P.U.S.H.

Philosophical View of push

Move forward by using force to pass people or cause them to move aside.

Biblical View of push

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, thus saith the Lord, with these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 1 Kings 22:11 KJV

As a child going to church with my grandparents, I would always hear the Pastor using the word ‘PUSH’ I asked my grandmother what does that word mean, she would say to me, it means praying until something happens.

At first, I thought that was interesting, but over the years as I grew from childhood into an adult and came to know Jesus and accepted him as my personal Lord and Saviour I have come to understand that it means a call to a lifetime of prayer.

Let us continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. The call to continue steadfastly in prayer is necessary because we all have the tendency to give up praying, especially when the answer to what we have been praying for indefinitely is being delayed.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Colossians 4:2-4kJV

1.If we were to live long enough , we will experience a delay in our prayer. Delays in receiving answers to our prayers are inevitable.

2.We may have been praying for physical healing from illness or spiritual deliverance but it has not yet happened.

3. We might be praying for a life partner and that prayer has not been answered.

4.We could be praying for a loved one to come to faith in Christ, but it has not materialised.

Restoration of a broken relationship and many other issues, but the answers have not come yet.

We should not stop believing regardless of delayed answers, hence a call to continue steadfastly in prayer.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Perseverance in prayer is needed because sometimes God is waiting on us to correct certain things in our lives which can cause our own delay, other times the timing is not right and also there might be those times when what we are asking for is not what he thinks is best for us. In some instances there can be delay caused in the spiritual realms.

Daniel was a good example of delayed prayer, he had fasted for twenty-one days, the first day he prayed God said he heard his prayer, but the prince of Persia stood in the way. God sent Michael the archangel to tell Daniel that his prayer has been answered but was delayed because the prince stood in his way even though God had answered his prayer on time.

Opposition from the enemy is sometimes the cause of delays to our prayers, but sometimes God allows delays in order to work out his will in our lives. Delay does not mean denial. “Wait does not mean No”.

This is why we are challenged to continue in prayer.

(A)Persistence is encouraged because God has promised answers to our prayers.

(B)Persistence is an expression of faith in God who answers prayers.

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:12-13 KJV

When we persist and not get discouraged we will experience the joy of answered prayers. This comes in form of our situations being changed, or ourselves being transformed. The greatest reward of persisting in prayer is greater intimacy with God. Therefore, do not give up praying, no matter how long it takes to get an answer.

I close with Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

PUSH!!!!