Last week we talked about Abiding Victory. You may be asking, how do I attain such continual victory – I believe prayer, fervent, consistent prayer is one key to abiding victory.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul encourages believers to “pray without ceasing.” This means maintaining a constant attitude of prayer throughout daily life, That doesn’t mean you have to pray 24/7, it does, however, mean to keep an attitude of prayer in your heart daily. And, spend time each day praying about whatever it is you have need of.
Remember this, prayer is not a monologue, it should be a two-way conversation. Take your petitions to God and then sit quietly and give Him time to speak to you or direct you. He longs to speak to you as much as you want to hear from Him.
Another thing we must do is search the word of God to find out what His word says about our situation. Once we have that, we know His will on the subject. If you are praying about healing, peace, or prosperity, we know it is His will to heal. We know He left us HIS peace. And we know He desires for His people to prosper and to not be in lack.
Now, let’s look at some of the things the Bible says about prayer.
And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (Jn 16:23)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Mt 7:7)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Phil 4:6)
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mk 11:23-24)
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. (Is 55:11)
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)
Those are all good scriptures on prayer – but here is the one I want to expound on today.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16) The Amplified Bible says it like this; The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
This verse tells us that fervent prayer, passionate prayer and persistent prayer can accomplish a lot, including healing, restoration and breakthroughs. The term fervent conveys a passionate, wholehearted, forceful prayer. It is not simply reciting a few words, it is boiling over with a desire and a passion to see breakthrough. It is prayer that is not only words, but also engages the heart, mind and the spirit of a person.
I believe when God spoke to me that prayer must make a comeback, this is the kind of prayer He was speaking of.
Think about blind Bartimaeus, he cried out to Jesus. “Lord, have mercy on me.” When everyone around him, including the disciples, told him to hush, he continued crying out. His cry was a fervent prayer and Jesus answered that prayer.
Think about the woman with the issue of blood. She was determined, so determined, she forced her way through the crowd to touch the only one who could help her. She was fervent in her pursuit of her healing. Fervent means great intensity, I believe we can agree in both these cases they were intent on getting their healing that day.
My friend, the enemy wants to silence you. But that is not what God says.
God says speak to the mountain and it will move.
God says, pray fervent prayers and great power comes on the scene.
God says, the violent take it by force.
If there is something you need from God, perhaps, it is time you become a fervent, effectual prayer warrior and declare your victory. Perhaps it’s time you pray differently and consistently, until you SEE the answer with your eyes. Perhaps, just maybe, that is how we attain abiding victory. May we each walk in God’s abiding, continual victory, starting now.
