8^th August 2019

What benefits can we see if we commit to praying long-term?

If you met Edna in the street, you would hardly notice her. An elderly widow, small, grey-haired, slight of build, old fashioned in manner, and wearing unfashionable clothes. I have met her a few times over the last ten years, during my visits to preach at St Helen’s Bishopsgate in London. Yet Edna prays for me every day. She is a prayer warrior.

Two years ago, Edna asked me if I could get her in contact with Baden Teague, because 50 years ago he began a prayer meeting for China in London. She wanted him to know that they were still meeting, and still praying!( Baden was later a Senator for South Australia) I contacted him, and he told me that they started the prayer meeting, not to pray that Western missionaries would get back into China, but that the Chinese church would grow and propagate itself. Edna’s prayers, and the prayers of many others, have been wonderfully answered! Isn’t it a wonderful story…to pray the same big prayers for 50 years, and live to see the fruit of all of that praying?

It reminds me of the stories of people from around the world praying for Nepal to open its doors to the gospel. People prayed for decades, began work with Nepalis who lived in India, and prepared to go to Nepal when the gospel door opened. I imagine that those who prayed for China and for Nepal often prayed ‘How long, O LORD?’ Persistent prayer, like persistent ministry often includes frustration. But slow and steady gospel tortoises win the day, as God rewards persistence in ministry and persistence in prayer. So let me ask the question, ‘How long since you have prayed “How long?”’ Do you have a track record of long-term praying? Are you a long-term pray-er, or do you give up easily? We must learn to ‘wait on God.’

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 NIV.

Wait for the LORD

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD Psalm 27:14.

I wait for the LORD , my whole being waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the LORD

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

Psalm 130:5,6.

My brother John came to Christ on his death-bed just 4 days before he died. We came from a non-Christian family. I was the first person in my family to be converted, and when John died I had been a Christian for 50 years. I wish I could say that I had prayed for his conversion every day, but so often I had become discouraged and given up. John seemed so uninterested.

O that I had prayed every day!

O that I had waited on God every day!

O that I had begged God every day

to convert my beloved brother!

I can say that with God’s help I have been praying for 35 years that God would raise up gospel workers for the church in Melbourne, and raise up gospel workers from Melbourne to serve around the world. I am sure many others have been praying the same prayer. And the Lord of the harvest is raising up workers. Praise him!

My God sustain our faith, hope, and love so that, unremarkable people as we are, we might pray remarkable prayers, and persist in praying them. For slow and steady gospel tortoises win the day, as God rewards those who persist in ministry and in prayer.

Peter Adams, Vicar Emeritus at St Judes Carlton.

Reprint by permission: ‘Boundless,’ CMS Victoria. Winter 2019.