Being Fervent in Prayer
There is no question of the importance of fervour in prayer; it is spoken of time and again in the pages of scripture in such a way that we are left in no doubt that without it prayer will not be heard. Fervour is the centre of sincerity and distinguishes between real desire for godliness and mere Christian etiquette. There are, however, many things which pass for fervour which are roundly condemned by God and which must be strictly avoided if we would not join the ranks of the hypocrites. Prayer is the hearts expression of something that is already known to God in much more detail than we can ever hope to describe or know ourselves. Fervour is stirring of the heart and often stilling the tongue. This was used in heathen prayer (Matthew 6:7; 1 Kings 18:26) with a mistaken idea that much speaking would produce an answer. To make a request without being deeply moved to do so is not to pray, and to repeat such a request in that way is vain repetition. A moments reflection will reveal how perilously near to this we may come when we use certain phrases, particularly in public prayer, as if they were mere points of punctuation in a cold, emotionless speech. Fervour is not much speaking; it is the spirit which turns our prayers into pleading and which, as Jesus points out, will result in persistence in praying for the things which are really necessary for our well-being (Luke 18:7).
Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared (Hebrews 5:7). This verse provides the perfect illustration of what is meant by fervent prayer, as it seemed to apply not just to the final prayer of Jesus but to the whole bent of his life. Jesus often offered up prayer; although the son of God, he had no illusion about himself or his needs. He prayed unto God who was able to save him from death, not just the death of the cross, but the penalty which must be borne by all who carry Adams nature. Jesus knew of mans need of help beyond himself; he knew that God alone could be the source of life and to Him he prayed for deliverance. By God he was heard because he feared. Jesus prayed with strong crying and tears.
This, then, is fervour: to know our needs, to be conscious of Gods power to help, and to be so sincere in our desire that our being is moved to tears. Are we really capable of reaching such depths of human sorrow at the sinfulness of self? Probably not, but we can rejoice to find that even here God has provided for our needs. Likewise the spirit helps our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the spirit itself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the spirit for he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). By this most wonderful verse we are taken right into the innermost part of the subject of prayer, to see prayer as a vital part of our salvation and to see it changed in meaning in the person of our Lord Jesus. As the priest arranged upon the altar the sacrifices of men, so our Lord re-arranges our feeble utterances so that they are in accordance with the will of God if in faith we pray through him. Better our lips remain still if our heart is moved. And if our heart is moved, our lips also need to be - for our pleading will be taken up by Jesus, and God will not mistake his meaning, for He knows the mind of the spirit.
Bro David & Sis Jacklyne Wanjala (Chwele, Kenya)
