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When Jesus Christ comes again will He find you and me continuing faithful in persistent and persevering prayer? Of course, we may die before he returns, and the question remains relevant. In my final days and hours on this earth will I remain faithful in service and obedience and witnessing and in prayer?

When I come again, will I find many who are faithfully continuing to pray?

Will we be found faithful, or, will we have ceased praying? How many will have given up and gone away? How many will have stopped praying when Jesus returns? Jesus indicates that this will actually happen! That is what Jesus is meaning.

When Saul of Tarsus met Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road, he asked, “Who are you, Lord? What shall I do, Lord?” You will find that in three places in the book of ACTS. Jesus replied - Get up - go into the city - and you will be told what you must do. Paul spent three days and night praying and fasting. We know that from what follows. Then Jesus appears to Ananias and tells Ananias to go and visit Paul and minister to Paul, and that note of suffering is introduced right at the very beginning - so quickly - so early on. He never forgot it. Later, Paul must have told Luke all about these early days.

Questions - surrender - willing obedience - prayer and fasting - persistence from the very beginning - and suffering. All this happens, and Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit.

We have read of what he went on to do, but see where it was birthed - in prayer - and he continued in prayer. He never gave in. He never gave up.

Why is it such a battle? Because this is where we meet God, and meet with God.

It can be anywhere - but it must be somewhere.

We know something of what he prayed for and we read of this in his letters to the church, but one thing we see in his prayers is that, God wants you to have the best. That is some prayer. Turn to Paul letters in Philippians and Ephesians and read his prayers.

There is a note of persistence and perseverance, and suffering is the norm. Suffering is normal for the disciple of Jesus Christ.

We hear today about ‘The Problem of Suffering’. To Paul suffering was NOT a problem.

But prayer can be and yet it is not so much a problem, but rather, why is it so hard?

Why is it such a battle? Because there is an enemy who wants to keep us as far away as he can from communion and fellowship with our Loving Father. Jesus knew that.

Prayer can be anywhere, but it must be somewhere. We don't have to understand prayer, any more that we know how an aircraft flies, but we use these.

That is why Jesus speaks as He did - telling His disciples - that they should always pray and NOT give up. People have asked me over the years to speak on prayer and teach on prayer and in a sense I have been reluctant to do so. I have said something on the matter but then gone on to say, “Now, go and pray”. Just do it. Spend 15 minutes praying. Then gradually lengthen the time, until it becomes such an enriching period in your day that you look forward to it more and more.

I still like going out running, and people have frequently asked me what the hardest part is, and my reply has always been, getting from the chair to the tracksuit. It is the same with prayer – just do it. Now, this coming week, just do it. Pray – and can I ask you to let me know how you get on. STUDYLIGHT and LIVEASIF has an easy reply link to ‘contact the author’. I look forward to hearing from you!

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

A World of One