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The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.—James 5:16
Be like a professional when it comes to intercessory prayer. If you were going to pitch the financing of a project, for example, to a company’s CEO and board of directors, you would come prepared with a clear proposal. You’d do your very best to show how such a project would be beneficial. You’d choose your words carefully and would strive to keep things concise and to the point, knowing that their time is precious.
What is a professional? It’s someone who is skilled at what they do. Think of prayer as a profession, and then strive to be the best you can be in the field of prayer. Any professional who is going to be effective has to put time and effort into their profession and has to work at improving their skills. Likewise, if you are going to grow in your prayer life, you have to invest the time, hone your skills, and strengthen your prayer muscles.
When it comes to intercessory prayer or requests for needs or opportunities, come to Me with thanksgiving, knowing that your every request is heard. Express your need thoroughly, be specific about what you ask for and what you have the faith for. Then wait and trust that as you commit every request to Me for My will to be done in the situation, you have done your part.
A key in prayer is trusting in Me for the outcome, and not wavering in your faith if the answer is not seen immediately. Sometimes I will bring the answer quickly and other times the answer may take longer for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the time is not right. Sometimes there are still choices that must be made on the part of the recipient of the answered prayer. And other times I answer your request, but not in the way you expected, as My ways and thoughts in the situation may not be the same as yours (Isaiah 55:8–9).
I’m the Boss, and you work for Me; but I’ve also made you a partner. With that partnership comes certain privileges. One of your highest privileges is that of sitting at the conference table of prayer with Me, knowing that you will walk away from that table after spending time in My presence a step closer to the answer and the peace of mind and confidence that I have heard your petitions and will bring about My will in the situation.
A first resort
Prayer should never be a last resort, but your first course of action, as you commit all things to Me and ask for Me to work in every situation. Prayer is not an “extra” or something you do when you have time or when the situation is dire. It is fundamental and central to your life and work, and most of all your relationship with Me, as you seek to acknowledge Me in all your ways (Proverbs 3:5).
Prayer is a central part of your life as a disciple! In fact‚ prayer is one of the most important parts of your walk with Me because it’s the part where you place things in My hands and trust in Me and My power to work according to My will. If you neglect that part‚ you miss out on entering into My peace, because without committing things to prayer, you end up carrying the weight of them on your own.
It is important to your spiritual life to take your prayer life seriously. Being professional about prayer is not being haphazard and lackadaisical; it’s being focused and giving it your full attention. It’s praying targeted and Spirit-filled prayers! Effective intercessory prayer takes focus, concentration, and desperation.
Do not belittle your ministry of prayer, as it helps to lay the foundation of your work for the rest of the day and to commit every concern to Me. As you pray for your work, your children, your friends and loved ones, the world around you, and those in power, you have done your part to seek My intervention in each situation, and for My will to be done and for My kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9–13).
Be a prayer warrior
Be a prayer warrior—one who believes that prayer is important and puts their heart into it and makes it part of their everyday life. Take the same approach to your prayer life as you would to your profession. Give it the same care, attention‚ determination and focus as you do your work life. Whether you are praying during a time dedicated to prayer or throughout your day as you commit the tasks and situations at hand to Me and ask Me to intervene in the way I know is best, come to Me and cast all your cares on Me, knowing that I care for you (1 Peter 5:7).
Prayer warriors persevere in prayer and tend to their Father’s business with careful attention and diligence. Their earnest prayers are powerful and produce great results in accordance with My will (James 5:16). They are confident that when they ask for something according to My will, they have the petitions they desire of Me (1 John 5:14–15).
Like a doctor who is called to intervene in a needy situation that requires medical assistance, a prayer warrior is always prepared to respond to a need by coming boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace to help in times of need (Hebrews 4:16). He knows that his gift of prayer makes him a servant of others, as he can’t turn a deaf ear to a needy situation that requires prayer. He knows that when prayer is needed, he is called to intercede, and he clearly and concisely presents the needs‚ asks Me to take care of them, and trusts that I will intervene according to My will.
Earnestness in prayer is not a gift. Every believer has the ability to grow in their prayer life. You can practice your voice of faith by memorizing and claiming My promises and reminding yourself of My faithfulness. You may wish you could do more to help a problem or situation than “just praying for it.” But remember that earnest, desperate‚ faith-filled prayer is powerful and can produce wonderful results.
During the course of your busy life it’s easy to forget that prayer is an integral part of being a Christian and a disciple. Prayer can open doors that could not be opened otherwise, breaks chains that would be impossible for human strength to break, remove the most daunting obstacles, deliver the most well-guarded prisoners from Satan’s clutches, and cause miracles to occur.
Coming into My presence with thanksgiving
Trust Me by relinquishing control into My hands. Let go, and recognize that I am God. This is My world; I made it and I control it. … When you bring Me prayer requests, lay out your concerns before Me. Speak to Me candidly; pour out your heart. Then thank Me for the answers that I have set into motion long before you can discern results.
When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank Me for the answers that are on the way. If you keep on stating your concerns to Me, you will live in a state of tension. When you thank Me for how I am answering your prayers, your mindset becomes much more positive.
Thankful prayers keep your focus on My Presence and My promises. Your prayers and petitions are winged into heaven’s throne room when they are permeated with thanksgiving. “In everything give thanks, for this is My will for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).1
Originally published November 2007, unless otherwise indicated. Adapted and republished February 2024. Read by Jon Marc. Music by Michael Fogarty.
1 Sarah Young, Jesus Calling (Thomas Nelson, 2010).
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