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Perseverance is defined as, “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition” (merriam-webster.com). In order to always pray and not faint or lose heart, it will require a steadfast attitude and approach to prayer. We must have “bulldog tenacity” in order to keep praying amid the difficulties, failures, and oppositions we encounter in life. Persevering in prayer means to remain persistent, no matter what challenges arise.

The second key to persevering in prayer is to immediately pray whenever you are provoked or prompted by the Holy Spirit. Yes, prayer is strategic and should be intentional and even planned. However, there will be times when we are provoked by situations, or simply prompted by the leading of the Holy Spirit to pray. We cannot ignore these unctions. We know from John 16:13 (CEV), “The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen.” In 1 John 2:20 (KJV) it says, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” As believers, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit active and alive within us to guide us into all truth. When we are provoked or prompted to pray, it strengthens our perseverance in prayer because we pray by the grace of God’s very spirit.

The final key to persevering in prayer is to pray with power. To pray with power is to pray with the authority of God. When we are rooted in scripture, it empowers us to pray with a level of conviction and authority that releases the power of God through our prayers. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) admonishes us, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God wants our faith and confidence in Him to produce boldness when we pray. We can receive power to pray with authority when we allow God’s presence to fill us and take over our very words. Being empowered by God’s presence gives us the strength to persevere in prayer.

As we transition into 2024, I pray you are recalibrated to keep persevering in prayer. I know it can be hard sometimes to keep going. Sometimes we feel as if we have been praying about the same situation to no avail. But God’s word is true, and it will surely come to pass - our job is to persevere in prayer. Whatever you do differently in 2024, DON’T STOP PRAYING! The prayers of the righteous avail much (James 5:16). Rest if you must, but don’t you quit! Remember, Galatians 6:9 (NIV) when you feel as if you want to give up: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” You have everything you need to win…pray girl, pray!