DSI
The need for one to tarry in prayer is as important as the decision to pray. Waiting in prayer involves patience from the seeker. It involves placing trust in God, in His character, that He will indeed fulfill the promises He made concerning your seeking (2 Tim. 2:13). Waiting on God is not as simple as presenting your petitions and requests. It calls for unshakeable faith, starved doubt, and continuous affirmation of God’s faithfulness.
It is important to continue tarrying in prayer (and fasting) until the end (of our set period) however discouraged we may feel concerning our ‘delayed’ requests. We do not have the full breadth of what happens in the spiritual realm. On the other hand, what we can do is remain hopeful while banking on God’s character.
God knows us best.
David writes about God’s perfect knowledge of man (Psalms 139). God has the complete picture of all that concerns us. We, on the other hand, hold a skewed picture about what we want. Not holding all the cards in our hands, we fail to comprehend the full view of things. (Proverbs 19:21, 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, Job 11:7-8, Psalms 40:5). Yet, at times He may choose to reveal it to us (Matthew 11:27).
Remember, our God is not pleased by broken vows. (Deuteronomy 23:21, Ecclesiastes 5:4).
What we want is not what we need.
We may be trusting God for a job and financial stability yet what we really need is to be delivered from a spirit of stagnation, poverty, or sexual immorality. A spirit that will keep us in bondage and make our lives miserable in whatever job we secure. Without this knowledge, it is impossible to gauge what truly is a need for a soul that comes to God. This is the point where we call on God’s will to take eminence in our prayers.
God has promised to have our backs many times in His word (1 Corinthians 2:9, 8:2), and for true believers, we know that His track record displays His unwavering faithfulness. So we can count on Him. He knows our needs. He will surely do it (Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Habakkuk 2:3, Malachi 3:6, Luke 21:33, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18, James 1:17).
So today, let us be encouraged to continue waiting in prayer. Let us make prayer both a place for rehearsal in the morning and debrief in the evening. It builds our faith and increases our spiritual attention to God’s way of dealing with us. We will, in time, be able to discern God’s voice and will in our daily walk.
Let us wait for our time, it is coming. He doesn’t forget. He is not a man. He does not make mistakes.
Habakkuk 2:3 – For the vision is yet for the appointed time, but in the end, it will speak, and not lie. Even though it delays, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not delay. (PSBE)
Author’s Thoughts
Further studies: Daniel 10
There are some quests that can only be revealed, received and achieved through Prayer and Fasting. Join us as we answer the question Is Prayer with Fasting Superior to Prayer Alone?