Sword & Trowel 2018: Issue 1 3


Similarly, the Lord doubtless de- lays his response to our prayers to remind us of our own weak- ness and dependence upon him. If we had to ask for things only once, we would certainly lose sight of the extent of our impotence. If we had a thousand great answers to prayer in a single year, so that life was altogether victorious, we would probably swell with spiritual pride imagining that we were accomplishing these wonderful things with just a little help from the Lord. However, as he keeps us wait- ing, we realise that we could never bring about the things for which we pray.


Often whole churches experience this delay. They toil long and hard in the visitation of the community and no one responds, and then, once everyone has become convinced that people cannot be persuaded to hear the Word, the Lord moves.


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It is probable that God has yet another objective in requiring us to persevere in repeated prayer,


namely, to remind us of the condi- tions for prayer. When we have been asking for something for a while, with mounting desire and concern, we begin to wonder, ‘Is God with- holding his hand because I am not striving to live a holy life, or because I am not witness- ing for him, or reading his Word, or because I am not forgiving someone who has offended against me, or be- cause I am not conducting


This article is drawn from a chapter in the book on prayer by the Editor.


myself in a true and in a faithful way?’ We begin to be challenged, and consider carefully the condi- tions for prayer. It is by delaying and requiring us to ask repeatedly, that the Lord brings us to this deeper self- examination.


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Another likely purpose served by delay in answering prayer is that we soon begin to consider


what really matters, and what does not matter. If God answered every request instantly, our prayer agenda might soon resemble a shopping list, greatly extended by requests for unnecessary comforts and luxuries. But when we are required to perse- vere over months, we come to see that such things are unworthy or inappropriate and fi nd it impossible to ask for them. We realise that they should be left out of our prayers, and so delay helps to fi lter out selfi sh and worldly petitions.


Vigilance in Prayer


Alongside the exhortation to ‘con- tinue in prayer,’ the apostle says, ‘and watch in the same with thanksgiving.’ This does not primarily mean that we should watch for the answers, although this is included. It means – keep alert; watch out; keep awake. Our trouble is that in prayer we very soon relax, or lose fervour, going into a kind of automatic mode in which we are not really thinking or longing for the objec- tive. To watch, or to keep alert, means fi rstly that we keep a close watch on the quality, kind and range of our prayers. Are all the


Long-Term Praying page 13


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