Fervent Prayer!

 

I have read quite a few of Mark Batterson's books. "Going All In", "The Circle Maker", and "Whisper" are a few of those titles. All of them are good books and I certainly recommend them. One of the things I love about Mark Batterson is his heart for prayer. God has blessed him and his ministry through fervent prayer. So the quote about is certainly fitting. He practices what he preaches. He is a consistent, intense, prayer warrior. 

I try to be a prayer warrior in that same mold. Although sometimes we are called to take no as an answer from God, it does not keep us from taking things to the Lord. Do you remember the story of David praying for his child?

"David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused." (2 Samuel 12:16)

THAT IS INTENSE, FERVENT PRAYER. I have had a few times in my life where I prayed with that kind of intensity. God honors prayers brought to him with a sincere heart and when we naturally pray with intensity, fervor, and from deep within, he loves to respond!

That is exactly what happened in Acts 12:

"He had James (John's brother) killed with a word. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed VERY EARNESTLY for him." (Acts 12:2-5,emphasis added)

The rest is history. Peter miraculously gets freed through the visit of an angel, and he appears at the house where the church is praying. That is an amazing series of events that clearly shows the heart of God. 

I can just visualize the people praying with intensity. I can visualize a lot of wailing, people sprawled out face down on the floor, tears, and continual pleading. At times, my intense prayers were about speaking my heart out loud to God. Many times, I get on my knees and put my face on the ground. I don't do this for show. I do it because the thing I am praying about is completely out of my control, and I desperately need the Lord. 

We should never be afraid to fully open up and empty ourselves in prayer. God will respond! 

I praise God! I can never remember a time of intense prayer that God did not respond. Just like in the story of Peter, he always shows up, and sometimes he shows up in miraculous ways.