As believers, our prayers ought to be packed with power. For certain, they should have some "ump" to them. Our prayers shouldn't just be a performance - something you do as a religious ritual. No! Your prayer should be hot and boiling over, that's what the word "fervent" means. So if you want to get hot today, do it in prayer.
Both spirit and body are involved when prayer is hot and fervent. Fervent prayers mean you believe something is happening in the spiritual realm, and you and the Holy Spirit are taking hold together against whatever you are praying for, whether it be your own infirmities or against what other believers are going through.
Colossians 4:12 reminds us to always labor fervently in prayers. The word "laboring" means to strive or to push the envelope in prayer. When I first started praying this way, it scared me. Back then I had a habit of praying under my dining room table.
Well one day, I was laboring in prayer and it was like God got under the table with me. I don't have the words to describe it, but there was so much power under that table. It produced so much in my life instantly and the beginning of my ministry started that way.
Well, that's how ministries are born. The Bible says many are called and few are chosen. The dividing line between the called and the chosen is prayer. You have to birth your ministry into being.
If you're sick, you have to birth your deliverance into being. If you have a need, you have to birth it into being. Stop waiting on somebody to do it for you. Just labor in prayer and God will manifest His power in your life.
Surely, this takes the focus away from God, doesn't it? Now, you may be asking God, "Why don't you move in my life?" Well, if God had to do everything without you and me, then why should we pray? We have authority in the earth. God moves in the earth because His children ask him. He is our Father, and prayer provides us the benefit of standing perfect and complete in God.
Things will begin to happen in your life when you begin to labor fervently in hot, boiling-over prayer. Go ahead and push the envelope, God's Word declares your prayers will make tremendous power available.
Scripture References: Colossians 4:12; Matthew 21:21-22; Romans 12: 11-12
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).
