The AMI QT Devotionals from August 28-September 3 are provided by Hee Jung Lee. Hee Jung, a graduate of Biblical Theological Seminary, serves at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey) along with her husband Pastor Sam Lee. They have four beautiful daughters.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Enduring in Prayer”

Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry.

When our oldest daughter Anna was two years old, I quit my job in hopes to have another child and be a stay-at- home mother. My husband and I thought that by the time we had our second, the kids would be three years apart, which seemed ideal to us. However, things did not go as smoothly. I was unable to get pregnant as easily as we had anticipated or experienced with our first child. But, whether the enemy intends for harm, or life brings us challenges to overcome, God will always use the situation for our good (Rom. 8:28).

The waiting period of about one year was a wonderful time of discovery for me in my personal relationship with the Lord. One main thing I learned was the importance of persistent prayer. There is something about the process of persisting in prayer that God uses to develop maturity in us that cannot be obtained outside of enduring. Prayer is a learning place in itself, meaning it is a place of being taken deeper into God’s love, getting an inside scoop to God’s plans, His heart and likeness, revelations about ourselves, understanding the operations of spiritual realm, etc. However, persistence in prayer seasons us and develops character that enables us to stand when uncertain times come. It deepens our spiritual endurance and perception, enabling us to know the Lord in stillness and in trust. The Lord has assured us that we shall reap in due time if we do not give up.

In Luke 18, we see Jesus Himself teaching His disciples this principle of persisting in prayer by sharing a parable with them about a widow who kept coming to a judge. The judge ends up granting her what she wanted because of nothing else than her sheer persistence. Also, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are encouraged to pray without ceasing, yielding, or giving up. When the Lord tells us to keep praying, He is assuring us that there is something to be gained in the process and in the end. The process is just as important, if not more, to the Lord.

In Beni Johnson’s book, The Happy Intercessor, she shares a story of a man who died for four minutes and returned to life. He testified that heaven was actually loud because of all the intercession taking place. Our intercession and what is the Lord’s will in heaven eventually coming together into one rhythm and heartbeat when we do not give up. And as we wait on the Lord, seeking Him without giving up, we too will sing as David sang in Psalm 40:1: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy of waiting on You in prayer. Thank You that the process will be used for my good as that is how You do things. I want to be still before You as I learn to endure and trust in Your faithfulness. I want more of You that is to be gained than anything else. Thank you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for today: Isaiah 22-23