Without Reservation

Then he [Elisha] said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king [King Jehoash] picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” [2 Kings 13.18-19]

Many times we are tempted to give up. Nowhere is this more evident than in the arena of prayer.

I see a definite lesson on persistence in prayer in this interaction between Elisha and King Jehoash of Israel. Many times, I have prayed and prayed and prayed (ironically three times) with limited or no results. Is that the time to quit? No.

We must persist in prayer.

Even if we are praying incorrectly, it will be in that place of prayer that God teaches us to pray right! How will we ever really know how to pray if at first we are not praying?

I can see in the context of Jehoash's discourse with Elisha that perhaps Jehoash was unclear on Elisha's instruction. Perhaps, instead of asking Elisha for clarification, Jehoash simply decided three times would be enough...

I can only think of Jesus modeling for us the example to pray often and pray much. It was Jesus also who clearly taught us to persist in prayer.

So, what should we do, set out to pray until it is enough, or set out to pray? I think the answer is obvious.

I suppose Jehoash could have thought to himself, "Three times is good enough..."

Well, may I interject here that "good enough" is neither "good" nor "enough?"

If we approach our devotional life with a "good enough" mentality, our devotional life may indeed be good enough - but good enough for what? Certainly not overwhelming victory!

Father, help us to approach our devotion to You without reservation. Help us to approach prayer without reservation. Help us seek Your Kingdom without reservation!