On Prayer

I don’t very often share my private thoughts on my blog, mostly because I look at my blog as more of a scrapbook of our lives, and a way to share our comings and goings with friends and family—and, because, if I am being completely honest here, I tend to prefer to communicate with humor. However, I have noticed as I have read innumerable number of blogs, how much I enjoy blogs that not only are memories, family stories, travel journals, etc., but also the ones that are interspersed with thoughts or observations. That is human, and it is my opinion that the blogging experience, and therefore in-person social situations are only enhanced because of it.


So, normally I tend to shy away from doing posts like this. However, this particular subject has been in my heart and on my mind a lot lately, and from some of the things that are going/have gone on in our life, and also in some of our friend’s lives, I feel like maybe I should share it here. Occasionally I will be thinking about something, and the next day someone will blog about it… it’s always so neat to notice how God works in our hearts and minds not only individually, but as a whole group.


The subject of prayer is what I am thinking of. The study of words/language/communication is a lifelong interest for me. When you are a kid who sits through many prayers by many different people you begin to notice, week after week, the ones that are truly thought out, as well as the ones that are word for word and even in syntax the exact same prayer every time you hear them. Please understand that I am not judging those who pray like that, or saying that their prayer is not sincere… it’s just an observation. However, the outcome of that observation (for me) is a desire for my prayers to be actual thoughts in the moment of prayer and not merely reflex.


Prayer is our all access pass to the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, and best of all, Forgiver of my sin and Savior of my soul. For me, due to my parents teaching, it was understood that:

Reading my Bible=God talking to me
And
Praying=me talking to God

It was likened to a phone conversation—hence me, over the years in banking/professional situations, etc., coming to think of prayer as a Bat Phone—as an employee, if you’ve ever tried to get a CEO of a large corporation on a phone, you’ll understand how amazing the bat phone concept is. And, also, may I briefly point out, that you cannot have a true conversation without BOTH of these things happening. If you talk to God in prayer, but don’t read His word, then you actually aren’t listening to what he’s saying to you—His Holy Word is His primary mode of communication with us.


There are always a lot of things to pray about… in fact, we could spend all day, every day, in prayer, and still not come close to covering everything there is to pray about. Sometimes it’s really overwhelming. But, last Sunday, while turning to a different verse, my eyes quite literally happened to fall on James 5:16, just the end of the verse.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” NKJV

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” KJV

“The fervent supplication of the righteous man has much power.” JND

(No, I don’t carry all these translations with me—I looked them up at home afterwards.) But, I love looking at the three different translations, and getting just a slightly different syntax from them.

So, let’s look at these words…

Effective:
adj.
1. Having an intended or expected effect.
2. Producing a strong impression or response; striking:
3. Operative; in effect:
4. Existing in fact; actual:
5. Prepared for use or action, especially in warfare.

Effectual:
producing or able to produce a desired effect

Fervent:
adj.
1. having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent:
2. hot; burning; glowing.

The observations I take from all of this:

The person praying:

Has actually thought through the words they are saying. How often do we say words and not really think about them? Not only does this “righteous person” know the need they are praying about in their head, they have pondered it, and feel it in their hearts. And, humbly they supplicate for the desired effect. God recognizes this request, and he answers… hence, the power of prayer. We often say that “all we can do is pray.” And sometimes that is true. However, we really should say “The most POWERFUL thing we can do is pray.”


So, what did you take to God for yourself or your family today? Did you just toss words out of your mouth, or did you engage in the act of prayer?! Did you add someone new to your prayer list today? Who have you prayed for today? Did you pray for them BY NAME? If it was a family you were thinking of, did you pray for each member BY NAME & NEED? Did you pray specifically for the “thing” going on in their life that put them on your heart? And did you pray with INTENSITY OF SPIRIT, being PREPARED FOR ACTION and even WARFARE, and already knowing that YOUR PRAYER will produce its DESIRED EFFECT?


Sometimes we don’t know how to pray… that is only human. But, taking the situation or the desire to God, and asking simply that “His will be done” can ONLY result in great things. And the immediate result is a sense of peace that you placed it in God’s hands, and now you await His answer.


And finally, in bringing our request to God, we already give thanks and worship for his response. How often do we forget this—both before and after said request? Be anxious FOR NOTHING- but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and supplication, WITH THANKSGIVING, let your request be made known to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7


And my prayer is that this post will only encourage you.