In these powerful daily readings, learn to be steadfast in prayer even during desperate times. Best-selling author John Eckhardt invites you to a life of prayer that consistently sees results. Have the last word over the enemy, experience joy in God’s presence, and see breakthrough in your prayer life.
DAY 1: God Hears Your Desperate Prayers
We all go through hard times—some more desperate than others. Sometimes we look over into other people’s lives and it seems like things are going well, but even they have trouble. None of us is exempt.
But as a believer you have a special advantage. Because of Jesus, you can boldly approach the throne of God and find help in your time of need. You can go before God and petition for His grace, favor, comfort, strategy, help, wisdom, encouragement, and answers for yourself. And when you pray, He hears you.
But you already know that. And yet, somehow the answer, the breakthrough, the release has not come, and you are getting more desperate by the day to hear from God.
I pray that what you read will give you what you need to press in more, persist more, and believe more for the miracles God will perform in response to this season you are facing. Let God do His work in you so that you can experience a level of blessing that outmatches the troubles you will overcome.
When God sees you in your desperate condition, He looks upon you with mercy and compassion. He heals the brokenhearted. He lifts up the lowly. To those who are weak, He says, “I will give you My strength.”
The eyes of The Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
The face of The Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, The Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but The Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:15-19
DAY 2: Your Name is Favor
What do you do when it seems as though your life is not being lived in the way that reflects the call of God on your life? You are chosen, called out, anointed, and in covenant with God. His favor, grace, and blessing should be apparent in your life.
But here you are—no productivity, no fruitfulness, no increase, and no multiplication. Your name is Hannah. Your name is favor. Your name is grace. But there is no demonstration of the favor or grace of God in your life.
I believe Hannah held on despite her feelings. God had not forgotten her, and God has not forgotten you. He has a plan.
With each new level God brings you to, there is a new level of demonic opposition. Some of the men and women of God we admire—giants in the faith—had to overcome significant hardships to arrive at the place we see them in. This is the core lesson in Hannah’s story: She did not give up. Year after year, in the face of endless taunts, mocking, and accusation, she continued her pursuit for what she knew The Lord willed for her life.
A Prayer to Release the Blessing of Hannah: What the enemy meant for evil, You’re turning around for my good.
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of The Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to The Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to The Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” 1 Samuel 1:9-11
Day 3: New Things Spring Forth
Like He did with Joseph, God will put you in a place where your brethren won’t even recognize you. But it’s not you; it’s God. He has had a plan for your life from the foundation of the world.
This new thing that God wants to do is not only about you; it’s about Him. It’s not about you being big. It’s about His purposes. God is not doing it just for you. He’s doing it for Himself.
God has plans He needs to accomplish in the Earth, and He needs new people—delivered and restored people—who will partner with Him to bring them down from eaven to earth. God has some things He needs done and He can’t do it with the old wineskin. He needs a new wineskin.
Once you are changed, though, the new thing will not be delayed. It will spring forth. You will be able to do what you could not do before. You will walk into places where you could not walk before. Again, this is the purpose of the desert place or the wilderness. It is perfecting in you the humility, wisdom, compassion, forgiveness, patience, perseverance, and all the fruit of the Spirit you need to bring glory to God.
A Prayer to Activate New Things: Lord, I declare that the former things have come to pass. Now I receive the new things that will spring forth.
