Have you ever noticed how most people have a hard time waiting their turn? This can be seen in different actions every day. For example - the sigh-er, the tapper, the look, the body language and of course the questioner, "Can't you go any faster." In the instant breakfast society we live in today, everyone wants an express lane. We want - what we want - when we want it. As Christians, we need to show patience in everything we do in our daily life's, including being patient with our Lord.
Have you ever been praying for someone or something, for what seems to you a long time? Well, join the club. We all have. God is not some "genie in a bottle" ready to grant us three wishes when we call on Him. Nor is He only to be called upon in time of need. What kind of relationship would you have with someone, if you only called them when you needed something? The bible tells us in James, "the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16) Let's look at these words a little closer.
Webster defines effective as fruitful or capable or producing a desired result. This means we must have a prayer life, that is marked by fruit. The word fervent can be translated intense, passionate, very hot - glowing. This means our prayer life should have emotion in it and not just some mundane, half hearted request. Finally, it is the prayer of the righteous that reaches God. We as Christians have righteousness imputed to us through our belief in Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection. Therefore we can, make our request known to God.
It is so important to establish a fervent prayer life with our heavenly father who, "desires to give us above all that we could ask or think."(Eph.3:20) Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. If you set aside the time to do just that, you will see the fruit of your petitions.
The Truth
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:17-18)
