I’ve always found the ending of an old year, and the beginning of a new year, bittersweet. When 2010 recently came to a close, it was no different. While I was excited about what new things 2011 would bring, I couldn’t help but feel a bit wistful about the unanswered prayers that I still held in my heart. I confessed my struggles to God, and I asked Him, “Where do I go from here, Lord?” He led me to a passage in Isaiah 62:6-7 (AMP) which says: “You who [are His servants and by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence, and give Him no rest…” Those hopes, dreams, and promises in my heart, that I had been so sure were put there by God Himself, were ones that I was not to give up on. On the contrary, I was to continue to partner with Him to bring them to pass by persevering in prayer for them.
James 1:16 (AMP) says: “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” The Lord used this verse to remind me that because I had received Christ as my Savior, and made Him the Lord of my life, my prayers had “tremendous power”. And if I would “continue” in prayer, instead of losing heart and giving up, I would eventually see the manifestation of those things that I was petitioning Him for. So my advice to you today is–don’t give up on those hopes and dreams that you believe are from the Lord. Ask Him to fill you with a new resolve to lay hold of every good thing He has in store for you and those you love!