The ARISE Prayer Guide
5. E is for endurance.
There is always a price to pay if you want to get to a higher level in God.
That price can look like any number of things. I remember when I started this blog in October 2012. I knew that God was calling me to write, but I didn’t know where to find the time. I was determined to do so, though, because I knew that a big part of my destiny was tied to writing.
So I reviewed my schedule and took a close look at how I really was spending my time …
So I made a big decision. I decided to stop watching TV and write instead. I bought time for my destiny by selling a “good thing” that was not the best thing for me.
That’s not an example of endurance, but it is an example of paying a price. I paid a price–and am still paying that price–to go to the next level in what God was calling me to do. Even though I watch an occasional movie or travel documentary now, it’s very rare and usually only on a Sunday afternoon when my husband and I want some snuggle time. But you know what? Writing–encouraging you–is worth the price to me. I would pay it gladly, a million times over.
If you’re going to go to a higher level in God and His plan for your life, there is a price to be paid.
Here’s what paying a price has to do with endurance:
If you want to go to a higher level in God, endurance is guaranteed to be part of the price that you will have to pay. Guaranteed. Every time.
See, you’re going to have to wait on God when you wish He would move quickly. You’re going to have to stick with some tough situations–situations from which you would LOVE to walk away. You’re going to have to keep believing in some people that the enemy wants you to give up on.
You’re going to have to endure.
That’s why David prayed–out of the bitter anguish of his soul–
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, emphasis mine).
He knew he needed to endure. He needed a steadfast heart–a heart that could not be shaken.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve prayed this prayer many, many times. So many times I’ve felt like quitting. So many times I’ve wanted to walk away from someone, or from people, or from a task to which God assigned me. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve called a pastor and told him or her I was just ready to give up.
But it’s darkest right before dawn. The fight is hardest when you’re closest to winning it. And in order to win your battle, you have to endure.
If needing to endure discourages you, let this truth encourage you again:
It won’t be forever, beloved. Your battle won’t always be this hard. Jesus has already won it for you, and if things seem harder than ever right now, you’re closer than ever to seeing His victory manifest in your life.
So will you pray with me for endurance? Pray something like this:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You in Jesus’ name. Father, thank You for sending Jesus to earth to die for me. Thank You that Jesus won every victory and every battle on my behalf.
Lord, You see that I’m in quite a battle right now. Father, You know that I feel like quitting. But Lord, it’s not about what I feel. I want my life to reflect Your highest and most perfect will. So Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask You to create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. Help me to be patient and endure. Help me to appropriate the abundant life and ALL the victory that Jesus died for me to have. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Beloved, do you desire to go to a higher level in God? Pray ARISE. Pray for anointing, revelation, inspiration, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and endurance. And as you pray, God will answer. You will see the difference in your life as you tune into Him more and learn to follow His divine flow.
Do these 5 prayer directives resonate with you? If so, please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear what the Lord is saying to you!