Faith and Persistence
Faith and Persistence
2 Corinthians 12:8 GNT
“Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away.”
We ought to be in a state of prevailing prayer to be completely dependent on God’s voice and plans for our lives.
Often, our thoughts about prayer is something that is done in the morning or evening, but, it is something we do 24×7, having continual conversations with God. There are times we get tempted to give up praying when we don’t see an answer coming.
Let’s look at the example of Apostle Paul where he prayed three times about a physical challenge which he calls (a thorn in the flesh) to be taken away.
Apostle Paul would visit several places and lay hands on people and they would heal, his sheer presence would allow people to recover. However, in 2 Corinthians 12:8 he prays three times without giving up.
It’s not wrong to pray for our physical needs. In fact, George Muller prayed for his physical and tangible needs and would see miraculous provisions and there were some needs he would continue to pray for years at a stretch.
But when we prioritize our physical needs over our spiritual condition, it allows sin and challenges to creep in.
The answer to our prayer may always not be what we are expecting. What Apostle Paul expected was a healing. But, what God gave him was an answer with a word for his condition. Paul was given grace that was sufficient for the season he was in. As Paul received an answer from God, he stopped praying.
This is exactly what we are to do, ask God for a word about our situation. A word that will direct, guide or help us decide.
Tell the Lord this day, that you would not give up praying even if it has to be three times or even years. Because, He is a God who answers us in our faith and persistence.
May God honor your faith as you do not give up!
Psalm 147:2–3 reveals God's heart as a Restorer rather than a Punisher. Although Israel went into exile because of its own rebellion, God did not abandon His people. Instead, He promised to restore Jerusalem, bring the exiles home, heal the brokenhearted, and bind up their wounds.
The message reminds us that while God may use friends, pastors, counselors, or loved ones to help us, true healing and restoration ultimately come from the Lord. His restoration reaches every part of our lives—our hearts, relationships, health, finances, emotions, and spiritual walk.
God knows every wound, including those hidden from others. Unlike people, who can only comfort from the outside, He sees the deepest parts of our hearts and heals completely. His healing is so complete that even the scars of past pain lose their power to define us.
The devotion encourages believers to fix their eyes on God instead of relying solely on human help. No matter how far someone has drifted, how many mistakes they have made, or how broken they feel, God is still calling them back. His desire is to restore, heal, and make all things beautiful in His perfect timing.
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