Have you ever wondered if you’ve crossed an invisible line with the Lord in your prayers? Have you worried that maybe you’ve gone beyond what you should ask of Him or exhausted His patience with your persistent requests?
Think about a time when you sensed someone was annoyed with you for repeating a request. You didn’t need them to tell you they were tired of your nagging; their body language and the restrained scowl on their face said it all. Do you imagine God responding the same way in Heaven when He sees you starting to pray again? You can almost picture Him sighing, “Oh no! Here he comes again. I’ve heard all this before – many times, in fact. I could recite his prayer verbatim.”
Consider the story of Abraham. Many years ago, he stood overlooking a deep ravine near the Dead Sea with the skyline of Sodom in view. Abraham had just heard from the Lord that Sodom would be destroyed. Concerned for his nephew Lot, his family, and others in the city, Abraham’s heart was heavy. His distress was deep, and he stepped closer to the Lord to make his request.
Look at the prayerful exchange below and see if you can detect any frustration in the Lord’s responses to Abraham’s repeated requests.
Genesis 18:23-32 ESV (23) Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (24) Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? (25) Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (26) And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” (27) Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. (28) Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” (29) Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” (30) Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” (31) He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” (32) Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”
You read that ancient exchange in less than 120 seconds, but in reality, Abraham’s intercession might have lasted hours as he wrestled in prayer before the Lord. There is no indication the Lord became annoyed or frustrated with Abraham’s reverent persistence. In fact, the next chapter says just the opposite. We are told “the Lord remembered Abraham” and delivered his nephew from the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19:29).
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The prophet Samuel told his rebellious people: “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). Centuries later, Jesus told His disciples that they “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). He illustrated His point with the parable of the persistent widow who relentlessly and shamelessly continued to make the same request to the unrighteous judge until he responded.
Christian, don’t stop praying.
“Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).
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