Fervent prayer is mentioned in James 5:16 which says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” This verse teaches us two important things about fervent prayer:
1. Fervent prayer involves confessing sins
James connects fervent prayer to confessing sins “to one another.” To pray fervently, we must be willing to confess our sins openly and honestly to other believers. This creates accountability and vulnerability before God. I John 1:9 tells us that when we confess our sins, God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Fervent prayer starts with sincere confession.
2. Fervent prayer is righteous, dependent prayer
James specifies that it is the “prayer of a righteous person” that is fervent and effective. Our righteousness comes not from our own works but from Christ’s righteousness given to us (Romans 5:17). So fervent prayer flows out of humility, recognizing we have no righteousness apart from Christ. It involves dependent prayer, relying fully on God’s power and grace, not our own. We come to God as righteous only through Christ.
The kind of prayer James refers to is whole-hearted, deeply emotional, believing prayer. It is not casual or half-hearted. Fervent prayer grasps hold of God with passion and determination. It pours out its requests earnestly and persists until the answer comes. Some key characteristics of fervent prayer:
Characteristics of Fervent Prayer
1. Passionate
Fervent prayer is not lukewarm, but hot and passionate. We pray intensely and wholeheartedly, with our deepest emotions pouring out. Hebrews 5:7 describes how Christ “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears.” Fervent prayer is crying out to God from the depths of our soul.
2. Persistent
Fervent prayer keeps asking, seeking and knocking, even when answers don’t seem to come. In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who kept coming to an unjust judge until he granted her request. Fervent prayer is like this – it persists in coming to God again and again. It wrestles through discouragement and even apparent silence from heaven.
3. Desperate
When we pray fervently, we aren’t apathetic but desperate, with a sense of urgent need. There is often brokenness, contrition and godly sorrow. We pour out our heart like Hannah did in 1 Samuel 1:10, pleading with deep agony of soul. There can also be boldness and importunity, as when blind Bartimaeus kept crying out despite others rebuking him (Mark 10:46-52).
4. Believing
Fervent prayer has mountain-moving faith. James emphasizes “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well” (James 5:15). Like the persistent friend asking for bread at midnight in Luke 11:5-8, fervent prayer comes with bold confidence in God’s willingness and power to answer. It is the “prayer of faith” that saves the sick (James 5:15).
5. Surrendered
Even as we storm the gates of heaven through fervent prayer, there is also surrender to God’s ultimate will. Jesus is the perfect example in Gethsemane as He prayed with loud cries and tears, yet still submitted Himself saying “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The goal of fervent prayer is not to bend God’s will to ours, but align our will to His purposes.
6. Dependent
Finally, fervent prayer relies completely on God’s grace and Spirit. It is God who works in us to will and to act according to His purpose (Philippians 2:13). The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us when we do not know what to pray (Romans 8:26). Our fervency is only possible through dependence on divine strength.
Why Pray Fervently?
If fervent prayer requires so much spiritual intensity and exertion, why bother? Here are some key reasons:
1. God commands it
We are exhorted throughout Scripture to pray with passion, importunity, persistence and faith. Jesus calls us to “ask…seek…knock” (Matthew 7:7). Paul urges believers to “continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). Our fervency shows obedience to God’s clear commands to pray with diligence and devotion.
2. Deep longings are expressed
Fervent prayers give voice to our deepest heart-cry. Hannah poured out her soul before God in passionate prayer for a child (1 Samuel 1:10). Hezekiah pleaded fervently with tears for God to remember and deliver him when deathly ill (2 Kings 20:3). The Psalms are full of David’s fervent prayers of longing and pain. Fervency matches the intensity of our soul’s desires.
3. Yields empowered results
Fervent prayer taps into divine power and results that lukewarm prayer does not. As James notes, the fervent prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much (James 5:16). The example of Elijah is given. He prayed earnestly for drought and rain, and God answered mightily through his prayers (James 5:17-18). Fervency in prayer yields empowered results.
4. Moves God’s heart
Though God cannot be manipulated, fervent prayers of faith move His heart. Christ was moved with compassion by blind Bartimaeus’ persistent cries for mercy (Mark 10:46-52). Hannah’s deep grief in prayer touched God’s heart (1 Samuel 1:10-20). When we pray with sincerity, brokenness and dependence, it touches God’s heart to show mercy. Fervency is used by God.
5. Deepens intimacy with God
Fervent prayer draws us into deeper intimacy with God. As we wrestle, plead, trust and surrender to God in passionate prayer, we grow to know His heart and glory more profoundly. We lean on Christ’s strength, not our own. We gain eternal perspective by bringing everything before God. Our connection with heaven deepens.
Examples of Fervent Prayers in the Bible
The Bible provides many examples of fervent prayers offered up by God’s people. Here are some significant instances:
Moses
Moses prayed with desperate boldness on behalf of Israel after their idolatry with the golden calf. Despite God’s anger, Moses interceded fervently for God not to destroy them (Exodus 32:9-14). He reminded God of His covenant promises, prayed for forgiveness, and committed to make atonement for their sin. God relented in response to Moses’ passionate intercessory prayer.
Hannah
In 1 Samuel 1:10, Hannah was in bitterness of soul with deep anguish as she prayed fervently to the Lord for a child. Though she prayed silently, her fervent prayers were pouring out the agony in her heart. As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli the priest saw her lips moving and thought she was drunk! But God heard her sorrowful prayers and remembered her.
David
Many of David’s prayers in the Psalms are cries of desperation and dependence. When pleading for God’s deliverance from enemies, he prayed “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray” (Psalm 5:1-2). David’s fervent prayers were genuine expressions of trust in God’s steadfast love.
Hezekiah
When facing impending death from illness, King Hezekiah cried out fervently to the Lord. He pleaded with tears for God to remember his faithfulness and devotion (2 Kings 20:3). Isaiah the prophet told Hezekiah God had heard his fervent prayers and seen his tears. God answered his plea and added 15 years to his life, as a sign of His mercy.
Epaphras
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he commended Epaphras as a servant of Christ who was “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). Epaphras demonstrated fervent prayer and intercession for the spiritual growth of fellow believers.
Jesus
Our Savior Jesus provides the ultimate model of fervent prayer. He prayed with cries, tears and desperation in Gethsemane before His crucifixion (Hebrews 5:7). Though deeply grieved and distressed, He prayed with surrender – “not my will but yours be done.” He prayed fervently multiple times in Gethsemane that God might take the cup of suffering from Him, but ultimately submitted to the Father’s will.
Ways to Cultivate Fervent Prayer
Fervent prayer is a “spiritual discipline” to develop. By God’s strength and grace, we can grow in praying more fervently. Here are some practical tips:
1. Plead God’s promises
Standing on God’s promises helps fuel passion in prayer. Just as Moses reminded God of His covenant promises (Exodus 32:13), we can plead promises like Hebrews 4:16. Let God’s Word stir fervency.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit
Since fervent prayer is Spirit-empowered, continually ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with light and power. Pray for deeper experience of the Spirit’s groaning too deep for words (Romans 8:26).
3. Pour out true longings
Don’t hold back in prayer. Be real with God. Pour out the true longings and desires He has put in your heart. God wants us to wrestle through difficulties and ask boldly in prayer as His children.
4. Make prayer a priority
To pray more fervently requires making prayer a daily priority. Set aside focused time to be alone with God. Extended times of prayer produce greater depth and fervency.
5. Fast and pray
Fasting is connected often with fervent prayer in Scripture. Join fasting to your prayers to cry out to God with greater desperation and single-mindedness. Jettison distractions.
6. Imagine praying for a loved one
If praying for yourself seems hard, imagine it is your child or spouse or parent in desperate need. This can unlock new depths of intercessory fervency on behalf of someone you deeply care about.
7. Rejoice in God
Fervency is fueled as we delight ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). Remembering God’s glory, beauty, mercy and power in prayer makes us praise and thank Him more passionately. Get caught up in adoring God.
8. Rely on the Spirit each time
Don’t try to work up fervency through sheer obligation or emotion. Humble yourself continually and ask the Spirit to fill, lead, empower and stir fervent prayer within you. Depend on His power.
Hindrances to Fervent Prayer
While fervent prayer is a blessing, there are several hindrances that can thwart our progress:
1. Unconfessed Sin
Psalm 66:18 warns, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Unconfessed sin blocks effective prayer. As James said, fervent prayer involves confessing sins to one another (James 5:16). We must deal with any sin God reveals.
2. Distractions
It’s easy to start praying without our mind and heart engaged. Distractions like cell phones, discomfort, or wandering thoughts can sabotage fervent prayer. We need to minimize distractions and refocus when they come.
3. Wrong Motives
Praying with impure motives like selfishness, pride, greed, or vainglory also hinders fervency. Our agenda and motives should align with God’s heart and will as we pray. We have not because we ask amiss (James 4:3).
4. Unbelief
If we pray doubting God hears or can answer, it blocks fervency of prayer. We must pray in faith, believing His Word, His goodness, and His power. Unbelief repels fervent prayer.
5. Not Abiding in Christ
Jesus said, “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done” (John 15:7).Praying fervently requires abiding deeply in Christ and internalizing His Word. Apart from this, fervency fades.
6. Not Delighting In God
Unless God is truly our delight and joy, fervency is difficult to sustain. Our hearts must prize knowing Christ above all. As we treasure God’s perfections, our desires will align with His heart to fuel more fervent praying.
7. Fatigue and Weakness
Our flesh gets weak even when the spirit is willing (Matthew 26:41). Physical tiredness, lack of strength, and fatigue can negatively impact fervent prayer. Resting in Christ renews us. Asking for help from others can aid fervency.
Conclusion
Fervent prayer is an essential part of a healthy Christian life, even while full of challenges. Let us encourage one another in prayer, confessing sins, crying out for God’s power, and praying with passion in the Spirit. May we prioritize fervent prayer, plead God’s promises, and rely fully on Christ’s strength and grace to intercede powerfully. As we delight in God and surrender to His perfect will, He will shape us increasingly into Christ’s image as we commune with Him through fervent prayer.