Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Besides fervor and desire, intensity in prayer includes importunity. In some ways, importunity combines...
fervency, desire, and perseverance—but not always. Importunate prayer may be fervent, but it is something more than fervency.
It may be clothed with the deepest desire, but it is something above and beyond desire. It usually includes perseverance, but it adds an important new dimension.
What is importunity? The Greek work used in Luke 11:8 is anaideia. It means utter shamelessness. It includes the concept of great boldness, of urgency, of pressing your request, claim, or demand to the very limits, and it includes determination to persist in that urgent boldness until it receives the answer.
Andrew Murray, a great believer in importunate prayer, describes the growth of importunity in these words:
"It begins with the refusal to at once accept a denial.
It grows to the determination to persevere, to spare
no time or trouble, till an answer comes. It rises to the
intensity in which the whole being is given to God in
supplication, and the boldness comes to lay hold of
God's strength." ( Ministry of Intercession, p. 53).
Importunity in prayer is prayer for God's will to be done. It Must be wholly unselfish. It is usually shamelessness in pressing the urgency of the need of someone else.
Wrestling in prayer may include some elements of self-benefit. When Jacob wrestled for God's protection for his family, he included himself and was himself also benefited.
But holy importunity is righteous and right as it pleads for others.
The unembarrassed, shameless perseverance in prayer until God gives His full answer is described by George Mueller:
"It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright;
nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we
must patiently, believingly, continue in prayer until we
obtain an answer." (D. M. McIntyre, The Hidden Life
of Prayer, 3d ed.([London: Marshal, Morgan & Scott, n.d.],
p. 87).
As Forsyth concludes his book The Soul of Prayer, he urges us to wrestle in prayer in these words:
"Cling to Him with your strength, not your weakness
only, with your active and not only your passive faith,
and He will give you strength. Cast yourself into His
arms not to be caressed but to wrestle with Him. He
loves that holy war. He may be too many for you, and
lift you from your feet. But it will be to lift you from
earth, and set you in the heavenly places which are
theirs who fight the good fight and lay hold of God as
their eternal life." (P. T. Forsyth, The Soul of Prayer,
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, n.d.), p.92)
(Google image and my emphasis added)
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana
#47 The Dynamic of Importunity
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 80-82) Zondervan
Let's pray-
Father, we see there is a great need for us to pray with importunity! May we understand what You're telling us today about how we are to approach You in our praying. As importunity in prayer is prayer for Your will to be done, help us keep that foremost in mind. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Today’s Bible verse-
(Prov. 23:12 KJV) "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."
(Prov. 1:7 a NIV) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Today’s quotes-
"The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts." George Mueller
"We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patters of thought and behavior." John R. W. Stott
Our thought today-
We cannot claim any ability apart from the Father. We do our part by praying as He leads, and He does the healing.
Our question today-
Do we pray for what we want to happen, or what the Father wants to have happen?
Upcoming posts-
#48 Importunity is Essential in the Spiritual Realm
16th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
How to Grow in Faith
18th- Saturday's post by Merlin Crothers
20th- Sunday evening's post by Jean Oathout #49 God delights In Your Holy Boldness 21st- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
A popular post-
Born into a working-class family in the 18th century, Carey made his living as a shoemaker.
While crafting shoes, Carey read theology and journals of explorers..."
|
31 day-Devotional + my personal story, using the information shared.
A great gift for someone who may need help
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
marriage, wanting some good advice.
No comments:
Post a Comment