Yesterday we did a short devo @ C3 to finish our study in James we read James 5:7-19. Our discussion was about patience and fervent prayer. I don’t know about you, but it seems that we live in a society that is driven by results. We want things fast and we want them now. For example, think about what you have to do to get a cheeseburger. Drive down the street and go through a “drive thru” and you got one in a minute. Think about the slogans such as Burger King, “Have it your way”. Better yet, here in America you can have food delivered to your house! What’s the point? As Christians we tend to do the same thing with people!!! We pray for people for a week, month, if you’re super spiritual a year! When was the last time you or myself prayed for the same person for over one year? We give up. We stop because we don’t see results. Let me encourage you to be resilient in your prayer life. Let me encourage you to be resilient in serving the same people over and over again. People are on different types of soils and sometimes they need help being transplanted! I know God was patient with me, therefore, I need to be patient in serving His precious people.
Now prayer. James 5:17 states that, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours”. Did you get that? What is the difference between Elijah and us? His nature was like you and me. But it says that he prayed fervently! Fervent means having or displaying a passionate intensity. Hot, burning, or glowing. Let me ask you a question? Is your prayer life passionately intense? Are you hot or on fire for God in prayer? Elijah was and he prayed that the rain would stop and it did for 3 1/2 years. Then he prayed that it would rain again, and it did. What’s the point? Be on fire for God and pray with passionate intensity! Ask God for BIG things that you cannot do, but only He can do! And do not give up!
That is hot, brother, a fierce challenge! Thank you.