Recently I made a commitment to up my prayer life. It is easier said than done. Putting the time in is one thing, but being earnestly engaged and getting into a place of praying effectively is quite a challenge. To do so requires battling through lethargy, distractions, rote babblings and just plain old unbelief and doubt.
I have realized afresh that to be effective in prayer one must be committed to doing what the saints of old called “praying through.” In essence praying through means praying until something happens. You might call it the PUSH method of praying – Pray Until Something Happens.
That “something” does not have to be the actual answer to the prayer and in most cases it is not. But that “something” is invariably the assurance that you have been heard. That assurance is the evidence that you have prayed yourself into to a place of faith. (Hebrews 11;6) There is a release in one’s spirit that comes when you know that God has heard because we know that when He hears us, an answer is on the way. (1 John 5:15)
Isaiah likens earnest prayer and intercession to the travail of labor in giving birth. Praying through is like that. It is hard work and it requires an engagement of ones entire being in bringing forth the desired result.
While there are many different ways to pray, praying through is not a quiet, contemplative, sweet lullaby, by and by type of praying. It is most often forceful, loud, emotion filled, physically taxing, a heart wrenching type of praying. Advancing the kingdom of God often requires such “forceful” prayer. Jesus’ reference to this literally means to “eagerly claim for oneself.” (Matthew 11:12)
Here are some examples of individuals who knew how to pray through.
- Jesus – “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” (Hebrews 5:7)
- Jacob – “He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor.” (Hosea 12:4)
- Hannah – “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:10) Her prayer that the Lord would give her a child was so demonstrative that Eli the priest thought she was drunk.
- Elijah – “Prayed fervently.” (James 5:17) He prayed seven times that it would rain “bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.” (1 Kings 18:42-46)
- Hezekiah - “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.” (Isaiah 37:14) What Hezekiah did here when threatened by King Sennacharib of Assyria was literally lay it all out before the Lord. In so doing he cast his burden fully on the Lord. (Psalm 55:22)
Do you see the picture of praying through that emerges here? As a result I have moved my place of prayer from my study to the basement so I can let it rip. Can you imagine if we prayed more like that we just might get the same results they did.
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Ah, Tom, you’ve done it again.
How do you do that? You go right to those things that I’m going through…lol.
As far as prayer goes, yes, there are a few ongoing requests I have that I seem to keep praying through, again and again and again….
I can’t remember where I saw it, it was the other night on TV, I think it was on the 700 Club, and this lady was giving a testimonial about prayer, and the one thing she said that really struck me was “be specific.”
It was about her job search, and she said “don’t just pray ‘help me find a job’ be specific, what do you want, how much do you want to make, what do you want to do…and so forth. She did that, she wrote an itemized list, and prayed on it for like three weeks. And, she got just what she had asked for.
So, as far as these ongoing requests of mine, I’m starting to do that. I’m petitioning God a bit more specifically. I want to see how it works….
Sorry it was long.
I loved this blog! Because I am kind of loud sometimes in prayer, I am so critical of myself. Too ‘self’ aware! Sometimes the Spirit urges us to ‘let it rip’!! This just made me chuckle.
I love the call to pray till we get and answer! Stay with it! O how I needed this. Thank-you!
Bonnie
“…and the violent take it by force.”
PRAYING THROUGH has provided me with the finest times of direction and provision I have ever received from God.
It is important to remember that you are not wrestling God, but you are fighting through powers and principalities that would try to keep your blessings away from you.
Be bold! Be direct! Be specific!
The old timers used to say “pray until you have it in your heart or in your hands.”
Blessings,
John
Excellent! I needed this today. I’m familiar with this concept and have experienced it in the past. There have been times when I have been so desparate to hear from God that I have pushed all things aside and prayed audaciously for Him to show up.
Somewhere along the line, I forgot what this meant. I got comfortable in my prayer life. But now I face a life of anxiety, a life of inner dread. And I NEED God to show up.
I remember a class I took in Bible college about the Hebrew word Darash. I latched onto this word and began to practice it and the Lord met me. There is a real sense of breaking through a wall and you just know when you have gotten through. And you’re right. The answer may not always be what you want it to be…but you are assured that you have been heard and that God will weigh in.
I need this again. I need to carve out a large space in my time, in my energy to seek God in this way.
Thank you for your blog, this tangible reminder of my faith of old. May I be acquainted with it anew.
Jay – thanks for you comment and encouragement. I like your insight on the Hebrew word darash.
Could you expand a bit more about how your prayers for a certain individual or circumstance change after you pray through? I’m in leadership with a prayer ministry in Fredericksburg, VA and we have been praying ernestly for an upcoming conference [see web site - Awaken the Dawn] and yesterday felt a definite release in the Spirit. We have felt that this was a very strategic moment and that we were not to cease praying but begin to pray in another way. We are now in more of a celebrative stance rejoicing in what God is going to do and making faith declarations as the Lord leads believing that we have prayed through into a place of abiding faith concerning the conference.
Do you have any thoughts concerning what has actually happened in the Spirit realm as a consequence of praying through? The conference is about a week away. We want to maximize and confirm the victory won by praying through.
Thanks! Enjoyed the comments on your blog. Keep listening!
Bowie Curry
Bowie – I rejoice with you at your faith and perseverance in pressing through on your conference. To be honest I feel to encourage you to build on your victory in the Spirit. What immediately came to mind when I read your comment was the story of Elisha and King Jehoash of Israel in 2 Kings 13. I sense your breakthrough was just a beginning in laying groundwork for even more signifcant breakthroughs. Take your bow and arrows of intercession and keep striking the ground! Don’t stop and to you feel you’ve defeated every enemy of what God wants to do through your conference. I’m with you brother.
I have my own conference we’ve been seeking to pray through on which our church is hosting next Tuesday.
Blessings – Tom
Thanks so much for this, needed some resource for a sermon on “Praying Through” and this just fits!
I recall this experience when i had to surrender some things and accept what God had in store for me even though i dint know what it was, or if i’d like it. It was hard, grueling filled with tears and loud screams. I worried about my neighbour’s but this was crucial. After the conclusion i felt somber, drained, without any energy. It was like i got to a point as did Jesus in Gethsemane. “Your will be done.” i was flushed, i felt like a lamb going to the slaughter knowing i had consented to the sacrifice i had mad to do as the master willed even though i didn’t want it or understand.
Recollecting it is still quite emotional at this time of my life.
Sunday afternoon just gone i literally took the keys to the upper room where where the Church Audio Visual equiptment was kept. I was terribly tired due to late shift doing the week but was determined to get an answer. I prayed this time not screaming, yet it was audible and followed with tears. It was kind of the same issue that caused the gut wrenching prayer mentioned a year before but coming from a whole new angle. I needed direction as to whether i should go forward or step back. I didn’t feel an inklin of doubt in going forward, I thanked Him for the confirmations he had given along the way. There was a fear of the unknown but this gentle, peaceful certainty over-rode. I was encouraged to not doubt such a prayer and to look forward, Purpose Driven Life stated, do not doubt in the dark what God told you in the light. Profound. What do you think?
Thanks for sharing your breakthru praying testimonies. Always so encouraging to hear how God answers the persistent, heartfelt prayers of the saints. Awesome!
Thanx Tom,
Need to pray through urgently…..
My wife need healing from cancer desperately.
Those willing to help pray, her name is Ronel Jacobs.
Blessings
I have prayed for Ronel and you Tom. Randy In Texas
Brother Tom, I have been praying for sometime now with out a whole lot of results. I do pray frequently with some intensity but I would not say that I have prayed through anything that I can think of. Recently, God has put in a situation that requires much, very much prayer and waiting upon him, please, remember me in your prayers, as I, by faith in God grace, pursue this avenue of prayer that I have known about for sometime but have never really taken seriously. Ruben
Ruben – I would be honored to stand with you in prayer as you seek to pray through to a place of victory in the Spirit. God is glorified as we humble ourselves before Him and pour out our hearts to Him. Proverbs 15:8 saysThe prayer of the upright is His delight. May He delight in you. Blessings – Tom