A great encouragement to persevering prayer!
Rev. Murray uses the example from Gen. 32 of Jacob wrestling with God to say, "Our prayers detain God." What an amazing truth: the Sovereign of the whole universe not only permits Himself to be detained by His weak, sinful creatures, but even desires our tenacious persistence in pursuit of His blessing.
Why do we not experience greater practical holiness in our personal lives, more definite answers to prayer, or more signs of awakening and revival in our churches? Is it perhaps because we give up too easily when we don't immediately receive what we ask for? When an answer to a prayer that is fully in accord with God's will as revealed in Scripture is delayed, don't we often assume that it must not have been God's will after all? Don't we comfort ourselves by ascribing the results of our spiritual sloth, unbelief, and impatience in prayer to God's sovereign will and inscrutable providence?
Jesus told us that we ought always to pray and not to faint, and that God would intervene for His own who cry to Him day and night. Jacob wanted God's blessing badly enough to cling to Him even when his natural strength was exhausted, and He prevailed.
Rev. Murray says, "God does not bring our prayers to an end." We may continue in a spirit of prayer even after we conclude our formal praye