Fervent prayer — the call of every believer

We’ve all done it — offered a quick prayer for someone who asked us to pray. We send up a short one and can honestly say we prayed as requested. But the letter of James offers valuable insight into what heartfelt prayer really is.

In chapter five, James writes, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.” Every believer is called to pray fervently for those who are sick or facing difficult circumstances. Interestingly, the Bible never mentions a “gift of prayer,” as if only a few “super Christians” possess it. Why? Because everyone can do it. Prayer isn’t a gift — it’s the calling and trademark of every believer.

The Oxford Dictionary defines fervent as “passionate intensity.” The Greek word used in James is energeo — the root of our word energy. We are called to pray with energy and passionate intensity — far more than a quick, “Bless them, Lord.”

Jesus told a parable about a woman who persistently pleaded with a corrupt judge for justice. Though he refused at first, her persistence eventually wore him down, and he granted her request. Jesus’ point was that if an unjust judge can be moved by persistence, imagine how a loving Father responds to fervent prayer from His children.

Scripture often says that when Jesus saw the multitudes, He was “moved with compassion.” When we go about our days — at Walmart, Kroger, work or school — will we look at people with that same compassion, seeing their pain and hopelessness? Or will we just shake our heads and ask, “What’s the matter with people?”

That’s where our call to fervent prayer begins. A fervent intercessor is moved by the struggles of others and longs to see them restored and healed. We all encounter a crabby clerk, a discouraged coworker, or a stranger carrying a heavy burden. We may be the only ones willing to pray fervently for them — to intercede on their behalf.

Would you be willing to “adopt” one of those hurting people in prayer and secretly intercede for them? You may not know their name, but God does. When we lift them up, we fulfill Paul’s words to the Galatians: “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.”

Ken Staley is pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove (9:30 a.m.) and Harrisville Methodist Church (11 a.m.), both Global Methodist congregations. Text Ken at 918-852-9797.