Whole-Hearted Devotion to Pray

11/29/1997

God is VERY SERIOUS that we must be DEVOTED to asking Him (“praying” ) about the issues and relations of life. If we REALLY want Him to hear us, we’d BETTER be WHOLEHEARTED and PERSISTENT and CLEAR in talking to Him about it!!! Notice the PASSION and PERSISTENCE God loves to answer: “In bitterness of soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD” (1Sam. 1:10). “I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched and dry. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for You, my God, to help me” (Psa. 69:3). “You know what I long for, LORD; you hear my every sigh.” “I cried like a swift or thrush; I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am calling to You; O LORD, come to my aid!” (Isa. 38:14). “And this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Lk. 2:36-37). “Night and day we pray earnestly for you” (1Thes. 3:10). “Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and guard over you night and day, and my many tears for you” (Acts 20:31). “Night and day she asks God for help and spends much time in prayer” (1Tim 5:5). “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Heb. 5:7). 4:52 p.m.