d
strengthened; the prince of this world, with all his temptation, was
overcome. This is the new and living way He consecrated for us; it is in
persevering prayer we walk with and are made partakers of His very
Spirit. Prayer is one form of crucifixion, of our fellowship with
Christ's Cross, of our giving up our flesh to the death. O Christians!
shall we not be ashamed of our reluctance to sacrifice the flesh and our
own will and the world, as it is seen in our reluctance to pray much?
Shall we not learn the lesson which nature and Christ alike teach? The
difficulty of importunate prayer is our highest privilege; the
difficulties to be overcome in it bring us our richest blessings.

In importunity there are various elements. Of these the chief are
perseverance, determination, intensity. It begins with the refusal to at
once accept a denial. It grows to the determination to persevere, to
spare no time or trouble, till an answer comes. It rises to the
intensity in which the whole being is given to God in supplication, and
the boldness comes to lay hold of God's strength. At one time it is
quiet and restful; at another passionate and bold. Now it takes time and
is patient; then again it claims at once what it desires. In whatever
different shape, it always means and knows--God hears prayer: I must be
heard.

Remember the wonderful instances we have of it in the Old Testament
saints. Think of Abraham, as he pleads for Sodom. Time after time he
renews his prayer until the sixth time he has to say, "Let not my Lord
be angry." He does not cease until he has learnt to know God's
condescension in each time consenting to his petition, until he has
learnt how far he can go, has entered into God's mind, and now rests in
God's will. And for his sake Lot was saved. "God remembered Abraham,
and delivered Lot out of the midst of the overthrow." And shall not we,
who have a redemption and promises for the heathen which Abraham never
knew, begin to plead more with God on their behalf.

Think of Jacob, when he feared to meet Esau. The angel of the Lord met
him in the dark, and wrestled with him. And when the angel saw that he
prevailed not, he said, "Let me go." And Jacob said, "I will not let
thee go." And he blessed him there. And that boldness that said, "I will
not," and forced from the reluctant angel the blessing, was so pleasing
in God's sight, that a new name was there given to him: "Israel, he who
striveth with God, for thou h