The Power of Circle Prayer

I was recently asked the following question regarding prayer:

"The Israelites were instructed by God to walk circles around Jericho, and as a result God did something amazing for them. Is this example from the Bible a prescriptive method that we can copy and expect God to do amazing things in our lives as well? For example, will God give a group of Christians favor who circle a building in prayer, for the purpose of acquiring the building for ministry use? When it comes to urgent and tenacious prayer is it fitting that a Christian's attitude should move beyond urgency to the point of "demanding" of God until He comes through?"

Let me begin by asserting that when the walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelites had walked circles around the city for seven straight days (Joshua 6:20), it was not because the Israelites circled the city a set amount of times for a set amount of days, and in response to their faithful persistence, God blessed them. The walls of Jericho fell down because the Israelites obeyed God’s word (Joshua 6:1-5), and God blessed them for their obedient faith (Heb 11:30). Prayer wasn’t a part of God’s instructions for the Israelites in this endeavor, nor was prayer ever mentioned as playing a part in this miraculous event. It was just one of the many miraculous acts God performed for Israel as He led them out of Egypt and into the Promise Land.

In addition to this, the Bible does not lend any support to the concept of circling the object of our prayer in order to receive God’s blessings upon our desired requests, even if it is for God honoring, kingdom-building purposes, such as acquiring land for ministry usage.

Looking to Jesus for instructions in Prayer

When seeking to understand how to approach God in prayer we must always look to Jesus as our example. Not only does the Bible reveal how and what Jesus prayed for (cf. Jn 17:1-26), but it also records His instructions to the disciples about how and what they/we should pray for (Mt 6:5-13; Lk 11:1-4).

Though Jesus taught about the benefits of prayer for all areas of life, such as prayers effectiveness in helping us overcome temptation (Mt 26:41), strengthening us when we are discouraged (Lk 18:1), helping us remain spiritually alert (Mk 13:33), and getting our hearts right with God and with one another (Mt 6:12; Mk 11:25-26), He also spent time emphasizing the importance that faith (Mt. 9:27-30) and tenacity (cf. Mt 7:7-11), plays in having an effective prayer life.

Jesus exhorted His disciples to pray with the kind of faith that believes nothing is impossible for God (Mk 11:22-24). While at the same time, He taught them to pray according to God’s will and not their own (Mt 6:9-10; Lk 11:2).

Not only did Jesus instruct His disciples to pray in this manner, but He also put this very principle into practice Himself. When Jesus prays to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will" (Mk 14:36).

Jesus believed and affirmed that, “all things are possible” with God (Mk 13:36a). He had great faith in His Father’s ability to do anything. But at the same time, He submitted Himself to His Father’s will, by saying, “nevertheless, not what I will but what You will” (Mk 13:36b). In other words, Jesus fully believed and affirmed that nothing is impossible for God, even something as radical as changing the way God would redeem humanity. But even with His great faith in His Fathers’ ability, He said, “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will”. Jesus fully believed that nothing was impossible for His Father, but even with His unwavering faith, He submitted Himself to the Father’s will, and not His own will.

And we should be no different. We should wholeheartedly believe and expect great things from God, but we do so with a submissive heart that fully trusts in God’s will, even when it is contrary to our own will. This should be the heart behind every prayer we ever pray on this side of eternity. “God, I believe that nothing is impossible for you! And I am going to pray my guts out for this! And I desperately want You to answer this prayer Lord! Nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done.”

Urgent and Tenacious Prayer

Therefore, when it comes to urgent and tenacious prayer, Jesus tells us to go for it (Matthew 7:7-11)! As long as when we do go for it, we are submitting ourselves to God’s will, trusting that it is best to submit ourselves to His plans and purposes for our lives.

Prayer that Demands a Blessing from God

However, demanding from God is never encouraged or condoned in Scripture. One example would be Elijah’s showdown with the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40). They spent all day praying with urgency to Baal, demanding from their gods, “O Baal, answer us!” (1 Kings 18:26), so much so that they cried louder and even cut themselves causing blood to gush out (1 Kings 18:28), all in an attempt to show their devotion to Baal, and express the urgency of their request!

Though these men were praying to a false god, no one could deny the amount of sincere devotion and tenacity that they prayed with. And yet, Jesus warns His followers about approaching God in like manner saying, “when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Mt 6:7-8).

I hope this brings some clarity or simply confirms what you already knew about this subject.


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