By Andrew Williams
Opening Prayer
Father, teach us to pray with power and persistence, moving beyond a simple wish list to a true partnership with you in prayer.
Today’s Scripture (NLT)
James 5:16b
“…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
If Scripture is our spiritual nutrition, then prayer is our spiritual strength training. It is the discipline that builds the muscles of our faith. This verse promises that prayer is not a passive, pointless exercise. It has “great power” and “produces wonderful results.” But notice the qualifier: it is the “earnest” prayer that is effective.
The word “earnest” implies passion, intensity, and persistence. It’s the difference between a casual stroll and a purposeful workout. Growing in Christ means moving our prayer life beyond the quick, “God bless my day” variety. It means wrestling in prayer for a prodigal child, persistently crying out for wisdom in a difficult situation, and fervently interceding for our church and community.
This kind of prayer doesn’t come naturally in a distracted world. It requires discipline. It means setting aside time, eliminating distractions, and focusing our hearts and minds on communicating with God. This is the spiritual gym where our dependence on God grows, and where we learn to engage His power in the world around us.
Disciples’ Life Tip: Choose one specific, significant thing to pray for this week. Instead of just mentioning it once, commit to praying for it earnestly every day. Write it down so you can track how God works in response to your persistent prayer.
Closing Prayer: Lord, move us from passive prayers to powerful, earnest prayers. Teach us to be persistent at the throne of grace, trusting in Your power to produce wonderful results. Amen.
