“Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death and was heard in that He feared.”
Hebrews 5:7
As someone once said, “There can be no Pentecost without plenty cost.”
“Wait until the Promise comes.”
That’s what Jesus told His disciples that day right before He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:4). He then reminded them of John’s forecast of how He, the long-awaited, Promised One from God, would “baptize them with the Holy Ghost and fire” (Acts 1:5; Mt. 3:11).
So, they waited. And, waited. And, waited.
Ten long days they waited.
But, they waited “in one accord” (Acts 1:14). And, they waited with expectancy—for they knew the One Who’d just been raised from the dead, returned to His Home in Heaven and promised to return cannot lie (Heb. 6:11-18).
Dear Pilgrim, “travailing prayer” is “prevailing prayer.” If Jacob refused to let his angelic visitor go during their all-night wrestling until he received a blessing (Gen. 32:24-26), then why should we think we should be able to casually come to the Father and glibly ask for something?
Likewise, in today’s Manna we find the Lord Jesus Himself “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.” Can we afford to do anything less and expect God’s heart to be moved?
No, God-stirring prayers are soul-rending prayers.
But, they are always in faith “unto Him Who is able.” The key, as it was in Jesus’ case, is surrender—“Not my will, but Yours be done” (Lk. 22:42). There’ll be times our prayers will be answered exactly as requested (Ps. 37:4). And, there’ll be times He’ll give us what we need, not what we want (II Cor. 12:7-10).
Yet, in them all He will develop deeper faith/trust in Him and we’ll know “we’re heard because we fear (Grk. ‘eulabeia’—‘reverent awe, piety, etc.’) Him and pray according to His will” (I Jn. 5:13-15).
So, what do you desire from Him, dear Pilgrim? Over what are you “inwardly groaning” right now?
A lost loved one? Your job situation? Family problems? Your church’s lukewarmness? The world situation?
Travail in prayer. Pray believing. Then wait for the Promise and the Heavens to be opened.
Who knows? The answer may be one prayer away. It might be tomorrow. Or next week. But, keep praying. . .wrestling with God. . .praying His Promises back to Him. Then, “when the fire falls and the Glory fills” (II Chron. 7:1-3; Acts 2:1-3) our “labors will not have been in vain” (I Cor. 15:58).
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated February 21, 2010
