Kehinde A. Bolutife
Elijah’s Prayer: Prayer of Importunity
“…and said to his servant, go up now, look toward the sea, and he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing. And he said GO AGAIN SEVEN TIMES.”
This is importunity in prayer- asking and asking and asking “until your joy is full”. Elijah would not be deterred or easily give up by the first answer of “I see nothing” by his servant; but rather he persevered and endured in prayer until he got his desired result.
Importunity speaks of perseverance, endurance, patience and long suffering in prayer. This is what Apostle Paul calls “Praying without ceasing”. Several Christians give up too soon in prayer, thinking God is no longer interested in answering their prayer as a result of seeming delay. But the One Who bids us come tells us to keep asking until our joy is full. There may be delay but there is no denial with God! Therefore we need to pray until something happens. Christ also emphasized the need to be importunate and persevering in prayer:
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while. But: but afterward he said within himself. Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her lest, by her continual coming she weary me. And the LORD said, hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”
To persist in prayer until the answer comes does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Importunate praying means keeping our request constantly before God as we live for Him day by day, always believing He will answer. And believe me, God will surely answer every prayer that is prayed according to His will. Because faithful is He who has promised, and He will do it.
What have you been asking God in prayer and it seems the answer will not come? Whatever the needs may be- children, Husband, wife, healing, job, admission, anointing, breakthrough…be rest assured that God who asks you to pray is more than able and also willing to answer. Keep on asking, don’t give up, and the heaven will eventually respond to your prayer. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:35-39).
Thus Elijah patiently prayed until the heaven responded with rain. He was not deterred by negative comments and responses; the whiteness of a cloudless sky was not enough a reason for discouragement. “His heart was fixed, trusting in God.” And like Abraham who “against hope believed in hope”, Elijah remained in the mood of prayer until “there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” Elijah tarried for the rain! Though your request appears to tarry, you also tarry for it. Be desperate until answer comes. Whatever it takes to wait for it, please, do. Answered prayer will pay off all the waiting. When it comes, I know you will smile.
You can imagine how superficial and shallow our own prayers are today. When we pray and do not get an answer quickly we get tired and explain it away with scriptures. How do you expect to get something from God in such a situation? Men ought always to pray and not to faint- thus Elijah prayed! And God “…desires that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:11, 12). Standing and gazing at your problems; complaining and gazing at your weakness: will not change your situation… Prayer-importunate prayer will make God respond to us in the hour of prayer.
