Praying with Persistence

    In 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22, there's a list of things that Paul, the writer of the epistle, is encouraging believers to do, and one of those things is to "pray without ceasing" (verse 17, NKJ). This verse is incredibly short and therefore incredibly easy to memorize, though the exhortation itself isn't exactly a cakewalk. Praying without ceasing doesn't mean praying the same thing over and over again in one go, but at different times during the day, or for multiple days--and also, I think, praying for the same things a good number of times. Praying persistently like that is said to be a very effective way to make supplications.
    For one, praying with persistence is in and of itself an indication of importance and commitment. It shows that the matter being prayed about isn't something trivial or forgettable after one mentioning, but that it's a situation that really matters. Praying for a solution or answer to the matter on many occasions shows that it's important, and that it's worth giving attention and energy to.
    Secondly, persistent prayer can also help a person become even more committed to the cause of the prayer. Spending a lot of time with anything can make the person/activity/object more familiar and more valued. Putting a lot of work into something also stirs up more care for it. And on top of those things, prayer is something we do with God, and so spending time working on something with Him makes the situation and the act of prayer far more precious and memorable.
    Lastly, since prayer is also a way to give God control of things, praying more gives Him more of an influence in the matter. Continually giving the situation over to Him and asking for His guidance, His strength, and for His will to be done continually opens doors to having those things accomplished in the best way, His way.
    So on a final note, as long as the prayers being said are genuine and heartfelt (not long-winded and "for a pretense," as Christ criticized some for in Matthew 23:14, NKJ), and as long as it's prayed that the Lord's will is done, prayers are even more powerful when it's done many times, with diligent persistence.
    Isn't it a great blessing to be able to pray to the Lord on a matter multiple times? :)