So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. (Acts 12:5)
I was thinking today about how even after God didn’t answer the Christians’ prayer for James, they prayed for Peter when Herod imprisoned him. Not only that, they prayed fervently.
It made me think, “How fervent am I in my prayers when God seems slow to answer? Or when God has said no to other prayers?”
I’m thinking of two friends now, both of whom I’ve been praying for a long time. And for whatever reason, God doesn’t seem to be answering.
Sometimes I’m fervent in my prayers for them. But many times I’m not.
Of course, fervency in prayer doesn’t necessarily mean that God will say yes to my requests. Nor does it necessarily show how great my faith is. (The church sure didn’t seem to have much. See verses 15-16).
But fervency does say, “God, this is important to me. And I believe you hear me. And I believe you care. So I’m putting my trust in you and laying this in your hands.”
That’s the attitude I want to have as I pray for my friends today.
How about you? Are you praying with fervency?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 