SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1232
“Earnest Prayer”
So, Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. – Acts 12:5
As Christians, our lives should be characterized by prayer.
Continue steadfastly in prayer… – Colossians 4:2
Pray without ceasing – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
…Be constant in prayer. – Romans 12:12
We say morning and bedtime prayers. We pray over our food at each meal. We pray spontaneous, ‘popcorn’ prayers throughout the day, some silently and some aloud. These are all well and good, but the danger is that they can become rote, parroted, ritualistic prayers spoken with our mouth while our minds are occupied elsewhere.
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; – Matthew 15:8
There remains a need in our Christian walk for individual and concerted, persistent, earnest prayer.
The word translated ‘earnest’ in our reference Scripture is from the Greek word ‘ektenos’ from which we derive the word ‘tension’. It means being fully stretched, extended out to full potential. Earnest prayer is much more than a ‘I lay me down to sleep’ prayer. It is a fully engaged, heart, mind, body, and soul persistent prayer.
Jesus prayed in earnest in the Garden of Gethsemane.
And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. – Luke 22:44
David prayed in earnest for the healing of his son.
David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. – 2 Samuel 12:16
I recall rushing my infant son to the hospital. This was not a time for a wishful, rote, half-hearted, prayer. It was a time for earnest prayer, fully stretched, a persistent reaching out to God with every fiber of my being.
Note that while Peter was imprisoned, such earnest prayer was made by the church. Corporate prayer is a key aspect of earnest prayer.
Many of you who read these Sword of the Spirit devotionals are part of a prayer team network. I encourage you to persist in that prayer ministry with earnest, fervent prayer for the needs brought before you.
When your church body calls for a time of corporate prayer, I encourage you to set the world aside and participate in earnest prayer.
Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” – Matthew 18:19-20
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints – Ephesians 6:18
God does not always give us what we ask for in earnest prayer, but He always does what is best for us and others. He said ‘No’ to David’s and to Jesus’ earnest prayer requests. Paul stopped earnestly praying after three times, not because he decided to quit, but because God said ‘No’ and Paul rejoiced in that answer because He knew that God works all things for the good of His children.
Reference a related devotional on this topic at the following link:
Our God is the God of possibility and earnest prayer is called for during impossible times and situations.
Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. – Jeremiah 32:17
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
What are the impossible needs before us today? Physical healing, salvation for loved ones, the people suffering in Ukraine and Turkey, the unborn children being murdered in the womb, the homeless, the need for a job? The list goes on and on.
…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. – James 5:16 (NKJV)
Sword of the Spirit 