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

And they continued

stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine

and fellowship,

and in breaking of bread,

and in prayers.

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope;

patient in tribulation;

continuing instant in prayer;

Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them

to this end,

that men ought always to pray,

and not to faint;

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer,

and watch in the same

with thanksgiving;

An attentiveness in prayer: being alert, watchful, clear-minded, self-controlled

 

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer

and supplication in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication for all saints;

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer,

and watch in the same

with thanksgiving;

1 Peter 4:7

But the end of all things is at hand:

be ye therefore sober,

and watch unto prayer.

A persistence in prayer: never giving up, always keeping on, continual

 

Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them

to this end,

that men ought always to pray,

and not to faint;

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer

and supplication in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication for all saints;

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

Matthew 7:7

Ask,

and it shall be given you;

seek,

and ye shall find;

knock,

and it shall be opened unto you:

 Psalm 55:16-17

As for me,

I will call upon God;

and the LORD shall save me.

Evening, and morning,

and at noon,

will I pray,

and cry aloud:

and he shall hear my voice.

A fervency in prayer: being zealous; an enthusiasm or energy

 

James 5:16

Confess 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.

A Spirit-propelled effort to prayer: walking in the Spirit; a motivation, a power-source

 

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer

and supplication in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication for all saints;

Romans 8:26-27

Likewise the Spirit

also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not

what we should pray for as we ought:

but the Spirit itself

maketh intercession

for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

A wholehearted attitude toward prayer: seeking and loving Him with all of who you are

 

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Then shall ye call upon me,

and ye shall go

and pray unto me,

and I will hearken unto you.

And ye shall seek me,

and find me,

when ye shall search for me

with all your heart.

Matthew 22:37

Jesus said unto him,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy mind.

(Deut 6:5, 10:12 Mark 12:30 Luke 10:27)

A faith-driven expectancy in prayer: being thankful before getting an answer; an anticipation

 

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer,

and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Mark 11:24

Therefore I say unto you,

What things soever ye desire,

when ye pray,

believe that ye receive them,

and ye shall have them.

A purpose in prayer: lining up with His will; a meaningfulness

 

Matthew 6:7-13

But when ye pray,

use not vain repetitions,

as the heathen do:

for they think

that they shall be heard

for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them:

for your Father knoweth

what things ye have need of,

before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever.

Amen.

1 John 5:14

And this is the confidence

that we have in him,

that,

if we ask any thing

according to his will,

he heareth us:

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)

Also, that the soul be without knowledge,

it is not good;

and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

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)

But when ye pray,

use not vain repetitions,

as the heathen do:

for they think 1

that they shall be heard

for their much speaking.

Ephesians 6:18 says we should pray with "all kinds of prayers and requests."

Praying always

with all prayer and supplication

in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication for all saints;

Be careful not to get into a rut.

Keep your approach fresh so you don't become dull or desensitized in praying.