Confident Petition

Gen.32:24-26 “…Jacob was all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match… the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

God is saying to you and I, ‘don’t stop calling’. However, we have learnt that the first reason we stop calling is Lack or Loss of Burden. The second reason we stop calling is Lack or Loss of Knowledge. We do not know; we do not know who we are. We do not know what we have. We do not know how powerful we are. If you do not know your value, you will sell yourself for cheap. If you do not know who you are, you will live like your life is worth nothing. You will give yourself up for things that really should be beneath you. We do not know how powerful our prayer is, or shall we say, we have forgotten how powerful our prayer is.

One of the things Jesus and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8, please read) have in common, and that Jesus points out to us, is that they both respond to persistent petition. Jesus says, ‘if this unjust, immoral, uncaring judge can respond. How much more Me who is just and caring?’ (paraphrased). This means God will even respond faster and better. What I am saying and you need to get this is, God can be compelled by persistence. It is both a bold and a big statement, but it is a true statement. God can be compelled by persistence. God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth can be compelled by persistence. He told us the story Himself, to show us that He, God can be compelled by persistence. So, don’t stop calling – do not stop calling! 

Do not get this wrong, persistent prayer is not twisting God’s arm to do what He does not want to do. Persistent prayer is birthing in your life what is available in God. Persistent prayer is staying in the place of prayer until you see your desires come through, you see your light shine forth. Isa.62:7 “Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.” Am I saying it is possible for man to pressure God? Yes, it is! God in His infinite wisdom has made Himself vulnerable to us. He chose to and we will maximize it. Do I get an Amen? God, the Alpha and Omega, the El Shaddai, chose to be vulnerable to us. 

If the unjust judge eventually granted justice to the woman, what do you think God will do? God is better than the unjust judge. God can succumb to the pressure of man! It is in scripture for all to see, for example, John 2, the wedding in Cana of Galilee – Mary put pressure on Jesus until He performed a miracle, Gen.32: 24–28 – Jacob held God down until God granted his request.

Prayer: Father, arise and complete Your work in my life. Lord do not rest until You have fulfilled Your Word and made me the pride of both heaven and earth, in Jesus Name. Amen!