James 5:16-17:
¹⁶Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ¹⁷Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
A fervent prayer: The Amplified Classic version of our theme verse describes this kind of prayer: “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” It says the prayer is earnest, and there is a persistence about it. It is therefore a sustained kind of prayer marked by a deep feeling of conviction.
This is not the kind of prayer done when in a hurry to do something else. There are certain times and situations where you do not just speak the word and go away; you persist in prayer. You keep praying. You may be saying the same thing, but you are praying.
Jesus did that too in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said the same things in prayer, and He prayed that way for an hour. He persisted because he understood the stakes of the moment. Jesus exudes himself as a person of a consistent prayer life. You have to take your personal prayer life more seriously. (Luke 22:39-46 and Mathew 26:44)
A righteous man: Who is a righteous man whose prayer is effective? It appears as though; the prayer is effective because of who he is and remember you are the righteousness of God. If you have accepted Jesus Christ, you become righteous. We are declared righteous, and fully accepted by God, not based on any righteousness in us, but only through faith, looking outside ourselves and joining us to a righteousness not of our own doing.
Romans 5:1
¹Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21
²¹God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
I like that James referred to Elijah as a man subject to passions as we are, even when he is one of the most powerful Prophets. He wanted us to know that when we pray, despite our weaknesses, God responds, and something must happen. Our prayers are effective.
When you pray, always be conscious of your position in the kingdom of God. You are a son of God, a co-heir with Christ Jesus, so when you pray, your Father responds. I always imagine that there is urgency in heaven whenever I open my mouth to pray about anything, I know my Father delights in seeing me prosper in everything, his will for me is to be fruitful.
Galatians 4:6
⁶And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, (John 11:41-42)
Hebrews 4:16
¹⁶Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Always stir yourself and respond to the call and urgency of prayer from your spirit, declaring the Word of God and praying by the Spirit. It may look like nothing is changing but keep on speaking. You might ask, “But when do I stop?” You stop when you “know that you know” in your spirit that it is done! Glory to God! You will surely get the note of victory.
When you yield yourself fully to God, your desires become his desires, your will is His will. If you ask for anything, it shall be given unto you.
Prophetic Utterance:
Father, thank you for the privilege and opportunity of prayer by which I exercise my authority in Christ. I activate and walk in the consciousness of the divine presence and enforce your will on the earth. I am an effective intercessor through the Word of faith and prayer in Jesus’s name. Amen and Amen.
Guiding text:
I John 5:14-15
¹⁴Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Job 22:28
²⁸You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So, light will shine on your ways.