"Fervent Prayer"
Daniel Valles

READ Colossians 4:12

I just finished reading an excellent account of Daniel Nash, the prayer warrior for Charles Finney.  It was because of his prayer that Finney's evangelistic work was used so mightly of God.

In the verse, Paul tells of his prayer warrior - Epaphras.  The ministry of Epaphras was not teaching or preaching, but of prayer.  To labour in prayer takes work.  Paul describes his ministry as one filled with fervency.  Epaphras got a hold of God, and poured out his spirit in prayer.  His prayers were consumed with the desire that his church (and the ones at Laodicea and Hierapolis) would have Christians who would "stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."  It is no wonder then that Paul's ministry in those churches and areas reached so many.  Others were holding the ropes.

Do I pray fervently for the church that I am part of?  What about other ministries?  What do I cry out to God as being my desires?  Do I flippantly pray for good weather at the church picnic, or do I fall on my knees begging God to get a hold of my heart and the heart of other Christians to have a closer walk with Him?  James 5:16 explains, "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."  Are I praying fervently?