July 17

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

It was in November or December when those men of Judah arrived at Sheeshan (Nehemiah 1:1-2), and Nehemiah prayed on until March or April before he spoke to the king. If a blessing doesn’t come to-night, pray harder to-morrow, and if it doesn’t come to-morrow, pray harder, and even then, if it doesn’t come, keep right on, and you will not be disappointed.

God in heaven will hear your prayers, and will answer them. He has never failed, if a man has been honest in his petitions and honest in his confessions. Let your faith beget patience. God is never in a hurry, said St. Augustine, because He has all eternity to work.