Faithfulness in Prayer
By: Len Stubbs
Faithfulness in prayer requires our constant diligence. The Bible calls us to be steadfastly attentive in prayer. When we pray without ceasing and give complete care and attention to prayer, we are following the will of God. We are pleasing our Father.
Our faithfulness encourages and allows God to disclose to and reward us greater insight than he chooses to expose to the less faithful. Faithfulness brings opportunities to us that are not revealed to the unfaithful. God takes great pleasure in answering prayers that comes from a faithful heart.
As Christians we are encouraged to be persistent in our prayers. There is an abundance of evidence in the Bible to suggest that God rewards persistence.
Here is what the Lord has to say about Faithfulness In Prayer in His word.
(1) In Luke 2:36-38 - “There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
(2) In Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
(3) In Romans 8:28 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(4) In Luke 18:1 - “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
Here are Five (5) tips to increase Your Faithfulness In Prayer:
1. Pray Daily- The Lord Instructed Us to Pray. The best reason to spend time in prayer is because the Lord instructed us to.
2. Develop a Daily Devotional Plan –Decide on a time, place, general structure, and spend time in prayer, petition, praise, and worship.
3. Pray Persistently - Continue persisting in your prayers. It is prayer, which strengthens our faith providing us hope and assurance.
4. Fight Discouragement – We are instructed to “walk by faith and not by sight.” Regardless of how we see things turning out we should continue to devote ourselves to prayer. In the place of discouragement we must have faith in all things and faith that everything will turn out for the good.
5. Pray For Others - God is looking for intercessors that are willing to continue to pray and to believe until they see God’s answer.
In Luke 2:36-38 we are introduced to Anna. Anna had been a window for many years. Anna spent her time, day and night, in prayer and fasting in the temple. She prayed of her desire to see the Son of God. Anna was one of the few God chose to encounter the savior when He was born. Jesus was revealed only to those whose hearts were faithful and pure.
So in the end Anna continued faithfully in prayer until her prayer was answered. The answer to her prayer did not come immediately. In fact, it came near the end of her life. But God honored her faithfulness as she was honored and privileged to be the one chosen to announce the arrival of the Savior to those in the Temple. What an awesome answer and reward for her faithfulness.
As a final thought on this subject Faithful praying may mean a lifetime of waiting to receive an answer. God is looking for intercessors like Anna that are willing to continue to faithfully pray on His answer.
Faithfulness in prayer requires our constant diligence. The Bible calls us to be steadfastly attentive in prayer. When we pray without ceasing and give complete care and attention to prayer, we are following the will of God. We are pleasing our Father.
Our faithfulness encourages and allows God to disclose to and reward us greater insight than he chooses to expose to the less faithful. Faithfulness brings opportunities to us that are not revealed to the unfaithful. God takes great pleasure in answering prayers that comes from a faithful heart.
As Christians we are encouraged to be persistent in our prayers. There is an abundance of evidence in the Bible to suggest that God rewards persistence.
Here is what the Lord has to say about Faithfulness In Prayer in His word.
(1) In Luke 2:36-38 - “There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
(2) In Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
(3) In Romans 8:28 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(4) In Luke 18:1 - “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
Here are Five (5) tips to increase Your Faithfulness In Prayer:
1. Pray Daily- The Lord Instructed Us to Pray. The best reason to spend time in prayer is because the Lord instructed us to.
2. Develop a Daily Devotional Plan –Decide on a time, place, general structure, and spend time in prayer, petition, praise, and worship.
3. Pray Persistently - Continue persisting in your prayers. It is prayer, which strengthens our faith providing us hope and assurance.
4. Fight Discouragement – We are instructed to “walk by faith and not by sight.” Regardless of how we see things turning out we should continue to devote ourselves to prayer. In the place of discouragement we must have faith in all things and faith that everything will turn out for the good.
5. Pray For Others - God is looking for intercessors that are willing to continue to pray and to believe until they see God’s answer.
In Luke 2:36-38 we are introduced to Anna. Anna had been a window for many years. Anna spent her time, day and night, in prayer and fasting in the temple. She prayed of her desire to see the Son of God. Anna was one of the few God chose to encounter the savior when He was born. Jesus was revealed only to those whose hearts were faithful and pure.
So in the end Anna continued faithfully in prayer until her prayer was answered. The answer to her prayer did not come immediately. In fact, it came near the end of her life. But God honored her faithfulness as she was honored and privileged to be the one chosen to announce the arrival of the Savior to those in the Temple. What an awesome answer and reward for her faithfulness.
As a final thought on this subject Faithful praying may mean a lifetime of waiting to receive an answer. God is looking for intercessors like Anna that are willing to continue to faithfully pray on His answer.