Yesterday we started off with a bang! 

We reminded ourselves about how indeed as we wait on the Lord for all that we’re expecting, we should do so in faith. As we wait on God, we trust that He is willing and able to meet our needs. And not just that but as we pray we can stir up and direct the power of God to address every need.

Isaiah 40:31 

New King James Version

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

When we wait on Lord we should expect to be strengthened in our inner man. We are putting the flesh under and allowing our spirit to rise in strength; strength for every situation.

And today we would be diving deeper into our discussion on waiting on God. Just as yesterday we saw that God gave the Jews a strategy on how to conquer Jericho, there also biblical strategies  for waiting on the Lord. Over the next few days we would be discussing 3 biblical strategies for waiting on the Lord:

⁃Importunity in prayer

⁃Prophetic declarations

⁃Rejoicing

Let’s consider the first.

Importunity in prayer is continuity or insistence in the place of prayer. A lot of the time people believe that continuing to ask or insist on a matter in prayer shows lack of faith in God’s ability to hear and answer. They would say things like “ God isn’t deaf”, “you don’t need to ask so many time’s, believe He heard you the first time”. However, the opposite is the case. Let’s look at this text:

Luke 18:1-5

New King James Version

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.

3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’

4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,

5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

Jesus was teaching them that “men ought always to pray and not to lose heart” meaning that you should not get tired of praying. He then gave a parable of a woman who was adamant about her request for the Judge to get her justice. The Judge’s response was that although he is unjust, because of her persistence he would grant it to her. Look at Jesus’ explanation:

Luke 18:6-8

New King James Version

6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.

7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

So He’s saying that if an unjust judge could give this woman what she’s asking for after her great persistence, would God not answer those who cry out to him day and night? No matter how long it takes, your persistence will be met with answers. It does not display lack of faith but rather it is a sign of faith.

There’s a common acronym that we used to say “PUSH”, Pray Until Something Happens. Keep praying about it believing that God hears and will answer. See Elijah:

I Kings 18:42-45

New King James Version

42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 

43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.”

There was a drought and Elijah went up Mount Carmel, put his head between his knees, and prayed.  Each time he would ask his servant to go and check if clouds had gathered, 7 times he saw nothing! Many people at this point would have begun to lose faith or doubt whether God is hearing them, but the Bible said the seventh time his servant went to check for the clouds he saw a cloud the size of man’s hand.

It may have taken a while but he persisted till his answer came. We must adopt this attitude in prayer. While you wait on God, keep insisting on that matter in prayer, keep standing on God’s promises. Don’t get tired of praying about it.

Matthew 7:7-8

New Living Translation

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

We’re told of a story of one of the fathers of faith, Pastor Kenneth E. Hagin, who prayed for a woman to be healed for about 300+ days. The healing wasn’t immediate, but they kept on insisting and praying. One day, the woman showed up to church miraculously healed! That’s a picture of what institence in prayer can produce.

This week as we fast and pray, keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking because everyone that seeks finds and everyone that knocks the door shall be opened unto them. Just like the woman in Jesus’ parable be insistent in the place of prayer. Stay on that matter till your answer comes. This is how to wait on God, you wait insisting in the place of prayer. It’s a sign of faith.

Prayer Point:

As I wait on God, I am persistent in the place of prayer. I don’t give up on God’s promises, I insist until something happens!