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Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2, ESV).
Don’t give up!
Steadfast praying doesn’t stop. I’ve met a few prayer warriors that are consumed by their prayer requests. They don’t give up.
When my wife and I first went to Russia, we had the opportunity of preaching the gospel publicly for the first time in a city. This city had been built in the era of Communism. There were no churches, cathedrals, or “In God We Trust” engravings on public buildings – nothing about God in the entire city.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by several women who were weeping. They told us that they had been meeting for years to pray that someone would preach the gospel in their city.
Steadfast praying. They didn’t give up for over 30 years.
Luke 2 describes Anna:
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).
Scholars consider Anna to be married at age 14, married for 7 years, widowed, and praying in the temple for 84 years, before seeing the infant Jesus at age 105.
That’s steadfast praying!!!
James, the Lord’s brother (the author of James in the New Testament), was described by Eusebius (an ancient church leader) as having knees hardened with callouses that looked like camel knees because he prayed so often for the forgiveness of the Jews.
Camel knees – that’s steadfast praying!
Often those of steadfast prayer become known for the singular focus of their praying. We read about Simeon in Luke 2:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God (Luke 2:25-28).
In the end-times, trials and tribulations will increase with both frequency and intensity!
God is calling us to steadfast prayer.
Listen closely to God in the next week. The Spirit reveals the heart of God and helps our praying. Don’t be surprised if there is one purpose that becomes a focus of your intercession. This doesn’t mean that you stop praying for other things. But do you have a burden that won’t leave?
Listen, and then obey God through steadfast praying with your burden!
I’m praying for God to raise up disciplers throughout the world in preparation for a latter-day harvest.
My burden began by reading Luke 10:2:
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.“
Let’s summarize today’s Interruptions: Praying for Russia… 87 years… developing camel knees… anticipating the soon return of Jesus… and worldwide revival.
All examples of steadfast praying.