Without looking too closely, it can easily be observed that prayer is the most common element across religions - why is this so? Basically, prayer when coming from a sincere heart can yield results far beyond human understanding or expectations.
What is Prayer
Prayer is the only method known to christians which allows us to exist physically in the earthly realm and simultaneously communicate with God our father who is in heaven. Simply put, prayer is our direct line to God in heaven.
For christians, fervent prayers engages all aspects of our being (mind, body and spirit) and pours out heart-felt truths as expressions and communication with the Spirit of God. Prayer is mysterious, yet powerful in it's ability to accomplish the impossible, pull down strongholds, attract the presence of God and transform situations of life that glorify God. Fervent prayer changes things.
The main ingredient of fervent prayer is faith in Jesus Christ and trusting in God. When we accept Jesus as Lord of our life and put our trust in God with all our heart, then it becomes easier for the Holy Spirit to operate on spoken words released from our mouth in faith - whether in the form of tongues or as clearly understood utterances.
What does fervent mean in prayer?
A fervent prayer is one where we put all our cares on God with a concious decision to keep on praying, praising God and believe that his will and promises will be done in our lives and in our lifetime - not when we are no longer on the earth. We see an exmple of fervent prayer
Luke 5:16 says:
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Here we see how Jesus would often prioritise his day and dependence on God to strenghthen him as well as refocus his purpose - he made God is freind, souce and inspiration for all areas of his life.Jesus was giving us examples of how fervency operate when God is in control of all aspects of our lives.
It is often the testimony of many christians that when we pray believing, God shift the balance and outcome of situations - whatever they may be - in alignment with his divine will for our life. In the end, things works out in our favour, even though it may not appear to be so initially.
Let us look at another example where the power of fervent prayer manifested with the outcome in Jacob's favour:
Genesis 32:24-26 reads:
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
James 5:17 tells us that:
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
God Hear our Prayers
The power of fervent prayer is not based on the person praying but instead, the God who is being prayed to.
1 John 5:14-15 states:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."
Based on the above scripture, we can cleraly see that God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will - Jesus Christ - with timely answers that are always in our best interest.
In Matthew 6:33 our attention is also drawn to one of the most widely known truths surrounding prayers:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
"Seek" from the above verse clearly tells us to desire and ask after the will of God's kingdom and righteousness and that those heart-felt prayers will be added unto us - answered. It is clear that God is inviting us to have a relationship with him through prayer and supplicatioon and to make our heart desires be inline with his Holy word which reflect his will for mankind - Jesus, our salvation.
Therefore, when we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!
How Do We Pray Fervently and Effectively?
In addition to pray without cesing (unwavering), Jesus also taught his disciples the key principles and template for fervent prayers which is now know as "The Lord's Prayer":
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever.Amen.
The Lord's prayer has a formular that makes it really effective in its application and meaning for our life and once understood these principles can be used to suit your personal relationship and prayer style with God our Father. These are the imporant elements from the above fervent prayer that Jesus taught his disciples using the "ACTS" method.
A = Adoration - verses 1 and 2: Our Father, who art in heaven:
Here we seer Jesus first glorifying God as Father, Creator,and Most Holy one. He also highlighted God's soverignity.
C = Confession - verses 7 and 8: And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Jesus teaches us the power of confessing our sins to God asking for forgiveness and ensuring that we also forgive others. Doing this presents us to God with a clear conscious, with the understanding that there is nothing holding us back as a foothold of unrighteousness that the devil could use to hinder our prayer moment with God.
T = Thanksgiving - verses 3 to 5 and 11 to 13: thy kingdom come; thy will be done. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Jesus Thank God both at the begining and in rounding up his prayers. Jesus was teaching his disciples and us Christians the power of thankfulness. Giving thanks to God is always an essential part of revealing our gratitiude with sincere heart. God loves a cheerful giver and God also love the world that he Gave his only Son. When we tahnk God, we also confirm that his promises and our vistory has already been won.
S = Supplication - verses 6 and 9 to 10. Give us this day our daily bread.And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Supplication is where we ask God for our needs, although he knows them already. Jesus shows us that it is not enough to know our needs and keep silent about it, but by speaking these as request during prayer to God serves as an act of confirmation. God takes pleasure in hearing us pray and asking for what we need and when it comes from the heart and spoken by our mouth in prayer, there power that is released as both a form of confession and acknowleding to ourselves that God hears us. - as pointed out by Jesus in Matthew 7:7 ("Ask and it will be given to you").
Rounding up and Encouragment on The Power of Fervent Prayer
As we round up on this post, take time to reflect on the following scriptures as well as this christian inspiration.
If you are not already saved and would you like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour get this confession prayer and read it aloud, meaning every word you say.
1 John 5:16 - If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
1 Chronicles 16:11 - Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always
Ephesians 1:18 - I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.
Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
And still others...
Jeremiah 29:12 - Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Job 22:27 - You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfil your vows.
2 Chronicles 7:14 - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
John 17:15 - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
2 Chronicles 6:21 - Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.
1 John 5:14 - This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1 John 5:15 - And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
James 5:13 - Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
Check out these bible scriptures and verses on effectual prayer as well
Here are a number of other fervent prayer scriptures that can help in your walk and moment of solitude with God. as you build on your most holy faith, these screpitures could provide you with additional inspiration for how to be a fervent prayer warrior with direction from the Holy Spirit - our helper sent by God.
Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Matthew 6:7 - And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Matthew 26:41 - “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
Proverbs 15:8 - The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
Psalm 17:6 - I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Matthew 5:44 -But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Psalm 102:17 - He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.