🔑 The Power of Persistent Prayer in the Courts of Heaven

Have you ever prayed and felt like God didn’t answer right away? Maybe you asked Him to heal a broken heart, fix a relationship, or give you direction in life—and nothing happened. It can feel frustrating, even discouraging. But there’s something important Jesus teaches us about prayer: Don’t give up. Be persistent.

In this blog, I want to walk you through how to bring your prayers to the Courts of Heaven and how to keep praying even when answers seem delayed. This message is for anyone who feels stuck, tired, or unsure about how to pray through hard situations.

Jesus Taught Us to Be Persistent

Let’s start with what Jesus said in Luke 11. He tells a story about a man who has a guest arrive late at night. The man goes to his friend’s house and knocks, asking for bread. At first, the friend says, “Go away, I’m already in bed.” But because the man keeps knocking, the friend finally gets up and gives him what he needs—not because they’re friends, but because he kept knocking.

Then Jesus tells another story in Luke 18 about a widow who kept asking an unfair judge for justice. The judge didn’t care about God or people, but the woman was so persistent that he finally gave her what she asked for. Jesus says that if even an unfair judge gives justice, how much more will God, who loves us, give justice when we cry out day and night?

These stories show us something big: God honors persistent prayer. He hears us. He may not answer the way we expect or in the time we want, but He sees our faith and rewards it.

Praying in the Courts of Heaven

The “Courts of Heaven” is a spiritual picture of how we can come to God as our Judge and present our needs, just like in a courtroom. In this setting, Jesus is our Advocate—the one who stands beside us and speaks on our behalf.

When we pray in the Courts of Heaven, we’re not just tossing up random words. We’re making a spiritual case before God. We’re asking Him to judge rightly over our lives, heal our wounds, and remove anything that’s blocking our freedom.

Here’s what this process can look like:

1. Worship and invite God’s presence – Before we start, we invite the Holy Spirit and set our hearts in the right place.

2. Ask for the court to be convened – We can pray something like, “Heavenly Father, I come before You in Jesus’ name. I ask that the Courts of Heaven be opened on my behalf.”

3. Ask Jesus to be your Advocate – According to 1 John 2:1, Jesus stands with us in Heaven. Ask Him to reveal anything that needs healing.

4. Present the issue – Be specific. Are you struggling with fear, rejection, or torment? Are you seeking wisdom about a big decision? Bring it all before God.

5. Ask what the open doorway is – This is important. Ask God to show you if there is anything giving the enemy a legal right to bother you. It could be something like unforgiveness, past trauma, curses, or sin.

6. Forgive and repent – If God shows you anything, forgive others and ask Jesus to forgive you. His blood washes away the legal rights of the enemy.

7. Ask for confirmation – You may hear a quiet voice, see a picture in your mind, or just feel peace. That’s often how Jesus confirms He is working.

8. Ask for a verdict – Once healing has taken place, ask, “Am I guilty or not guilty?” If you hear “not guilty,” you can thank God and move forward. If you hear “guilty,” that just means there’s more healing to do.

Why Persistence Is Key

Sometimes, we want God to fix everything in one prayer. But God often chooses to work with us over time. Why? Because He’s building our faith. He’s teaching us how to partner with Him. Think of it like going to the gym—one workout doesn’t make you strong. You have to keep going.

That’s why Jesus teaches us to pray for daily bread. Not weekly. Not monthly. Daily. That means we go to Him each day and bring our needs to Him. It also means we forgive daily, repent daily, and ask Him to lead us daily.

When we stop being persistent, we can miss out on the breakthrough that’s right around the corner. God might be waiting for you to keep asking, knocking, and seeking before He answers. Not because He’s mean or slow, but because He’s working in ways we don’t always see.

Bible Examples of Persistence

The Bible is full of people who prayed with persistence and saw amazing results:

• Moses prayed for Israel for 40 days and nights. He didn’t give up until God had mercy.

• Daniel fasted and prayed for 21 days before the angel brought his answer. The angel told him the answer came right away, but there had been spiritual warfare in the heavens.

• Hannah cried out in the temple year after year for a child. She looked so intense, the priest thought she was drunk. But she didn’t give up—and God answered.

All of these people had reasons to stop praying. But they didn’t. And because of that, God moved in powerful ways.

What If It Feels Dry?

Sometimes you won’t hear anything from God. That’s okay. Keep going. That’s part of the persistence Jesus talks about. Just like the widow in Luke 18, keep coming to God. Even when it’s dry. Even when you’re tired.

If you feel stuck, take a break and worship. Read some Scripture. Ask Jesus to speak to you again later. He often waits until our hearts are ready. And when we show Him we won’t quit, He meets us in powerful ways.

Keep a Record of What God Does

As you pray in the Courts of Heaven, write down what God shows you. Keep a notebook of the issues He heals, the things He brings up, and the confirmations He gives. This will help you stay focused and encourage you later when you're facing new challenges.

Sometimes healing happens in layers—just like peeling an onion. God may heal one part of your heart, then later bring up another memory or area that needs work. That’s okay. He’s thorough. And He won’t stop until it’s complete.

What to Expect After

After you finish presenting your case in the Courts of Heaven, ask God for a “suggested recourse.” That means: “What do You want to give me in return?” This might be peace, joy, healing, provision, or favor. Ask Him for promises from Scripture to stand on and pray over.

Then thank Him. Worship Him. And move on with your day.

God doesn’t want you to live in the courtroom forever. He wants to walk with you daily in victory. But when something serious comes up—or when you need justice—He’s given you a powerful place to go: the Courts of Heaven.

Final Thoughts

Persistent prayer is not about begging. It’s about trusting. It’s about knowing that our loving Father wants to help us, and that He honors our faith. Jesus said He would come quickly for those who cry out to Him day and night (Luke 18:7-8).

So don’t quit. Keep knocking. Keep asking. Keep seeking.

Your breakthrough is coming.

Want to learn more?

Get the full Daniel Prayer Playbook on Amazon, or join our free training on how to pray in the Courts of Heaven at www.timothytomlinson.org.

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💔 A Real Story of Healing: Walking Through the Courts of Heaven with Chandler

During one of our recent online mentorship sessions, we had a powerful and emotional moment as we walked a volunteer named Chandler through the Courts of Heaven. His story touched many hearts—and showed how God brings healing and hope even in painful situations.

Chandler shared that his wife had filed for divorce. They had two young children, and the situation was deeply traumatic. He loved his wife, but he felt like all hope was lost. His heart was broken, and he didn’t know what else to do. So, he turned to Jesus and asked for help.

We started by inviting the Holy Spirit and asking for God’s presence. Then, Chandler followed the steps from The Daniel Prayer Playbook and prayed, “Heavenly Father, I come before You now in Jesus’ name. I ask that the Courts of Heaven be opened on my behalf.” He asked Jesus to be his Advocate and help him bring his marriage before God.

When we asked the Lord what the open doorway might be—what was giving the enemy a legal right to attack Chandler’s marriage—God brought something to Chandler’s heart. He realized that his wife had a major issue with three of his spiritual mentors. They had spoken harsh words about her, calling her controlling and saying she had a Jezebel spirit. She didn’t feel safe, and that became a block in their relationship.

Chandler admitted that he had not really dealt with this issue. So, he chose to forgive. He prayed, “Jesus, I choose to forgive my wife. Please forgive me for anything I’ve done to cause harm.” That was a huge step forward.

We then asked Jesus for confirmation. Sometimes God speaks through a quiet voice, a picture, or even a feeling of peace. Chandler didn’t hear or see anything right away—but he felt calm and sensed that God was working.

We encouraged him to keep asking and seeking, just like the persistent widow in Luke 18. Sometimes the breakthrough doesn’t come in one prayer. It takes more time in God’s presence.

Chandler left the session with hope. He had started the process of healing. He knew there might still be more doorways that Jesus needed to close, but he also saw that God cared deeply about his situation. He wasn’t alone.

This walkthrough was a great reminder that the Courts of Heaven are real, and they are open to anyone who is willing to come with faith, forgiveness, and persistence.

If you’re facing a similar situation, don’t give up. God is listening. And He’s ready to help you get free.

🌟 Closing Thought

Whether you're learning to pray with persistence or walking through a painful season like Chandler, one thing is clear: God meets us in the courtroom and in the waiting. He sees every tear, hears every prayer, and is faithful to bring justice and healing in His perfect timing. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just need to come—again and again—knocking, asking, and trusting that Jesus is your Advocate, and He will not leave you where you are.

🙏 Prayer of Hope

Heavenly Father,Thank You for inviting us into Your courts with boldness and love. We come to You today, just as we are—hurting, confused, tired, or hopeful. We believe that You are a just Judge and a loving Father. We thank You for Jesus, our Advocate, who stands with us and pleads our case.

For every person reading this who is still waiting on their breakthrough, we ask that You stir their faith. Let them know You are near. Speak to their hearts. Heal the wounds that still hurt. Bring peace where there has been chaos, and hope where there has been despair.

Lord, we ask for justice. For broken marriages, broken hearts, and broken dreams—release Your verdict from Heaven. Let Your healing power move now. Give each person the strength to persist in prayer, to keep knocking, and to trust that You are working even when it’s silent.

Just as You began a new work in Chandler’s life, begin a new work in us today. We believe You are not finished until it is good. Thank You, Jesus, for bringing restoration and hope.

In Your powerful name we pray,

Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Timothy Tomlinson

Healing The Brokenhearted Christian Counseling Ministry

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References to Additional Resources:

Websites

1. YouVersion (youversion.com): YouVersion creates biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. It’s through these experiences we create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately.

   
   

Online Courses

1. "Spiritual Warfare Training through Inner Healing": Offered by Pastor Timothy Tomlinson is a free online Christian training program designed to help individuals find inner healing and freedom through prayer and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

   
   

2. "The Daniel Prayer Playbook": Offered by Pastor Timothy Tomlinson, the online Christian training program provides guidance on how to approach Jesus as a friend, father, and judge, enabling participants to gain freedom from the enemy and experience healing through accessing the Mercy Court of Heaven.