The household task I hate the most is cleaning out the refrigerator and pantry of items that have expired. It is looking through all the fine print that is smudged and trying to understand why I let this happen that makes this a miserable job for me. How could I have let the condiments from the Bogo sale two years ago expire? It seemed like such a promising idea to stock up and of course, we could use four bottles of catsup, right? 

I am thankful there is no expiration date on prayer. Once my prayers go forth to the throne room of grace they are collected and kept for processing indefinitely. No waste. No purging. No guilt. Prayer is a sound investment, and the Holy Spirit is a perfect proprietor of our passionate pleas. 

There are many types of prayers but most fall within the following eight categories: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication, protection, transformation, and restoration. The scripture clearly presents the case for “no expiration dates” on prayer, especially prayer inclusive of God’s word. Consider the following promises.

Isaiah 55:10-12, NKJV,  

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth,

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the Sower

And bread to the eater,

 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.                                                                         “For you shall go out with joy,

And be led out with peace;

The mountains and the hills

Shall break forth into singing before you,

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

Revelation 5:7-9 NKJV,

“Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:                                                                             “You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,”

Acts 2:41-43, NKJV, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.”

There are many scriptures concerning prayer but these three alone tell us:

1. when we pray God’s word it always produces
2. in heaven our prayers are kept, wafting up like incense before the Lamb
3. prayer was one of the four foundational activities of the New Testament church

Prayer is powerful, always current and awaiting fulfillment. Don’t give up on your prayers no matter how old they are!

When I was sixteen years old, I had attended the movies in downtown Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with several girlfriends. We were window shopping afterwards and I was several stores ahead of the gang looking in a jewelry store window. 

The Lord had been nudging me toward full surrender of my future and I had been resisting. I was afraid full surrender would mean being a missionary in a faraway country like Africa. Surrender might conflict with my plans to attend the University of Alabama, marry a dreamy guy, and have a dozen children (yes, I wanted 12). 

I loved the Lord and I new he loved me but the only option I thought I had of serving him was foreign missions. The struggle was real but in that seemingly odd moment, I prayed, “I’ll go anywhere and do anything you want me to do,” 

The prayer had gone up to the heavens and would not return for 50 years. 

In 2017, I made my first trip to Africa to complete the training and ordination of 11 online students. Today, 2022, I prepare for my third trip, to lead a team of nine to Africa for ministry during June to 12 churches. Youth, men, and women will be challenged in separate conferences and the household of faith in South Africa will be ministered to at afternoon and evening meetings. 

At conference end, 27 ministers, men and women will have been trained and ordained to minister in Jesus name. God is good!

I’m thankful my surrender prayer of 1967 did not expire but is still active, powerful, bringing hope and change to the nations. 

Please keep your prayers active and don’t give up! There is no expiration date on prayer!