Importunity: Refusing to Give Up in Prayer

by Christopher Love

The word “importunity” in the original signifies impudence or want of shame. It is a metaphor taken from beggars who are impudently importunate and take no denial. If you deny them once, they will ask you again, and again, and never leave till they get what they desire. Importunity is a gathering together of all the affections of the soul, a stirring them all up in prayer, whereby the soul is so earnestly desirous of the good it wants that it will not rest nor leave off the duty until it finds some return or answer to prayer. This is meant in Rom. 12:12, “continuing instant in prayer.” The original word is very emphatic—it notes not only to persevere, but to persevere and continue with utmost strength; to engage all of a man’s possibility in the work. It notes urgency and fervency. It is a phrase borrowed from dogs who are on a hunt and will not cease following the game till they get it…. So you are to hunger after God, and after mercy, and not rest satisfied till God grants the mercy you stand in need of. The foundation of importunity proceeds from the largeness and greatness of God’s power, and the riches and freeness of His grace towards us. A man may ask of another man, and it may be received, but then he must not ask again. But herein appears the power, the ability, the goodness, and the bounty of God: If we ask Him once or twice, He is a God that is able to give, not according to our asking only, but above what we ask; and not only above what we can ask, but above what we can ask or think. The words are so full that they cannot well be expressed, “God does more than excessively.” God has not only a fullness of abundance, but of redundancy; not only of plenty, but bounty. He is better than our prayers.

Genres: Prayer, Christian

82 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Becky Pliego · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always a blessing to read a book that points you back to the Word and in one way or another encourages you to persevere in prayer.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puritans can seem so cold in their writing. This little book was worth working through the coldness in order to find the gems. “Your mercies in this life are a pledge to you that you shall have happiness in heaven to all eternity.”

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had have been reading this on my own, I think I would have quit in discouragement and beating myself up. But I wasn’t.

As much as it was really difficult and challenging at first, I am glad to have read it and been guided through it in a book group. Prayer is definitely an area in which I could use a lot of growth and the group I was in brought grace to it in areas that were confusing or made me want to give up rather than be encouraged in my prayer life.

The ending was also a lot gentler than the beginning which also definitely helped.

[James Passaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is intense, it is both beautiful and challenging and is an amazing reflection and teaching on prayer, sincere and passionate prayer. It talks about prayer from every direction, all the ways and postures and positions of hearts a prayer can be made and all the ways they can be answered. I've never read a book that talks about prayers answered and prayed in such a way before. It is a book to read many times over and more to apply. I want to pray like Chrisopher Love describes, in intimacy, in confidence, in assurance of the mercy of God.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

On returns or answers to prayer: “These returns are a seal of more mercies- a sign that you shall have more mercies from God. One mercy that is given by prayer is a pledge of another mercy. Your mercies in this life are a pledge to you that you shall have eternal happiness in heaven to all eternity.” Great book on prayer.

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nitty gritty exegesis isn’t always solid, but this is another great book on simply not giving up in prayer. I was blessed.

[Lizze Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I feel more discouraged in prayer. I need some help with this one.