[by Kenny and Keesha Sullivan]
Keep asking! Keep seeking! Keep pushing! God's help is on the way! As one songwriter wrote, "He [God] may not come when we want Him, but He'll be there right on time!" (Dottie Peoples - He's An On Time God). Our God is a God that hears and sees us. He has heard the prayers that you have petitioned. He has seen the tears that you have shed and His help is on the way!
Hannah learned this truth through her brokenness. "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:10). Hannah had been barren for years. Her rival Peninnah, who had bore children without fail, provoked Hannah in order to irritate her. Peninnah made Hannah feel worthless, as if God would never come to the rescue. However, Hannah kept asking. She kept seeking His face. She kept pushing for her miracle to come!
"And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile [her first son] Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:21). WOW!!! Hannah prayed for one baby, but God blessed her with six! I am left in awe and wonder as I not only saw the Lord come to Hannah's rescue with what she asked, but He gave her six times what she asked for.
As Christians we face a lot of persecution from the enemy. He works through people, media and even our own thoughts. He is our Peninnah. He makes us feel worthless and as though our God will never come to the rescue. It's a lie! The enemy speaks louder and more clearly when he knows that our blessing is right around the corner. He knows that the victory is ours and that God is on His way. He knows that if we persevere and that if we don't give up that the Just Judge will answer our prayers. God may not come when we want Him, but He'll be there right on time.
"Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). What we're talking about here is faith and perseverance in prayer. In Hebrews 11 (the faith Hall of Fame chapter) we read of men and women of God that persevered in faith. They never received all of the promises for which they pressed into God, but we are those beneficiaries today. We stand on their faithful shoulders, their prayers, and God's faithfulness to them. We have a responsibility to continue pressing into God for the legacy of victory for which the blood of Christ has paid! Jesus has assured us, "In this world you will have trouble. But, take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). We too are overcomers! "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
Lord, we need you! Please give us the strength to keep crying out for our miracle. Please help us to believe that You can. Please help us to persevere in prayer. We know that in Your word it says to pray without ceasing! Help us to never stop turning to You for our victory! We love You Lord, and we thank You in advance for the victory that has already been won! In Jesus's name. Amen!
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