Vital Signs: Sunday, May 4, 2025

Persistent Petition

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”—Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Fasting without prayer is just dieting. Instead, we must incorporate intentional, spiritual encounters into our daily behavior as believers. Many great modern-day evangelists have shared testimonies of how prayer and fasting shaped their intimacy with Jesus. Most importantly, we look to Christ as the example of a powerful, faithful prayer life.

Beyond thanksgiving and adoration, Jesus centered His prayers around petition. Even His teaching of the Lord’s Prayer consists of petitions—for the Father’s will on earth and for our daily needs. This is an invitation to verbalize our hearts and align our desires with the Father’s. Crises also prompted Jesus to petition the Father: in the Garden of Gethsemane, at Lazarus’ tomb, and when Peter’s faith was under attack. Prayer was always Jesus’ first response—not His last resort. Likewise, we are called to model a life that elevates prayer above reason and logic. Prayer fuels our capacity to fight the enemy—it’s the supply line for victory in spiritual warfare.

As we follow Jesus, we see that prayer is a specific, persistent act of faith with the expectation that God will answer. We are not passive participants—we are called to articulate real, personal breakthroughs. Prayer is not about overcoming God’s reluctance; it is about laying hold of His willingness.

Still, effective prayer often demands relentless persistence over time. The enemy seeks to paralyze our faith by highlighting unanswered prayers. But remember: it is your Heavenly Father’s desire to bless His children.

If you’ve laid your prayer life down, it’s time to pick it up. If the enemy has silenced you into quiet desperation, it’s time to lift your voice and contend in faith. Normalize the rhythm of asking and receiving, seeking and knocking. Delight yourself in the Lord. Desire His will. Then, stand amazed at how God shows up when we faithfully and persistently pray and fast.