Why to Never Give Up On Prayer


small child with hands clasped and eyes closed in prayer with blurred lights of Christmas tree in the background

Guest Post by Karen Friday


Wow! and Praise Jesus! took over my mind and settled in my soul as I rejoiced.

I cried happy tears over a long-awaited answer to a prayer I prayed over 5,000 times. Yes, you read that right—no typos or extra zeros.

You see, when my twin sister and I were little, our father disappeared from our life. My mom and stepfather took us to church, but we didn’t understand much about God or prayer. 

Along about fourth grade, my dad reappeared and wanted to be a part of my life again. I’ll never forget what he told me at nine-years-old, “People think there’s a God, but there’s not.” Not understanding it at the time, I knew later my dad was an atheist. 

This confused my young heart, wondering, Is God real and does He love me? Yet, I was in church and Sunday school class each week hearing about the God of the Bible.

Then something wonderful happened. At sixteen, both me and my sister prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Savior at a church revival. Sixteen turned out to be sweet after all.

That night, as I crawled into bed, I decided to pray daily for my father to believe in God and accept Christ. Even though I was a young Christian, I missed very few days praying for my dad. 

Soon I went off to college and continued to pray and asked others to pray. My husband and I met on campus and were both called into ministry. My dad knew what we believed and how our lives centered around the Lord.

But, I admit, my faith waned many times. My dad seemed hard-hearted and unreachable. So when I was a young woman, a mentor encouraged me to insert my father’s name into Scripture about salvation and pray it out loud. 

John 3:16, For God so loved Gene, that he gave his only Son, that if Gene believes in him, he will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:13, If Gene calls on the name of the Lord, he will be saved.

And there were other Bible verses. I looked up as many as I could find and faithfully prayed them over my father. I still practice this idea. I have Scriptures on the wall behind my computer and around my desk with my name inserted in them about God’s love or His faithfulness. And I insert my loved ones names in Bible verses for specific needs, salvation and other.

It wasn’t Father’s Day, but what a wonderful father’s day it was! We were having a birthday party for my paternal grandmother at her nursing home. Dad approached me teary-eyed, “Karen, did you hear the news? I accepted Christ as my Savior.” 

I could hardly believe it! I was thirty-two. A sixteen-year prayer finally answered. Sixteen long and often impatient years to grow my faith in God and my firm belief in prayer.

So many times we underestimate the power of prayer to change situations and people...to change us. We move the spiritual world when we praise the Lord, recognize who God is, petition the Almighty, intercede for others, and speak God’s Word in prayer.

But sometimes our own thoughts, the enemy, or other people trick our heart into thinking God is holding out on us. Maybe a prayer went unanswered in how we wanted the situation to turn out. Perhaps we feel God didn’t come through for us in what we wanted to happen. Or, we’ve prayed for something so long, it seems impossible.

Yet, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tell us to pray without ceasing. And the power of prayer and what it accomplishes is seen in James 5:14-16, pray for the sick and for each other, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (verse 16, ESV).

And this passage is one of my favorites: 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV, emphasis added).

What are you praying for? What aspect of God’s glorious riches do you currently need? Is it mercy, love, grace, peace, healing, comfort, strength, salvation for you or a loved one, or something else? What immeasurably more do you need now or in the future?

We pray to a God who is able to do immeasurably and abundantly more than we ever imagine in our human minds and limitations. Like a daughter’s prayer for her atheist dad’s salvation, prayed for sixteen years, and over 5,000 times.

Never, ever give up on prayer.



"Karen Friday is a pastor’s wife passionate about the local church, women’s ministry, speaking,
and sacred callings. Known as Girl Friday in the writing and blogging world, she founded the
award-winning, online community, Hope is Among Us at Karen Girl Friday. Karen is also an award-
winning author who has published devotions and articles, contributed to several anthologies and a
devotional, Dear Wife: 10 Minute Invitations to Practice Connection with Your Husband.
She writes monthly for A Wife Like Me, Inspire a Fire, and Soaring With Him while working on her
first nonfiction book. The Friday clan includes two grown children and two grandchildren.
The entire family is fond of the expression, “TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday.” They owe Monday an
apology. Connect with Karen on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn."

I encourage you to drop in on Karen Friday's hope-filled blog. You will be greatly encouraged
and truly blessed!

Thank you Karen for sharing this beautiful testimony about the power of unceasing prayer!



You might find me on these link-ups:

Grace & TruthWoman to Woman Ministries, Inspire Me MondayA Wise Women Builds Her HomeSpiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Good Morning MondaysTell His StoryFaith & Fellowship Blog Hop  Tuesday Talk   Faith 'N Friends Sitting Among Friends   House to Home  ,Wonderful Wednesday , Literacy Musings Mondays,Imparting GraceDance with Jesus Booknificent Thursdays  Fresh Market Friday Moments of Hope Wonderful Wednesdays , Tea & Word Tuesday Heart Encouragement Thursday Hearts for Home Messy Marriage Link-up Friday at the Fire Station Link-up Tune In Thursday Faith on Fire Link-upSunday Scripture Blessings Link-up, Sunday ThoughtsWriter Wednesday, Faith Filled Friday God Sized Dreams Link-Up Sitting Among Friends Be Thee Inspired Graceful Tuesday Link-up Aprons & Pearls Link-up Trekkingthru Link-up  Encouraging Word Wednesday  Grace Moments Link-up  Encouraging Hearts and Home Worth Beyond Rubies Seeking Sabbath Scripture and a Snapshot IHeart Verse Welcome Heart Kingdom Bloggers Outdoorsy Mommy Anchored Truth Tuesdays IHeart Verse InstaEncouragements



Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post. I think I sliced too much onions in my kitchen. I believe in the power of Prayer.

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    1. So glad this encouraged you. Never, ever give up on the power of prayer!

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    2. Hello Mareliz, Thank you so much for your kind words to Karen. Indeed! A wonderful post!

      Amen!

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

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  2. Such a wonderful, wonderful testimony and post, Karen! (Well, both of you Karens!) I was so blessed to read this today, especially in light of my dear nephew lying near death's door. The doctors have given up on him, yet he is still breathing. I, too, have seen the power of prayer move mountains, and I believe Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! I am so thankful you shared your heart with us today and SO grateful your dear Dad is now serving Jesus! Many blessings to you both of you!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cheryl! Indeed! Karen had the perfect testimony concerning unceasing prayer!

      Oh sweet friend, I have been continually lifting your nephew and all of you up to the Great Physician and the God of all Comfort. Indeed! God can move mountains!

      Thank you so much for always leaving such encouraging and edifying comments. You are such a blessing!

      Sending you much love,

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    2. So glad this encouraged you, Cheryl. So sorry to hear about your nephew. I will join you in praying for him. We pray to a God who is able to do immeasurably and abundantly more than we ever imagine in our human minds and limitations. My father passed away in 2010, five days before Christmas. So thankful he lived for our Lord his latter days.

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  3. I am doing better at remembering to pray and give thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Peabea, Prayer is definitely a discipline that I could use more work on. Because indeed it does take discipline. Discipline not to have my mind wander or to be too busy with other things. I think it was Martin Luther that said before a busy day, "that he would spend four hours in prayer". I'm not sure that I could aspire to that, but I am trying to do "breath prayers" throughout my day. :-)

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

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  4. Thank you for sharing this post today. This morning the Lord spoke to my heart about a family member, encouraging me to continue praying. It's been 26 years of prayer...your post was my confirmation.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Miaismine, You are very welcome! Praising God that Karen's post gave you confirmation and encouragement from the Lord. Thank you so much for sharing that!

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  5. Wonderful post!! Such a beautiful answer to prayer, and an encouragement to all of us still pleading at the throne of grace on behalf of a loved one.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kym, Indeed! Karen's prayer testimony was amazing!

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

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