"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Colossians 4:2 ESV
What does it mean to "continue steadfastly in prayer"? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines steadfastly as "firm in belief, determination, or adherence". So when we pray we can have full confidence and foreknowledge that God will answer our prayers! Still, that does not stop us from getting discouraged at times. Sometimes we may find it tempting to go to God with the result and the timeframe under which the prayer is to be answered already fixed in our hearts. Then when our prayer is not answered in the way, or in the time, we expected our belief waivers. This unbelief is not really that God does not answer prayers, but in our own disappoint me God didn’t answer how or when we wanted. As humans, we like to control and manage things, including our prayers however when we come in prayer we need to willingly surrender it to God with the absolute certainty that he will answer. The answer may be surprising and come at the time least expected but he will answer. It is also important to remember God's answer can be "no". While none of us like hearing no, we need to maintain our belief and trust that God does what is best for us. Whatever the answer or the timing we are to give God thanks in all things. We give him thanks for the prayers he answers immediately in the time we wanted, and maybe more importantly for those prayers answered neither how or when we wanted.
God, we are thankful you answer our prayers. We come today seeking for your will to be done. We surrender our prayers to you with full confidence you will answer with what is best for us. Amen.
