Don’t Give Up

By: Sam Garvin

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. – James 5:17-18.

Prayer is the lifeline that brings our souls home. I am ashamed, I haven’t been praying like I use to. And God keeps showing me over and over that prayer is The Way to center my heart and mind on Him. And yet I struggle, with overthinking and wanting answers to the “whys” but that is not how faith is built, now is it? Trying to keep my mind and heart leveled. At times, they are each others enemy. I want to be faithful. My soul desires Him where peace and rest is found. 

Some examples of prayer in the Bible is: Hannah prayed in deep distress and wept bitterly. (1 Samuel 1:10) Daniel prayed on his knees three times a day. (Daniel 6:10) David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10) Jesus said pray in secret, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) Paul said, “pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

Our heart posture changes when we pray like this. Depending on the season, I know 2020 has been a hard year for most if not all and you might have been praying one or all of these way. Even though our heart nature leans towards our flesh, our soul cries on bended knee. Don’t count God’s timing to yours. You might have to pray the same prayer for three years or God will transform that prayer in the likeness of Him. 

Either way, just pray.

Communicate to your Father in Heaven. Remember what ever you plant will bare fruit and just like gardening sometimes if the soil doesn’t bear good fruit you might to go back prepared the ground again. Or you could be preparing the ground for the some time now and nothing seems to be growing but don’t give up. There is still time. Here’s to 2021 for New Beginnings, New levels of Faith, and Trusting our Father with all our hearts, soul, and mind. 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9