Persistent Prayer!

I’ve have been walking with Jesus daily and watching His life, reading about His miracles and listening to His lessons and figuring out His parables.

It struck me humorous a couple of times at how he told things and the disciples tried to figure out what he meant.  He would let them think about it and then take them to one side and explain what he meant!

Resurrection Sunday is just around the corner. What does that mean to the Christian world?

The death of Jesus on the Cross was not “the end” it was “the beginning“, the beginning of a new way to reach God!

Matthew 27:51 At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom The veil which represented the separation between God and man had been torn right down the middle, had disappeared! We no longer have to go through a Priest, or pray to a saint, we just walk right up to the Throne of God and say, Hello Father, I am here in Jesus name, then we talk to Him!So if the Resurrection was the beginning for us as Christians then why don’t we as Christians use this marker, Resurrection Sunday as a new beginning for ourselves? Why can’t this be like our New Year? Old things passed away, behold all things have become NEW!

How often have you prayed and given your life, your problems to God. You may be thinking, “God doesn’t want to hear me one more time” First let me remind you that Jesus gave a parable of the unrighteous judge, Luke 18:5-8  “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’”

Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

Now let’s go back to the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Matthew 26:42-44 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”

When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

Question: Do you think that Jesus knew that God heard Him when he prayed?

Why do you think He went to God THREE times with the same request, do you think He thought God would change His mind?

We have the privilege of pouring out our heart in persistent prayer. It’s not about twisting God’s arm to get what we want it’s about learning to yield to him more completely! And like Jesus we rise from our knees knowing that God has heard us, and that ours is the victory.

Through persistent prayer we can now have a new beginning. Jesus got up to face torture and death so that He could have a resurrection that would give us eternal life.

Let’s go Matthew 5 and read the Beatitudes and see what makes us blessed! This is what he said: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

So don’t wait until Resurrection Sunday to make a new start, Jesus is coming soon and I want to be ready for Him. I make today, March 16, 2019 the first day of the rest of my life, my new birthday, my new January 1 and my resolution for this new year is this, I resolve to give all my cares to HIM and accept that I AM Blessed and highly favored!

Will you do that with me? Wipe the slate clean and have a new beginning!

Jesus is the answer for the world today, above Him there’s no other Jesus is the way.