Give God No Rest!

Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. [Isaiah 62.6b-7]

What an interesting way to approach God in prayer! In conversations as recent as the night before this post, I found myself saying that we must ASK God - we must be persistent - we must be tenacious. I referenced Jesus' parable about the widow and the unjust judge. Then, here today, is yet another reference to how we should approach God with our petitions. We must give Him no rest!

What does this imply about our understanding of God's will?

When do we back off?

Other than Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and a bit that James says about praying to fulfill our own lusts, all the other references to our approach to God and prayer in the Bible seem to indicate a need for persistence.

So, which way is it?

I believe there is more opportunity for faith in persistence. Certainly it may be argued that a mysterious notion of God and His sovereign ways supersedes any request we might bring and therefore requires great faith to accept things as they are. However, why would Jesus Christ alive, in person, with very little time to teach us God's ways and plan, tell us to move a mountain? Why would He teach about persistence with the story of a widow and an unjust judge? Why would He confuse our simple minds so if He did not fully and purposefully intend that we grasp the importance of tenacity?

For me, this thinking keeps me out of any comfort zone. It would be much easier to accept all things as God's will and simply agree with whatever God's will is in my prayer. For me, my faith is more challenged to stretch and grow in persistently bringing MY requests (the health of another human, peace for one in turmoil, provision for one in need, etc...) before God...

My greatest concern is this question: Does the Bible (not theology, not denomination, not doctrine, not commentaries, not books, not opinion) actually support what I am saying here?

Today, as best I can understand it, The Bible teaches that God genuinely desires that I come to Him in faith. Not only does God desire it, but the Bible clearly states that it is impossible to please Him without faith. Jesus taught that faith was best seen in asking God for specific things believing He would respond favorably. How else could our faith be measured?

Father, I know what I have written here is not necessarily popular - especially among Christians. I know I put myself on the spot with such insanity as persistent and tenacious prayer. But I am willing to expose my own weakness if it means remaining faithful to You and the pursuit of mountain-moving faith. I am willing to put my requests on the line and take full responsibility for my lack of faith in unfulfilled prayers. Help me to grow - help me to believe! I know Your Word is my only source!