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Forty Days of Prayer- Day 12

1 Kings 17:20-22

Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.

Talk about PASSION! From now on when I think about praying with PASSION, I will always think of Elijah. Today’s reading made me reflect on my own prayer habits and contemplate what passionate prayer really is (and what it isn’t). I came to realize what passionate prayer is NOT.. It is not prayer where you’re thinking about something else while the words of a prayer simply pass through your lips. Passionate prayer is not prayer where you can barely stay awake while you’re praying. Passionate prayer is not prayer done out of guilt (doing it because you “have to” do it but really wanting to do something else). Passionate prayer is not just emotions...it is so much more.

We learn in James 5:16b-17 that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”. As we have been learning in our devotions, Elijah (who was a human just like us) watched miracles happen when he prayed earnestly and with great passion. (He was fed by ravens. He saw the widow’s supply of oil and flour miraculously never run out. He raised her son back to life. And he faced down the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel.)

I’ve done a little research because I want to pray with passion. I want to pray like Elijah!

Here’s what I’ve learned passionate prayer includes..

  • Fervency - Be enthusiastic and zealous- show God how badly you want it!! (James 5:16)

  • Devotion – Be faithful and committed, make it a priority! (Acts 2:42; Romans 12:12; Luke 18:1; Colossians 4:2)

  • Attentiveness - Be alert, watching for God. (Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2)

  • Persistence - Never give up, keep on keeping on! (Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 7:7; Psalm 55:16-17)

  • The Holy Spirit - Be lead by the Spirit and let the Spirit be your source of motivation. (Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26-27)

  • Reverence - Seek God with your whole heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13; Matthew 22:37; Deut 6:1-9, 10:12-13; Mark 12:30 Luke 10:27)

  • Faith – Believe and anticipate God to provide an answer and be thankful before getting an answer (Colossians 4:2; Mark 11:24)

Today I challenge you to pray for your impossible prayers with passion like you’ve never done before! If you need to pray with more intensity or “knee-mail” then do it. If you need to lift your arms or bow your head, then do it. If you need to address God in a new way, now’s the time to do it. What can you do differently to show God you mean it and need it?

For further reading – see scriptures noted above.

Father, we reverence and honor you. You are the Alpha and the Omega. It is your desire for prayer to be a top priority in our lives. It is a privilege to pray to you and we want our prayer life experience to be a delight not a duty. We cry out to you with passion and trust that you will hear our prayers and answer them. We won’t give up praying for your will to be done! May all glory be you yours!!

In Your Son’s Name we pray. Amen

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