Start Strong 2021 - Persistent in Prayer

 🕔 20 mins

Persistent in Prayer- ASK Technology to be applied in 2021

“So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened. Luke 11:9‭-‬10 AMP

Ask, and it shall be given you - Matthew 7:7-11; Mat 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 16:23.

Ask- Given- Receives 

• Ask- the statement of our wants
• Faith asks
• Ps 50:15 - And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt Glorify me.
• Ps 118:5- I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
• Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Seek- Found - Finds

• Seek - signifies that we marshal our arguments
• Hope seeks
• Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
• Psalm 27:4,8 - One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple…
• Psalm 34:4,10 - I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…
• Heb 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

Knock- Opened - Opens 

• "Knock" — importunity.
• Love knocks
• Luke 13:25 - When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
• 2 Corinthians 6:2-For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

Persistent Prayer breaks resistance 

• Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.. Rom 12:12- BSB
• With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:14 BSB
• Ephesians 6:18 - Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
• Colossians 4:2- Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful

Key Pointers to recollect

• Right after responding to Model Prayer, Jesus mentioned Ask, Seek and Knock Technology.
• Parable of Friendship Vs Persistent - not get up to provide because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence..
• he will get up and give him as much as he needs- Compare with your situation. 
• “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. Matthew 7:7‭-‬8 AMP
• .. Be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMP This verse is in the middle of the characters the Paul listed which are, Rejoice and Giving thanks 🤔
• It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in princes. Psalms 118:8‭-‬9 AMP.
• Out of my distress I called on the Lord ; The Lord answered me and set me free. Psalms 118:5 AMP

Remember, Unbelief stir or embitter the situation but belief keeps calm and peace ✌️ . Eg the unbelieving Jews [who rejected Jesus as Messiah] stirred up and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the believers. Acts 14:2 AMP

2021 motive is

• Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 AMP
• But you are a chosen race , a royal priesthood , a consecrated nation , a [special] people for God’s own possession , so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9 AMP.
• Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude. Colossians 2:6‭-‬7 AMP
• For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP

• Your greatest ability is your availability. Don’t give up on people, just give them the time when they need it, and remember that the Holy Spirit is working in them. Why not take a moment today to pray for a friend who doesn’t yet know Jesus. The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 AMP
• The Lord is Good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word].  It is good that one waits quietly For the salvation of the Lord . Lamentations 3:25‭-‬26 AMP
• Psalm 19:14 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
• Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 AMP
• And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us; Confirm for us the work of our hands— Yes, confirm the work of our hands. Psalms 90:17 AMP

Tips to practice ASK Technique

• Pray frequently - 3 or 5 or 7 or 12 times in a day
• Be most earnest - as if it's your last chance and LWD
• Importunate in your prayers (especially to the point of annoyance)
• In faith
• Fervency and constancy in Prayer
• Continuance in Prayer
• Be familiar on The Law of Prayer
• Mizpah 
• Prayer ACTS, Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplications.
• Prayer ARTS, Adoration, Reconciliation, Thanksgiving and Supplications

Note: You can write out your prayers, sing your prayers, paint your prayers, draw your prayers, and illustrate your prayers. You can record your prayers and share them with others. You can text or email your prayers to friends and family. Pray while hiking, pray while cooking, pray while showering, pray while biking. Visualization can also be powerful. As you do so, you’re going to see a freshness in your walk with the Lord. Take a moment and ask the Lord to show you creative ways to enjoy prayer. As you get new ideas, write those down in your journal and share them with others.