Have you ever wondered if you have crossed some invisible line with the Lord in your prayers? Have you worried that maybe you’ve exceeded the boundaries of what you should ask of Him or exhausted His patience with your persistent prayers?

Have you ever experienced someone getting annoyed with you when you repeat a request you’ve made in the past? They don’t have to tell you they’re tired of you asking. You already have figured that out by their body language and the restrained scowl on their face. Maybe you imagine that God is responding the same way up in Heaven when He sees you kneeling to pray. You can almost imagine Him sighing: “Oh no! Here he comes again. I’ve heard all this before – many times in fact. I could tell you verbatim what he is going to say.”

Many years ago two stood together overlooking a deep ravine near the Dead Sea with the skyline of Sodom in their view. Abraham had just heard from the Lord that Sodom would be destroyed. Whatever would become of his nephew Lot and his family and others in that city! The old man’s heart was very burdened. His distress was deep. He steps closer to the Lord to make his request. Scrutinize the prayerful exchange below to see if you can pick up any frustrated vibes in the Lord’s responses to Abraham’s repeated requests.

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also cause the righteous to perish with the wicked? There are perhaps fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not forgive the place for the sake of the fifty righteous that are therein? Far be it from thee to do so, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that the righteous should be as the wicked–far be it from thee! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? And Jehovah said, If I find at Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak unto the Lord; I, who am dust and ashes. Perhaps there may want five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city on account of the five? And HE said, If I shall find forty-five there, I will not destroy it. And he (Abraham) continued yet to speak with him, and said, Perhaps there may be forty found there. And HE said, I will not do it for the forty’s sake. And he (Abraham) said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry that I speak! Perhaps there may be thirty found there. And HE said, I will not do it if I find thirty there. And he (Abraham) said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak with the Lord. Perhaps there may be twenty found there. And HE said, I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake. And he (Abraham) said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, that I speak yet but this time! Perhaps there may be ten found there. And HE said, I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake. And Jehovah went away when he had ended speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. Genesis 18:23-33 Darby

You read the above exchange in less than 60 seconds, but in reality, Abraham’s intercession could have lasted hours as he wrestled in prayer before the Lord. But there is no indication the Lord became annoyed, agitated or irritated with Abraham’s reverent persistence. In fact, in the next chapter says the opposite. We are told the Lord remembered Abraham and delivered his nephew from the destruction of Sodom. (Genesis 19:29).

The prophet Samuel told his rebellious people: “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you…” (1Samuel 12:23) Centuries later Jesus said that we should always pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1)

Christian, don’t stop praying. “He that cometh to God must believe that He IS, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

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