Importunate Prayer

I’ve heard many sermons and lessons on the parable of the unjust judge and the importunate widow in Luke 18, but until recently I hadn’t thought much about what that kind of importunate prayer is really for.

I had always assumed that persistent, tenacious prayer is meant for times when God appears to be saying no. But then I noticed the account of Elijah and the rainstorm.

In 1 Kings 18, God has just proved Himself God by sending fire down from heaven to consume the offering on the altar Elijah had built. The priests of the false god, Baal, had been executed, and Israel seemed to be on the right track again.

This was the moment when Elijah went to prayer. He prayed, then sent his servant to look for a raincloud, but the servant came back saying there was not a cloud in sight. So Elijah prayed again, and again sent his servant to look. Not until the seventh time did a tiny cloud appear. From that, Elijah knew God had sent the rain He had promised.

Now, at first, this appears to be the typical story of someone laboring in persistent prayer until the answer comes. But look at what God told Elijah before he had even started out to speak to the king:

“Go, show thyself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” (18:1)

God had already promised to send rain. Elijah prayed completely in accordance with the will of God, and yet he prayed fervently and persistently until he knew the rain was on its way.

So what? You might be asking. What does that mean for me?

It means, quite simply, that the lesson of Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:1 is the same regardless of whether or not we are praying for something we know to be God’s will.

“men ought always to pray, and not to faint”

When God burdens our hearts to pray, we should pray. When the burden is for something He has said in His Word is His will, we should pray. We ought “always to pray.”

Pray and pray and pray until God gives you peace that He has worked, and the God-given burden to pray is lifted.

“Pray without ceasing.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)