Do you ever feel like giving up on prayer? Have you prayed about something but haven’t seen results yet? Does it seem like God isn’t listening or answering?
I’ve been there too. There are times when I’ve poured my heart out to God, but the situation remained unchanged. I felt discouraged, wondering if prayer even made a difference.
But then I came across a simple yet powerful principle in Scripture:
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”
Luke 18:1 (NLT)
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In other words, Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH).
This completely transformed my prayer life. As I’ve prayed persistently over the last 25 years I’ve seen God answer my prayers in amazing ways.
I’ve been healed of diabetes, God miraculously provided for me and my family during the COVID-19 pandemic, and He has done so much for my family.
Many of our church members have received their breakthroughs as I’ve prayed with them in church.
The Bible makes it clear that we should pray with expectancy until we receive a breakthrough from God.
Prayer is not passive, but active. It’s a spiritual warfare that changes things on earth.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].”
James 5:16 (AMP)
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In this post, let’s explore what it looks like to P.U.S.H. in prayer, according to God’s Word. I hope that you’ll be encouraged to press on in prayer until you get results!
1. Prayer Attacks Sin
Prayerlessness leads to more sin. But consistent prayer helps overcome sinful tendencies.
“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.”
1 Samuel 12:23 (ESV)
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As you seek God’s face in prayer, He will convict you of sin and empower you to walk in holiness. But refusing to pray gives more ground to fleshly desires.
So if you’re struggling with a sinful habit, go to that secret place of prayer! Allow God’s light to expose the darkness so you can walk free.
Persistently bring it before God until you have the victory.
2. Prayer Attacks The Enemy
Our prayers enable God to move against the powers of darkness. So it’s no wonder the enemy tries hard to stop your prayers.
When Daniel prayed consistently, it provoked the jealousy of his enemies. They convinced the king to sign a decree prohibiting prayer for thirty days (Daniel 6:7-10).
Yet Daniel refused to stop praying, even when threatened with death. He trusted God and did not fear man.
God honored Daniel’s faithfulness by shutting the lions’ mouths when he was thrown into the den.
Don’t let opposition, inconvenience, or intimidation stop you from praying.
Your persistent prayers release God’s power against the enemy. P.U.S.H. through, and you will see a breakthrough!
3. Prayer Attacks The Flesh
Your flesh naturally resists prayer. It doesn’t feel like getting up early or staying up late to pray. The flesh craves comfort over being on your knees.
But just as physical exercise trains your physical muscles, prayer exercises your spirit. So you must deny “feelings” and crucify the flesh through prayer.
“Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 (AMP)
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As you persist in prayer, you’ll grow stronger in your spirit.
Don’t let your flesh win – P.U.S.H. in prayer until your flesh is in full submission to God’s Spirit!
4. Prayer Attacks Bad Circumstances
When you face sickness, lack, or calamity, the temptation is to stop praying. Why pray when nothing seems to change?
But this is when fervent prayer is needed the most! Bad circumstances should drive you to your knees, not away from prayer.
Consider Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1-20)…
“10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly…19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
1 Samuel 1:10, 19-20
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Despite years of barrenness, Hannah persisted in prayer until God answered with the gift of a son, Prophet Samuel.
Don’t allow bad circumstances to stop your prayers. Instead, let them stir you to passionately seek God until your breakthrough comes!
5. Prayer Attacks Passivity
Passivity says, “If it’s God’s will, it will happen. I’ll just wait and see.” But this is dangerous thinking lacking faith.
Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who kept pleading with an unjust judge until he granted her justice (Luke 18:1-8). Listen to what Jesus said right after…
“7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:7-8 (NIV)
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God wants us to actively keep asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer (Matthew 7:7-8). He expects us to push through in prayer until the answer manifests.
So don’t settle for passivity or complacency in prayer. Cry out fervently to God until you see His justice!
6. Persevering In Prayer Brings Heavenly Interference
Prayer is not just an earthly exercise. It’s a spiritual transaction that moves Heaven to interfere on Earth.
In the Book of Esther, when Haman planned to annihilate the Jews in Persia, Mordecai urged Queen Esther to approach the king about the crisis.
It was a risky move, but Mordecai put pressure on Esther…
“13 He sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:13-14 (NIV)
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In response, Esther requested Mordecai:
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king.”
Esther 4:16 (NIV)
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The entire Jewish nation pushed in fasting and prayer! And God answered – the king extended favor to Esther and the Jews were saved.
Persevering prayer causes Heaven to move on your behalf. So don’t stop praying until you see Heaven’s intervention in your situation!
Key Takeaways: P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens
- Prayer attacks sin – persistently pray until you have victory over sinful habits.
- Prayer attacks the enemy – pray persistently despite opposition from the enemy.
- Prayer attacks the flesh – pray until your flesh is in full submission to God’s Spirit.
- Prayer attacks bad circumstances – pray until you see God’s breakthrough in difficult situations.
- Prayer attacks passivity – pray persistently instead of waiting passively.
- Persevering prayer brings Heaven’s interference on Earth – pray until Heaven responds!
In Summary: Why We Need to Push!
Are you battling discouragement in prayer? Does it seem God is silent and nothing is changing? Don’t lose heart! Press on in prayer with expectancy.
Keep crying out to God with passion. Wrestle with Him until you see the victory. Persevere in prayer until Heaven responds. Pray until something happens!
The enemy wants you to quit praying because he knows your persistent prayers will unleash God’s power. But don’t stop short, P.U.S.H.
Lift your eyes to Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith. Set your face like flint and remain in the place of prayer until your answer comes. And never, ever give up!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long should I persistently pray before I give up?
A. Once doubt or unbelief sets in, your prayers become ineffective (James 1:6-7). Persist as long as you have faith that God will answer.
Q. What if I pray persistently and God says no?
A. Sometimes God responds with a no for reasons we don’t understand. Be ready in case God answers differently than you expected.
Pray for the grace to trust God’s perfect will, whether or not He answers how you asked.
Q. What if I don’t feel like praying persistently?
A. You pray by faith, not feelings. Discipline yourself because breakthroughs don’t come without persistence.
Set reminders to pray throughout your day. Pray with a friend to motivate each other. Do whatever it takes not to lose heart!
Q. Why does persistent prayer produce results?
A. Persistent prayer demonstrates your faith in God. It shows God the intensity of your desire. And it overcomes spiritual resistance from forces opposing God’s will. That’s why pushing through produces breakthroughs!
