Jesus taught a message about how to pray that is radically different from what we hear in many circles today. You see, many feel that we are to pray for someone only one time and then cease praying for them. These people reason that if we pray once and they don’t receive, they either have sin in their life or they have no faith.
This, however, is not what Jesus taught. See the following Scriptures.
Luke 18:1-8
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (KJV)
This is very simple. Jesus said that even a judge who could care less about the plight or justice of a widow would move to her defense if it would benefit the unjust judge.
Then Jesus said that God also would indeed avenge the needs of His own elect when “they cry unto him day and night.”
Now, crying unto God day and night doesn’t sound much like the religious cliché’s going around the land today. No. When we pray and minister for and to someone and the answer is not immediate, we stay the course. We do not quit. We continue to pray for them until God avenges them based upon our own “crying out day and night unto Him.”
Paul buttresses what Jesus taught. He said that we are to pray without ceasing. See the following Scripture.
1Thes 5:17
17Pray without ceasing. (KJV)
Matthew faithfully recorded Jesus' additional teaching on this subject. See the following Scriptures.
Matt 7:7-8
7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (KJV)
In the preceding verses, "ask," "seek," and "knock" are three Greek present tense verbs. Greek present tense verbs are primarily used to designate an action as "continuous action in present time." Consequently, the above verse means to ask and "keep on asking," to seek and "keep on seeking" and to knock and "keep on knocking" continuously in present time.
The ones asking and keeping on asking will receive.
Doing things Jesus’ way gets results. Doing anything based on the lack of faith of many today is disastrous, powerless and leaves the people for whom we pray absolutely helpless. Stay the course dear ones and you will win. You will receive. This is the key to power praying.