IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL
TOPIC: PRAY WITH PASSION
If you are persistent in something, it stands to reason that you are to be passionate about it. In fact, Paul says we should be vigilant or be watchful; it is the opposite of slothfulness. This describes passionate prayer.
Jesus was passionate about His prayer life, it was something He was always doing.
S.D. Gordon in his book, Quiet Talks on Prayer, says
How much prayer meant to Jesus! It was not only his regular habit, but his resort in every emergency, however slight or serious. When perplexed he prayed. When hard pressed by work he prayed. When hungry for fellowship he found it in prayer. He chose his associates and received his messages upon his knees. If tempted, he prayed. If criticized, he prayed. If fatigued in body or wearied in spirit, he had recourse to his one unfailing habit of prayer. Prayer brought him unmeasured power at the beginning, and kept the flow unbroken and undiminished. There was no emergency, no difficulty, no necessity, no temptation that would not yield to prayer.
And every time we see Jesus praying He was praying with passion.
In Luke 3:1 at His Baptism - while He was praying the heaven was opened. Passionate prayer opens Heaven.
In Luke 6:12 before He called His disciples - He spent the whole night in prayer. Passionate prayer gives direction.
In Luke 9:29 at His transfiguration - And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. Passionate prayer enables us to experience the glory of the Father.
In John 17 in His high priestly prayer - Passionate prayer impacts the lives of others.
In Matthew 26:39 in the Garden of Gethsemane - It is only through passionate prayer that we can pour out our hearts to God.
In Luke 23:24 as He hung on the cross - a life that is lived in passionate prayer will enable us to maintain that spirit, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Jesus always prayed with passion, because He knew Who it was He was talking to and He knew that prayer to the Father is a powerful thing and not something to take lightly and glibly.
Prayer from the heart, that's what passionate prayer is, it is prayer from the heart not just from the head.
James 5:16 says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
IN JESUS NAME YOUR PRAYERS FOR YOUR GOOD HEAER DESIRE ARE GRANTED THIS WEEK. AMEN
