Don't Stop!

2 Kings 13:15-19 Elisha said to the King of Israel, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. 

“Take the bow in your hands. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”  Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped.  The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

Greetings all you beautiful creatures! 

Based on the passage above, today we are going to pray one long prayer.

Ready?

Dear Lord, So many times we are like this king.  We pray a few times, but then we stop.  We quit. We give up.  We forfeit so many answers and so many victories because we cease “striking the ground.”  Elisha knew that however many times the king struck the ground would be the number of times victory would be granted over his enemies.  But it was up to the king, just like it is up to us, how often we will strike.  The king’s approach was lackluster and halfhearted.  So much was at stake.  You were willing to give so much – to send so much power – to grant complete victory – and it was a wasted opportunity.  Yes, You are good and will still answer us, but precious Lord, we want all the answers You are willing to give, not just some.  And we know that part of it has to do with us.  Will we pray? Will we hang in there?  Will we be persistent?  Will we persevere?  The king was given divine direction and should have kept at it until told to stop, or at least done it twice as much as he should have.  He forfeited complete victory, but we will not.  We will show you that we have the necessary gusto to receive all Your promises.  Bless us today, in Jesus’ name, and strengthen us to keep going.  Amen!