I believe in the power of prayer. I have also seen the power of prayer first-hand for myself and many around me. I have seen broken marriages healed, I have seen childless couples be blessed with children after years of prayer, I have seen prodigals come home to their loving Father, I have seen people I know face difficult situations and come out of those situations, I have seen people overcome addictions, etc. after loved ones prayed hard and long for them.

I have also seen heartache over prayers not being answered in the way or the timing we want. I know that this is not easy. I have felt that and still do.

I had a friend who I would get together and pray with. She would pray for people far and wide. She loved building relationships with others and learning things she could pray for them about. She was sick for a long time and loved serving the Lord, but after a while she got to a point where she couldn’t physically serve in the same capacity she once did. Prayer was the way she could serve. She never gave up praying for people even when it seemed there was no answer, or not the answer she wanted. It wasn’t just one and done with her. She kept a list and she prayed for those people over and over again. She would never hesitate to ask others to join her in this quest for prayer. I know one of her biggest prayers was that her sister would start going to church and deepen her relationship with the Lord. Samantha passed away in 2019, but I remember even once she was at home in a hospital bed this was still a prayer of hers. She never stopped praying for her. She didn’t get to see if this prayer came to fruition or not, but she still kept praying.

I think sometimes when we don’t get the answers we are looking for, we give up. We stop praying. God wants us to keep that open line of communication with Him, He wants to hear what is on our minds all day, every day. In fact, if you want to know what God’s will for you is, this is part of it.

That doesn’t say pray sometimes, pray when things are going your way, pray when you feel like it. It says-Pray CONTINUALLY. Talk to Jesus all the time. About all things.In the good times and the hard times. Believe me, I know when you are facing struggles it’s difficult to keep talking to Him about it-but how cool is it that our heavenly Father wants to hear from us all the time??!! The power in prayer clearly comes from God first and foremost, but also part of the power is the relationship we are developing with Him, and the bond we are developing with the person we are praying for. I also believe He is working on us while we are praying for the situation. He is chiseling us into the masterpiece He wants us to be, which can sometimes be painful-but worth it in the long run.

In a couple days a song is being released by our very own talented team,Victory Worship, with the very title of this devotion - ”Keep Praying”. We have sung it at our church over the past couple months, but it is now being released to the general public. The very cool thing is I know and love each person on this team and have seen the fruition of some prayers that they have prayed for years. When they wrote this they felt every single word. When they sing it, they have experienced it themselves. It’s really beautiful! The first couple verses of the song have been on repeat in my head and I want to share them with you. (Also when it comes out I urge you to listen and share it and pray that it makes it far and wide!!)

Rejoice in hope

While you wait on the answer-Keep praying. Don’t give up! Trust in God that He is working on you and them while you are praying.

Back to my friend Samantha-after she passed away and went on to be in her forever home, her sister Wendy started coming to church. She didn’t just start coming to church; she immersed herself in the Word, and started attending Bible studies. Her relationship with Jesus grew deeper. Y’all-my sweet friend was faithful in prayer to her very last breath. Even though she didn’t get to see that her prayers were answered,we who also prayed for Wendy and her family get to see her every week and know that Samantha never gave up. I pray today that this gives you hope to not give up praying. You may not get to see the answer on this earth, but trust that God has a plan. He will answer in His way and His time-for theirs (and your) good and His glory!