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I have been anxious to share with you today. Yesterday we looked at the power of Peter's simple three word prayer "Lord save me". We looked at how God doesn't need us to explain the reasons for the circumstances we're in. He already knows everything. He doesn't need us to tell Him how to get us out of our circumstance. His will is perfect for our lives.

What I have felt a need to share is the paradox of prayer. The truth of God is filled with paradoxes, two things that seem to be opposites, yet both are true. While God doesn't need nor is He impressed with our lengthy prayers. We are also told to "pray without ceasing" 1 Thes 5:17.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

So how do we balance the truth that God hears and answers our simple direct prayers not needing details or suggestions with the truth that we are encouraged to pray persistently. This account from Daniel 10 helps us to understand the importance of persisting in prayer.   12Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. There is a battle that rages between good and evil, between God and the devil, and while we know Jesus has overcome and made the way for us to share in that victory, until He returns to establish His eternal Kingdom the battle continues.

Ephesians 6 gives us additional insight into this spiritual battle that we participate in through prayer. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against ^[a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Because our battle is against these spiritual forces we must continue and persist even though God hears our very first cry to Him we must persist.

Once again these persistant prayers are not for the purpose of changing God. They are for the purpose of changing everything else to God's will. Can we begin to grasp the amazing power and truth of the few words Jesus gaves us when He taught us to pray. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN! That is or should be our hearts cry when we pray for any situation. The answer is already complete in heaven. When Jesus was on the cross He said " It is finished " Every need on earth is already answered and complete in heaven, it is finished. So as I said the purpose of our prayer is not to change God's mind or His will, it is to change everything to agree with God's will. When we pray Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we are asking or declaring that earthly circumstances and situations come into allignment with the completed work of redemption and restoration that Jesus provided through the cross. "IT IS FINISHED"

Whether you have struggled with a situation for days, weeks or a lifetime, begin to see it as it is in heaven. In heaven there is no sickness, there is no sin. There is no fear or doubt. Every need on earth is anwered in heaven through the cross. Declare the truth of God's word and His perfect will over your situation and circumstance. Persist, pray without ceasing, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

If you need someone to stand with you in your battle, visit the guest book page and list your prayer request with the add a message tab.