Isaiah 62:7 (NIV) Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

The Bible tells us that the Lord never slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). That's great news, especially when I am having a sleepless night. Instead of tossing and turning on the bed for hours, I can get up and go to my quiet place to speak with God in prayer. I never have to feel awkward about it being such a late hour or to be concerned that I will be disturbing Him. He is always ready to receive me, to hear the concerns of my heart and to console and counsel me when it is thoughts about my current circumstances that are keeping me awake. When it comes to doing anything concerning the Kingdom of God, I am especially encouraged that I'm not alone in doing anything for Him, but that He Himself empowers me and gives me instruction about how to do it and is not bothered that I keep asking for help.

When someone is teaching me to do something, there are questions that I may have concerning what they are teaching me. Sometimes, I don't get things right the first time and I have to ask for help again. I do it a little sheepishly, not wanting to be a bother to anyone. But if I need help a third time, I will be very hesitant to ask again and will probably try to figure it out on my own. But that is not true when it comes to the Lord. After learning what He has taught us over and over in His Word, I now know that no matter how many times I need to ask Him for help or for direction, He never gets weary of me. I love the fact that I can ask Him for something and if I don't get it from Him immediately or in a timely fashion, I can keep asking Him. He has given me (and you) permission to bother Him. As a matter of fact, the verse above tells me that I should not give Him rest until He completes what He has set out to do concerning me. Jesus even told a story about a man who went to his friend's house to ask for some food after his friend and his family had gone to bed. From inside the house, the friend told him to go away because they were all in bed and asleep and he was being a bother to him. Jesus said that because the man kept knocking and not taking no for an answer, he received as much food as he needed from that friend who finally got up to give him what he was asking for (Luke 11:5-8). Let me interpret that for you: Jesus is telling you that He wants you to bother Him.

You have the freedom to approach the Lord in prayer at any time, for any reason and as many times as you desire or need to. You are free to keep asking and He wants you to keep asking. In the process of continually going before the Lord for the same thing, you are staying connected to the One who not only holds your life in His hands, but who also has the very best plans and intentions for you and for those that you love. Don't give the Lord any rest when it comes to your petitions, prayers and intercession for others. He doesn't want it and He certainly doesn't need it, and you will be the better for it!

Pastor Joey Vazquez