The 8 Principles of Constancy in Prayer

1. Ask yourself this question: What are things you do each day that are habitual? And what benefit do we derive from doing these things?

• Eat/snack
• Social media
• Watch television
• Talk on the phone/gossip
• Worry
• Smoke
• Arguing

2. Then ask yourself, if you’re engaging in these activities more than you’re praying each day, what does that say about the priority you place on prayer?
3. What if we were to replace those habits with prayer in the Spirit each time? How would that improve our prayer effectiveness?
4. Consistancy over Consistency. In other words, habitual prayer compared to regularity in prayer.

What is Constancy in Prayer?

• Luk. 18:1-7--“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not faint (ie., not grow weary).
• Luk. 21:36–Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
• Act. 1:14—These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.
• Act. 6:4—But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
• Rom. 12:12–Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant (devoted/steadfast) in prayer; 
• 1 The. 5:17—Pray without ceasing.

  1.Define constancy/without ceasing.

  2.When persons or situations pop-up in your mind, pray.

  3.Use every opportunity.

#1. Constancy in Prayer is Key to Winning All Spiritual Battles

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12, 13

1.1. This passage is the Armor of God passage and serves as a vivid reminder that we are in the midst of warfare. And this warfare–war–has been waging since before the fall of man. It’s not only being waged in the heavenlies and the sky, but it’s being waged right in front of our very noses. We are not called to be casualties or prisoners of war. So we must participate in the war, having been drafted in God’s army as a soldier.

2.2. Everything that we are led to pray about has origins in the spirit realm.

2. Don’t think Spiritual Warfare is real, check out this passage in the Book of Daniel:

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:12-13

1. I tell you, the church has failed her members by turning a blind eye to the realities of spiritual warfare–by ignoring Ephesians 6. Instead of equipping us for the battle, they’ve given us in place of the armor of God the doctrine of suffering. Yes, Master told us we would have tribulation (John 16:33), but He also informed us that He has overcome the world. And because Master overcame the world, armed with the Holy Spirit and the effective tool of prayer, we are overcomers as well (1 Joh. 4:4). Master declared that “He came that we might have life, and that we might have life more abundantly” (Joh. 10:10). (Abundantly is “perissos” in the Greek which means that which exceeds necessity; exceedingly; greatly; pertaining to a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.)

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…“   Ephesians 6:17-18

1.1. Thus we are called to employ strategy and tactics that are designed overcome and defeat the enemy who has come but to steal, kill and destroy. Thus we must be constantly on guard–as Paul wrote: “keep alert with all perseverance.” Then be ready to be on the defensive and even at times on the offensive. This is all done through constant, never ceasing prayer.

#2. Constant Prayer Will Move the Father to Act on our Behalf

The Parable of the Persistent Woman–And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;  5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  (Luk 18:1-8 KJV)

1. Father responds to persistent, Spirit-led prayer.

#3. Constancy in Prayer Helps Us Rely Upon the One Who Provides

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:2

We go about doing things our way without tuning into God for the things we seek.

When things look like God won’t give us what we seek, we turn to questionable ways of getting those things.

When we lack, our demeanor changes for the worse and we get into contentions and fights and quarrels and such, which we shouldn’t be in because our God can and will provide.

We often turn to ways that are illegal or ungodly to get the things we feel we need.

#4. Recognize the Importance of Constant-Untiring Prayer in our Lives Through Example—Imitate!

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.  Acts 6:2-4

1. Learn to pull ourselves away from the distractions of this life so that we may devote ourselves to prayer and the work of the Gospel.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mar 1:35 ESV)

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (Luk 6:12 ESV)

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25 ESV)

1. Prayer must be a #1 priority for us as well.

#5. Consistent Prayer is THE means by which God has chosen for us to receive mercy and grace

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

1.1. The amount of grace and favor we receive is based upon the extent of our prayers.

2.2. If we were to take the one or two times we pray in a week or so and multiply it 100-times, how much more successful will our prayers be—how impactful?

#6. We are to Pray in the Name of Yeshua Messiah/Jesus Christ

 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16

#7. Our Prayers Must Include Thanksgiving

Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.  Philippians 4:6

1. What makes us think we can keep coming to the Father asking for things, but never thanking Him for the things He has, is and will do for us?

#8. Constancy in Prayer Builds Strong Spiritual Muscles

1.1. Instead of worrying, looking for ways to buck the system, hating on others, focusing on self, we pray constantly in the Spirit. Over time our prayers flow much smoother and we eventually find ourselves in alignment with the Father and our prayers are much more effective. 

2.2. I don’t want the line between me and Father severed at any time during the day. I want to stay connected to Him. When I stay connected to Him, I stay within the confines of His perfect will. And when I stay within the confines of His Will, I do that which I’m supposed to do; my prayers are focused and effective; I receive understanding; I receive insight; my thoughts are kept in check; my actions and heart are pure. My prayers are effective.

3.3. Constancy in prayer may start off as simple as reaching out to Father and thanking and praising Him. It may be remembering someone who you know needs God’s assistance.

Let us all take an honest assessment…

1.1. Let us honestly assess why we don’t engage in constant, persistent prayer. Is it because we don’t believe we have the time? Is it because we don’t believe God hears our prayers? Is it because we’re too lazy? If we say we don’t have time to pray, then take an honest assessment of your days and I guarantee that you’ll find a great many places throughout our day that would afford time to pray: the drive or commute to work; cooking meals; watching television; social media and cell phone use; taking care of ourselves showering and bathing and such. 

1. Let us go forth this week building on a firm foundation of constant Spirit-led prayer so that we may further the Work of the Kingdom.