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SCRIPTURE READINGS

• GENESIS 18:20-32
• COLOSSIANS 1:9-14
• LUKE 11:1-13

SUNDAY REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Perseverance in Prayer” Perseverance in prayer means endlessly relying on God through the act of prayer. In other words, being in communion with God, irrespective of our condition or situation in life.  Everyone at one point in life may have a need to be met. Some needs are easily met because we have the resources to take care of them, but there are instances where one becomes helplessly constrained or handicapped and would have to meet his or her needs through the support of others. At this point, he or she would have to ask others for help or support to meet his or her needs. Ultimately, God is the provider of our needs because He is our creator and sustainer of life. Haggai 2:8 reminds us that ” The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Because we depend on God for everything, we must learn to persist in prayer. Before persevering in prayer, it is important to understand the following facts:

1. There must be a Father-Son or daughter relationship between you and God.
2. You must possess knowledge of His will through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

First, it is important to understand that the phrase “ask and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 11:9) does not apply to everyone but only to those who have a Father-son or daughter relationship with God. “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13) Before a person can have a Father-son relationship with God, he or she must repent and become a new creation in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If God is our Father then we can also persevere in prayer by praying,  “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation (sin).” (Luke 11:2-4). In other words, sin separates us from God and makes it difficult to approach God in times of need or have our prayers answered. We see the effect of sin in preventing God from hearing our prayers when Abraham tried to intercede on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18:20-32, but their unrepentance and grievous sins made it impossible for them to be pardoned by God, hence their destruction. They had fewer than ten people who were righteous in their entire land. “Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten (righteous people) can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. (Genesis 18:32-33).  Abraham’s prayer for mercy for Sodom and Gomorrah will go unanswered because the people he prayed for were unrepentant and were bent on sinning. Sin prevents the promise ask, and it shall be given unto you from manifesting in our lives. It is important to always reflect on our relationship with God and be in the right relationship with God when persevering in prayer or requiring answers to our prayers.

Second, it is not enough to have a Father-son or daughter relationship with God through repentance; in addition, we must possess knowledge of His will through the study and obedience of His Word and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This is precisely the prayer of Paul for the Colossian Christians when he learnt about their spiritual growth and love for one another. “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10). Knowing the will of God and being given wisdom and understanding by the Spirit enables us to pray aright and persevere in prayer about our needs according to the will of God. We are greatly encouraged in 1 John 5:14 that “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us”. Many Christians pray wrongly because they do not know the will of God in every given situation of their lives. We must learn to ask according to His will, and surely it shall be given unto us. The greatest battle of a believer is his or her will against the will of God. Most of the time, our prayer is filled with asking God to do our will instead of His will, and if our prayers go unanswered, we lose hope and begrudge God. Jesus, before His suffering, prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (Luke 22:42-43). Dear friend, let us persevere in prayer by allowing the will of God to be done in our lives always. It is also important to note that we don’t have to trust in our strength when persisting in prayer but rely on God, who can strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit to “…pray continually…”(1 Thessalonians 5:17)

In summary, when God persist in prayer, it is important to know that we must have a Father-son or daughter relationship with God through repentance, and we must possess knowledge of God’s will and be empowered by the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to triumph over sin and gain knowledge of God’s will, wisdom and understanding to persevere in prayer. Amen.