Seven Things I Learned about Prayer in 2017 (Part 4)

 #4 “It’s Okay to Be a High Maintenance Pray-er”

Airplane Landing

“Please let me get on the plane.”

“I have to go home to Montreal today.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong.

“Why won’t you let me on the plane?”

“Pleeeeze”

The woman at the New York La Guardia American Airlines gate was desperate and she was not giving up.

Apparently, because she didn’t scan her Passport correctly, the traveler was being denied access to her flight. The dialogue went on for at least twenty minutes and it seemed everyone in the gate area was aware of her plight. Looks from concerned passengers were exchanged. I had trouble working as the pleading went on and on.

I prayed, “Lord, she seems like a nice lady. Will you soften the gate attendants’ hearts and allow her on the plane?”

I tried to go back to work, then realized I didn’t hear the woman’s loud pleas anymore. I asked the people around me, “Did they let her board?”

“Yes,” they nodded in unison, with a look of relief on their faces.

“Thank heavens.” I realized my prayer was answered right after I lifted it up.

judge

As I reflected on this scene, the woman who would not give up for what she wanted reminded me of the biblical parable of the unjust judge. In that parable, a widow repeatedly asked an unrighteous judge for justice against her adversary. After the widow’s numerous appearances the judge thought, “Even if I do not fear God or respect people, yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her coming back!” (Luke 18:5).

praying_hands_clipart_girl_2

The parable teaches if an unjust judge will grant a request, how much more will our just judge, God, do for us when we pray the same prayer day after day?

In other words, It’s okay to repeat prayer requests.

In fact, sometimes it takes turning into a praying nuisance before our heavenly Father acts. He doesn’t want us to throw in the prayer towel. He wants us to make repeated requests, as long as our pleas line up with His Word.

Maybe you’ve experienced it.

  • The daily prayer for an unsaved loved one that wasn’t answered for five, ten or fifteen years.
  • The prayer for healing; but the illness lingered.
  • The request for a financial blessing. It eventually came, but there were lessons to be learned along the way.

How long have you been praying for someone else or yourself?

Are you tired of punching the clock in the prayer room?

Don’t stop!

God may be using this situation to teach you how to draw near to Him.

Repeatedly.

This scenario may be facilitating a regular cycle of prayer that you never delved into before.

31725886 - an image of a praying man.

Life off keel forces us to kneel.

So go ahead. Be high maintenance in God’s presence. You have a free ticket to whine to the Lord with no expiration date. He’s listening, and if he doesn’t answer right away, ask again.

And will not God surely see to it that justice is done to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them? I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done for them soon!” (Luke 18:7)

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Copyright: <a href=’https://www.123rf.com/profile_Krisdog’>Krisdog / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Copyright: <a href=’https://www.123rf.com/profile_cteconsulting’>cteconsulting / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

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