PRAY UNTIL YOUR JOY IS FULL.

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*PRAY UNTIL YOUR JOY IS FULL.*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Gen 32:24-32

*And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.*

*And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.*

*And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.*

*And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.*

*And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.*

*And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.*

*And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.*

*And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.*

*Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Persistent prayers can ultimately facilitate divine blessings.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him.

We will continue with Jacob's persistence and resilience.

At what point does a mortal man contest with God and the immortal God concludes that He could not prevail over the mortal?

We will cite two parables of Jesus that teach us how persistence can move the hands of God.

First, is in Luke 11:5-8 in the parable of the friend at midnight. The parable tells us of a friend who knocked on his neighbour's door but whom the neighbour refused because it was late, Luke 11:8 says *I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.*

The parable could be interpreted to mean that 'when the neighbour saw that he could not prevail over the friend or stop him from asking any further, he heeded to his friend's request and blessed him with his request'.

Luke 11:9 teaches us that when we persist inspite of not receiving answers or persist in our request though 'shamelessly' refused like the friend was refused by his neighbour yet we persist in shameless boldness, our request will receive answers.

The importunity of the friend in the parable teaches that believers who persistently ask, seek, and knock at God's door for His Holy Spirit and blessings will overcome the Spirit's providential delay or provoke His immediate blessing! (Lk 11:9-10).

Persistence in prayers has the power to accelerate compulsive answers from God.

God will ultimately respond to earnest, continual asking.

While the parable teach us of someone who will not take a 'no' for an answer, the story of Jacob teach us of people who will not take God's silence or delay for an answer and would keep asking until his joy is full.

Secondly, in Lk 18: 1-8, Jesus uses the parable of the unjust judge to teach that God will speedily give justice to his elect who cry out to him, not that He is wearied as the judge but when we always *".....pray, and not to faint;"* Lk 18:1.

Though the judge was unjust, he became a just judge because he realized the importance of justice to the widow because of her continual asking and persistence.

The judge who *".....would not for a while: 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.* Lk 18:4-5.

Persistence breaks resistance. Though the unjust judge was annoyed, he nevertheless gave the widow justice, not because he cared but out of her desperation, he saw that justice delayed is justice denied.

Did you stop praying because it seems answers are not coming?

Persist in prayer.

When you persist in prayer, God will ultimately respond to your earnest, continual asking.

Continual asking comes with promises from God, Matt 7:7, Lk 11:9-10, 18:7.

*Remorse corner.*

The more faithfully persistent you are, the more heaven perceives your seriousness to receive.

*Call to Word action.*

Unlike the unjust judge who felt troubled, God bears along in forbearance with those who persist in prayers though have not yet received answers, Lk 18:7-8.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Do not be discouraged to pray until your joy is full, John 16:24.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to continue to ask until my joy is full, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and be blessed as you come into His presence.

God bless you.

Shalom.