Prevailing Prayer
According to the pattern revealed in the book of Joel chapter two for prayer and fasting, so far we have dealt with the first two, i.e. soul searching and dealing with the works of the flesh in repentance and turning back to the Lord. In this issue, we are going to start with the most vital part of your fast, Travail. I assume that at this point your body is getting used to a fasted life and as such, you have energy to focus and to press into the Lord concerning the issues that led you to fast. Like childbirth, it requires tremendous focus and precision.
This is where we wrestle with issues in our life in light of God’s promises, and push back on the enemy who has occupied the territory we seek to reclaim. It would be advisable that you limit your exposure to the issues of the day i.e., news, social media or other forms of entertainment, because the success of your fast depends on getting to a place with God where new buds of faith can sprout to move the mountains in your life. Satan knows that this is where you will overcome him and will therefore try to throw all kinds of darts and arrows at you, to distract you from birthing the new.
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar,
And let them say, “Have compassion and spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not make Your inheritance (Israel) an object of ridicule,
Or a [humiliating] byword among the [Gentile] nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God? (Joel 2:17).
As Lizzy and I minister over people of all walks of life, one of the most prevalent crises that we encounter is unanswered prayer. Somehow, the scenario described in Mathew 17 where the disciples where unable to heal a boy has played out in people’s marriages, finances, families, health etc. In the Scripture mentioned above, we see the Prophet admonishing the Priest (the believer) to weep between the porch and the alter. This the porch is where everyone can see you; in the congregation of the righteous and the altar is the closet described in Matthew 6:6; the secret place of prayer.
Examples of travailing Prayer
Hannah (1samuel 1:1-18)
Hannah had been barren for years and Peninnah the second wife of her husband ridiculed her accosted her bitterly. Even though her husband loved her dearly, her desire for a child drove her to seek the Lord in great desperation through prayer and in making a vow while at the temple. She was in such travail that Eli the Priest thought that she had been drinking; her response to him captions the state of her heart, “I am a woman of great desperation.” It is interesting to note that after this encounter, Hannah went home happy and ate, without the evidence of answered prayer. She later conceived and gave birth to Samuel the Prophet. In this case, she travailed and received the faith that was needed to move the mountain in her life.
Elijah (1 Kings 18 :1-46)
Elijah had prophesied that the heavens would withhold rain for three and a half years. After many days, the word of the Lord came to him and said, “Go show yourself to Ahab, I will send rain in the earth.” One would think that after Elijah’s obedience, rain would come since it was a direct promise from God. However, we see Elijah travail for the promise that God had given Him in verse 42. He crouched down to the earth and put his head between his legs and prayed until the Lord answered him. Its important to note that Elijah sent his servant to check seven times, seven being the number of perfect completions; it implies that he travailed until the Lord answered his prayer.
The woman who could not be denied (Mathew 15:21-28, Mark 7:25-30)
Even though this woman was not fasting or praying, Jesus equates her desperation for the healing of her sick child to GREAT FAITH. She was a Gentile; Greek by birth and since we know that Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, it was not her lot to seek for the healing of her daughter. However, her persistence and humility not only secured a miracle for her daughter, but also made her a part of the Gospel which we read today. It is suitable to say here that your background, race, origin or education doesn’t matter; a broken heart and a contrite spirit, God will not turn away.
We could mention Esther, David, Paul, of Hannah in the New testament among others. Their travail birthed in them a faith that killed giants, overcame great adversity and kept them alive until they saw the promise. Deep calls unto deep; your deep calling unto the deep things of God will birth the will of God in your life on earth as it is in heaven.
This is no ordinary prayer
Depending on the level of desperacy for deliverance, this is no ordinary prayer. In this phase there will be groanings, tears, sweat and weeping. A longing that is greater than the mere satisfaction of answered prayer. In the afore mentioned Scripture, the Prophet exclaims that, “Why should they say where is their God?” When the heathens take advantage of us because of the absence of God’s power in our life, we are crying out to God to redeem His name among the righteous, and release a power that will show that our God is the same yesterday, today and forever more.
In this phase, you will wrestle with your own will verses the will of God. Satan will offer you temporal solutions for the breakthrough you seek, to keep you in the same place you are. He may even use the people close to you to tempt you into giving up your pursuit. Whatever it is that you seek, you can have if you can believe. Keep razor sharp focus and travail, so that the areas of your unbelief may be overcome by faith.
Are there areas in your life where they ask where is their God?
In this phase, specifity is power. We are not praying for God’s general blessings, but are rather seeking for His right hand to act of our behalf in areas that we cannot live in the same state any longer. It may be the salvation of a loved one, restoration of marriage, a financial issue or even direction of life and calling. In all of these and more, God has answered many people who have gone before him in travail and as a result, they changed their generation. You are alive for such a time as this, do not let this moment pass you by. Seek His uttermost in prayer so that you can become the solution for the spiritual draught that is ravaging our country.
How do I transition from ordinary prayer to travail?
In Romans 8:26 and 27, Paul by the Holy spirit tells us, “In the same way the Spirit comes to us and helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself knows our need and at the right time, intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes before God, on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will”.
Yield to the Holy Ghost and ask Him to pray through you concerning the issues in your heart. You may start praying in other tongues, worship and then as you follow Him, He will lead you to the deep things of God.
Meditative Psalm 63
O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You;
My soul, (my life, my very self) thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have gazed upon You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
So, will I bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul (my life, my very self) is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises [to You] with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate and thoughtfully focus on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help.
And in the shadow of Your wings [where I am always protected] I sing for joy.
My soul (my life, my very self) clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek my life to destroy it
Will [be destroyed and] go into the depths of the earth [into the underworld].
They will be given over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
