DON’T STOP PRAYING!

Is your prayer life a ritual or a life-line? We often give up right before the breakthrough because we cannot see what is happening behind the scenes. In this blog, C. Atkinson shares a powerful story of an answered prayer at a grocery store register and looks at the lives of Elijah and Daniel to prove that "earnest prayer" always produces results. Discover why you must keep knocking—even when the heavens seem silent.

C. Atkinson

2/7/20243 min read

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was a human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” — James 5:16-18 (NLT)

Praise the Lord, everyone! It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord. We thank God for this new month of February and for the preservation of our lives!

As I waited on the Lord this week, He reminded me of the vital importance of prayer. Drawing closer to Him through prayer allows us to offload the heavy burdens we often carry—willingly or unwillingly—day by day. Many of us know the sting of discouragement when answers seem delayed, but while meditating on the Word, I heard clearly in my spirit: “The righteous prayer availeth much.”

The Hidden Impact of Your Prayers

This revelation brought to mind an encounter I had months ago at the grocery store. A cashier I often visit approached me and said, “Thank you!” I was puzzled until she explained that I had prayed for her in the past and that the Lord had answered. With a joyful heart, she shared, “I am married now! God bless you!”

To be honest, I didn't immediately remember the specific prayer, but my response was simple: “To God be the Glory!” As believers, we often intercede for others without seeing the immediate result. But what joy it is when those answers are manifested! Revelation 12:11 says we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Her testimony was my confirmation: DON'T STOP PRAYING. Even when you can’t see what He is doing, pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Fragile Jars, Great Power

Prayer unlocks a beautiful treasure within us—the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:7 describes us as "fragile clay jars" containing a "great treasure." This makes it clear that the power is from God, not ourselves.

The prophet Elijah was human just like us—frail and fragile. Yet, he prayed earnestly, again and again, believing God would deliver. He didn’t stop until the heavens opened. Daniel is another example; even when a law was signed to stop him, he knelt three times a day as he had always done (Daniel 6:10).

Are you praying for a sick loved one, a wayward child, or a family member to be saved? You might be wondering, "Lord, do You still hear me?" Like Daniel, whose answer was delayed for 21 days by spiritual warfare, your answer is on the way. The Lord's celestial angels are fighting on your behalf. Don’t stop now.

Your Spiritual Life-Line

Jesus Himself modeled the importance of intercession. He told Peter, "I have pleaded in prayer for you... that your faith should not fail" (Luke 22:32). If the Lord saw fit to pray for us, how much more should we pray for one another?

Pursuing a closer walk with Jesus requires a "life-line" of communication. To grow this intimacy, we must:

Seek Privacy: Go into your closet and pray to the Father in secret (Matthew 6:6).
Believe: Trust that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Stay Consistent: Meditate on the Word and be obedient to His voice.

If we stop praying, we break our spiritual connection. We want God to be the center of our heartbeat from the moment we arise. As the old song says, “He’s my reason for living, He’s my source of survival... give me Jesus.”

A Reach That Never Fails

R.A. Torrey once wrote that prayer reaches down into the deepest depths of ruin to take hold of those who seem lost beyond hope and lifts them up until they are fit to sit beside the Son of God.

My prayer for you today is simple: DON'T STOP PRAYING, even in the hardest moments of your life. One thing have we desired: to dwell in His house and behold His beauty forever.

God bless you, and keep the line open!