The Prayer That Was Almost Answered

One night a lady in Florida began to pray for her unsaved landlord. God helped her pray into the night. As she interceded, God began to encourage her faith. 

Suddenly, the thought came to her, But he's an alcoholic. He'll never get saved.

"That's probably true," she acknowledged and climbed back into bed and slept the rest of the night.

Weeks later, the landlord's wife told the praying lady an amazing story. 

"One night my husband was restless. Finally, feeling miserable and unable to sleep, he got out of bed and headed toward the church across the field. But just as he got to the door and put his hand on the doorknob, his distress left him. He came back home, climbed into bed, and went to sleep."

In prayer, there frequently comes a place when we could easily stop. Often it is just before we know God has heard. "And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:15).

The Hebrews writer reminds us, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised" (Hebrews 10:35, 36). Our caring enough to persevere in prayer for others may cost us time, even sleep, but as David said, "I will not sacrifice to the LORD...offerings that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24).

Father, teach me to pray as Jacob prayed: "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 

"And the Lord direct your hearts into...the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV)."Be...faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).