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If you are going to have an effective prayer ministry, whether it be personal, with a prayer partner(s), or corporately in the church, you need the following:
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When you understand and practice the above elements in prayer, then you are ready to:
It is then that you will begin to see participation increase and passion to meet with God through prayer develop within others resulting in praise to our Lord.
Effectiveness in Prayer Requires A Passion for Prayer
What passionate prayer is not:
- Passionate prayer is not emotion-driven. Although emotion may be present, passion in prayer is not merely an emotional expression nor does it flow from feelings alone.
- Some personalities are more feeling based than others. Because someone doesn't emote in their prayers, it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't passionate.
- -----Don't judge people based on their emotional expression.
- Passionate prayer is not always impressive. High-sounding spiritual words or rhetoric may not be a part of this kind of prayer.
- Someone who doesn't know Christian lingo can still engage in passionate prayer.
- -----Don't judge people based on their eloquence or lack thereof.
Note: If people sense that they may be judged in these ways, they will shy away from praying aloud.
What passionate prayer includes:
- A devotion to prayer: being faithful and diligent in it; a commitment; a priority
- Acts 2:42; Romans 12:12; Luke 18:1; Colossians 4:2
- An attentiveness in prayer: being alert, watchful, clear-minded, self-controlled
- Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:7
- A persistence in prayer: never giving up, always keeping on, continual
- Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 7:7; Psalm 55:16-17
- A fervency in prayer: being zealous; an enthusiasm or energy
- James 5:16
- A Spirit-propelled effort to prayer: walking in the Spirit; a motivation, a power-source
- Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26-27
- A wholehearted attitude toward prayer: seeking and loving Him with all of who you are
- Jeremiah 29:12-13; Matthew 22:37
- A faith-driven expectancy in prayer: being thankful before getting an answer; an anticipation
- Colossians 4:2; Mark 11:24
- A purpose in prayer: lining up with His will; a meaningfulness
- Matthew 6:7-13; 1 John 5:14
What is at the root of passionate prayer:
It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. (Prov. 19:2)
Passion in prayer needs to grow out of knowledge -- both head and heart knowledge.
- knowledge of who He is: His character
God is fully capable of answering our prayers.
--Development of faith
- knowledge of how He works: His ways
God cares about us. Our good is at the core of His love for us and will affect how He answers our prayers.
--Development of perspective
- knowledge of what He says: His Word
God will always be consistent with His Word in the way He responds to prayer.
--Development of discernment
How to cultivate the passion for prayer in others:
Teach and preach in a way that people are presented with God as the great God He is, that helps people to understand His ways, and that gives them a good foundation of His Word. In so doing, you will help develop faith, perspective, and discernment that will grow their passion to meet with Him in prayer. A passion for prayer stems out of a passion for God.
Keep the purpose of prayer ever before the people. Take great care that prayer doesn't become routine or ritualistic.
Vary the approach. Even Jesus warned against vain repetition (Matt. 6:7). Ephesians 6:18 says we should pray with "all kinds of prayers and requests." Be careful not to get into a rut. Keep your approach fresh so you don't become dull or desensitized in praying.
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