By Austen C. Ukachi
I recently mused within me—what have I learned from the prayer ministry these 37 years? My involvement in the prayer ministry as an intercessor, teacher of prayer, and mobilizer of others in prayer has been a very rewarding and a very humbling experience. I have learned some lessons, and I have continued to learn. Very briefly, let me share some of these lessons:
We are still in kindergarten in God’s school of prayer. From the human perspective, years of experience count in any endeavor. But the more you develop intimacy with God, the more you realize that there is still so much you have to learn from Him, about His ways, and the way to relate with Him. Your past experience may not count when new challenges arise.
What counts is the Holy Spirit’s leading. This makes one absolutely depend on Him. We are constantly learning new things about prayer in God’s school. God is so deep that we cannot fathom everything about Him and about His ways. The Apostle Paul wrote: “How great are God’s riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways?” (Rom. 11:33, GNT).
The more I pray, the more I realize I need God’s help. I am constantly mindful of my weaknesses in prayer and of God’s omnipotence. Prayer reminds me that I need Him daily. I depend on Him for strength to survive. Prayer teaches me that it is not all about me—and my plans and desires. It is all about Him, His purpose, and His glory and Kingdom.
It is not about my ability or about my experience and wisdom. It is all about His strength working in me and through my weaknesses and inability.
I have grown to know that God is sovereign in prayer. The burning desire of every intercessor is to see instant results and immediate answers and changes through prayer. But God has taught me to know that He exercises His discretion in all things—in the way He answers our prayer and when He answers them. He is in perfect control of all things, and makes everything “beautiful in his time” (Eccl. 3:11, KJV). Our responsibility is to pray and trust Him to grant the answers in His own time.
Humility and patience in God’s presence are needful to obtain results to our petitions. God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Is. 55:9). Patience is necessary to walk with God.
One common question asked by many who have walked with God is, “Lord, how long?” David asked God, “How long?” (Ps. 13:1). Habakkuk asked the Lord the same question (Hab. 1:2), so did Jeremiah (Jer. 12:4), and many others. In some cases, God did not answer them. At other times He answered them immediately.
I find God’s ways of doing things very humbling. Daily, my triumphalist zeal is being chipped away. In its place, I have come to learn to walk with Him patiently and faithfully.
Prayer changes things. Prayer, no matter what we think, changes things. I have come to know convincingly that God answers prayer and that prayer changes situations. Be it on personal issues or national and global levels, I have seen God do amazing things in answer to prayers.
Perseverance is necessary to actualize the goals of prayer. Intercession is not for the “lily-livered” or those who chicken out easily. One lesson Jesus taught in the parable of the unjust judge and the widow (Luke 18) is that we must never relent in the place of prayer. Perseverance is indispensable for realizing our goals in prayer.
If we desire to see changes in the nations, and in the global scene, then we must keep on mounting pressure in prayer: “Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth” (Isa. 62:6-7, NLT).
There is a saying, “Press on! God has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” This also applies to prayer.
God is faithful! Without any shadow of doubt, I have learned that God is faithful in answering prayers and in fulfilling His promises. He is faithful to all His words and promises. He is faithful in executing all His purposes. He is faithful in answering our petitions.
God is faithful in all His ways.
AUSTEN C. UKACHI is an International Prayer Council leadership team member from Nigeria. He is a pioneer in the contemporary prayer movement in Nigeria and is the author of several books. Adapted from International Prayer Connections, July 2014.
