Pray, Then Pray Again

By Paul Chappell

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

James 5:16-18

George Muller was a man of incredible faith and prayer. He supported, educated, and led to Christ thousands of children in his orphanages in Bristol, England. Yet despite the vast scope of his ministry, Muller never asked anyone for money. He told those who wanted to know how they could help to ask God, as he had already taken his needs before the Lord. Over his life the equivalent of what would today be millions of dollars came in to provide all that the work needed.

Muller prayed for more than fifty years for the salvation of two of his friends from his wicked youth. One friend was saved just before Muller’s death, the other shortly after. Muller wrote, “The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God’s glory, they should pray until they get it.”

There are times when God answers our prayers immediately, sometimes sending the answer even before we ask. But there are other times when we must learn the discipline of patience and perseverance in continued prayer. Unless God has definitely closed the door as He did with Paul and the thorn in the flesh, we should continue to be faithful in prayer. Many times we do not receive the answer to prayer simply because we give up on praying before it comes.

Today's Rooted Principle:

If the answer to your prayer is delayed, pray again. Never give up until your answer comes.