Pray Till Someone Has a Black Eye

In a world saturated with strategies, plans, and methodologies, particularly within the realms of ministry and missions, there’s a strong temptation to approach the Lord’s work like a business. We can find countless books on church growth, church planting, or pioneering movements overseas, all offering a plethora of steps and strategies. However, our experience has taught us that this conventional approach often misses the most fundamental and powerful element: prayer.

We tend to be a little non-conventional and non-conformist when it comes to strategy. If asked to define our strategy for missions or ministry, it would undoubtedly be filled with things like prayer and Bible reading, rather than flashy books and experiences. As one wise pastor, Owen Carr, famously said, “A day without prayer is a boast against God“. Indeed, if we were to write a book on ministry, its core message would simply be, “I don’t know, but the Lord will have to show us”. This isn’t to dismiss learning from others, as many books are based on actual experiences, but yesterday’s mana cannot sustain us today. We need an utter sense of dependence on God and the Holy Spirit to guide us and prosper His work.

Prayer: The Ultimate Strategy

If asked for our number one strategy in ministry, we would unequivocally point to prayer. There are many reasons for this, but chief among them is that it’s what Jesus Himself modeled. The disciples, who lived with, followed, and imitated Jesus, never asked Him to teach them how to perform miracles, how to show people the way of salvation, or how to die with dignity on the cross. What they did say was, “Lord, teach us to pray“. They saw a unique power on display in Jesus’ prayer life, something that profoundly motivated them. Prayer, by its very definition, positions us in faith and dependence on our Heavenly Father to supply the strength needed to endure trials or conquer the enemy’s strongholds. Prayer is the strategy.

The Lifestyle of Unceasing Prayer

The Bible frequently admonishes us to pray steadfastly and without ceasing. Paul, in Colossians 4:2, commands us to “continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving”. Even more challenging is his instruction in 1 Thessalonians to “Pray without ceasing“.

How do we interpret “pray without ceasing”? Just as we breathe and our hearts beat without ceasing, and love needs to be exercised continually, prayer without ceasing speaks to our positioning before the Lord. It doesn’t mean a constant, formulaic prayer with folded hands and bowed head. While conscious prayer is vital, “without ceasing” refers more to an attitude of utter dependence on God. Martin Luther is famously ascribed with the saying, “I have so much to do today that I must pray for three hours”. This reveals his deep confidence that it is through prayer that a “pipeline is established by which God pours out his power and his work”. We must stay connected to this pipeline, like a fruit to its vine, lest we wilt.

This lifestyle of prayer is a constant awareness of God’s presence, even if not 100% conscious. It’s a journey we continually grow in. The classic devotional, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, profoundly influenced many by teaching how to be mindful of God from waking to sleeping, in all tasks, no matter how menial. Joni Eareckson Tada’s book, The Practice of the Presence of Jesus, offers a modern devotional tool based on these same principles.

This continuous attitude is, however, probably punctuated with actual physical moments of prayer. We can consciously get on our knees or fold our hands. Recalling a young man from Korea who prayed with hands folded “like you do when you’re six years old” or as seen in old pictures, we are reminded to discipline ourselves to “pray like a child”. This body language serves as a reminder that we are children before our Heavenly Father, ready to pour out our hearts to Him.

Our church forerunners, both Catholic and Protestant, emphasized the “daily office” or “liturgy of the hours,” where prayers are prescribed for certain times of the day. These structured moments, like morning and evening prayer, are beautiful, disciplined times of intentional, set-aside prayer that bring us back to God like clockwork. While our traditions may vary, the rigorous discipline of taking time to pray individually and collectively, fostering a climate of prayer where we walk, talk, and work in prayer, remains essential.

Prayer in Crisis and Revelation

A vital aspect of this prayerful lifestyle is being ready to pray and drawn to prayer when need arises. Prayer is not just a breathing lifestyle; it’s also an emergency call. There should be a readiness within us, living so deeply in the presence of God and in prayer, that no matter how we are “bumped,” prayer will be what spills out.

We recall personal experiences: teetering on a high ladder, the first thought was an audible cry, “Help me, Lord“. Or losing control while driving on ice, and the first thought being to pray. This readiness is profound, as President Gordon Lungquist of Bethel College used to say, “You never know what’s in a man until you bump him and see what spills out”. These moments reveal what truly resides within us.

King David, in Psalm 34, articulates this perfectly: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” And further, “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all of his troubles”. For David, prayer was the response to crisis, a universal human experience.

The Persistent Widow and God’s Nature

To truly grasp the power and expectation behind steadfast prayer, we turn to Luke chapter 18, where Jesus tells the parable of a persistent widow. This parable features an unjust judge “who neither fears God nor fears man”. A woman, seeking justice from her adversary, repeatedly pleads and begs him with such persistence that he eventually relents. He declares, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming”. The phrase “beat me down” could even be translated as “give me a black eye“. This paints a vivid picture of a woman literally grabbing him by the shirt collar, shaking him, demanding her due.

This parable beautifully illustrates the admonition to be steadfast in prayer. The woman’s over-the-top persistence, her unwavering hold on her demand for justice, ultimately led to her getting what she wanted.

What’s ironic, yet deeply insightful, is that Jesus immediately compares God to this unjust, non-God-fearing judge. The point, however, is a matter of degrees – of lesser to greater. If this unrighteous, indifferent judge relents and answers the widow’s persistent plea, “how much more will the loving, gracious, relational God give good things to the people who beg for them,” especially when it aligns with His revealed will?.

“Blacken His Eye” – A Call to Boldness

Our theology profoundly impacts our prayer life. If we understand God as our Heavenly Father who has adopted us through Jesus Christ, then we approach Him with the confidence of a child before a good father, expecting good things. A good earthly father generally desires to help his child. Conversely, if we see God as someone we must appease, bargain with, or pry things from, our relationship and prayer life will suffer.

The parable’s lesson, therefore, is that even in this “worst case example,” the loving Heavenly Father is eager and ready to give good gifts to His children. We are, in a metaphorical sense, invited to blacken His eye with our prayers. This is akin to Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. This is a profound boldness in prayer.

Such boldness stems from knowing our Father and having a solid relationship with Him. We can confidently lay out our case before Him, especially when praying for things we know are pleasing to Him. While we might hesitate to pray about a new car, we can be earnest about God’s people obeying His word with zeal, the gospel spreading to hard places, babies and mothers being rescued, and the hungry being fed. These are prayers where we can truly “blacken His eye” with our persistence.

Prayer in Ministry and Spiritual Warfare

At PassionLife, this kind of persistent and steadfast prayer is not just desired, it’s a necessity. We recognize our own weaknesses, especially when stepping into new cultures and climates where rules of engagement are unknown. We have no choice but to be prayerful.

We earnestly desire an army of prayer warriors to join us, recognizing that anything of eternal value must be wrought by the Holy Spirit, not merely by human skills or exercises. Unless the Lord shows up with His converting, transforming, and energizing power, our efforts are just staying busy rather than advancing His kingdom. God honors prayer, and when breakthroughs don’t occur, it often signals a need for even more prayer and a time of waiting for His perfect timing.

In our 4 Questions training, there’s a specific moment where people confront the reality of their sin and the sinfulness of abortion. At this point, we encourage pastors to lead people in raw, unscripted prayer, emerging from a sense of poverty of spirit. These are often the most anointed and amazing prayers of the day, as people tearfully repent for their past and hunger for God’s cleansing grace through Jesus Christ. This cannot be staged; it’s a moment where God honors the prayers that have been sown.

Over 30 years ago, a prayer commission with Pastor John Piper explored “Why a Movement of Prayer.” Piper emphasized that “we’re in a spiritual war,” and we articulated that victory comes through awakening, revival, and God-honoring prayer. This conviction remains central to our work.

In every aspect of life and ministry, let us embrace this deep, persistent, and bold approach to prayer. Let us approach our Heavenly Father with the confidence of a child, willing to “blacken His eye” with our earnest pleas, knowing that He is a good Father eager to give good gifts to His children.

This article is adapted from the episode transcript.