Ephesians 4:17-19: So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
In last week's article I examined the issue of sensitivity and the hardening of the heart. This week I want to discuss further the issue of sensitivity in prayer.
The Bible contains copious references to the subject of prayer. As believers, we know that we should pray. Most believers want to pray more. However, many believers leave the prayer closet feeling empty and unfulfilled.
Yet, James made this statement in his epistle. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Then James used the example of Elijah as a man whose prayer life was so powerful and effective, that he prayed that it would not rain, and for three and a half years it did not rain. When Elijah prayed for the heavens to open, then it rained again.
I continue to learn that one major key to a powerful and effective prayer life is sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. For example Elijah's prayer regarding the rain was powerful and effective, because he was sensitive to what the Holy Spirit was doing in the land at that time.
A couple of years ago I accompanied my wife to her summer party for work. Her employer rented a boat for a cruise on Lake Lanier. We sat at a table with Cathe's former boss and her daughter. The daughter was a young adult, not yet married. Through conversation it became apparent, that like many single young women, she wanted to meet the right man and to marry. God put it in my heart to begin to pray for Becca, that she would find the right man in the right way at the right time to marry. I committed to continue to pray for her until she married. One day, a year or so later, my wife told me that Becca was engaged.
A few months later, the Holy Spirit led me to pray for another young woman regarding her marriage situation, much as I had prayed for Becca. Where nothing had been happening, within just a couple of months or so, this young lady began to see a young man she had known for years in a different light.
My prayer in both of these situations seemed to be unusually effective. I began to think, I must have some special gifting to pray for a young adult to find his or her mate. Well, that thought was certainly erroneous, but here is the lesson that the Holy Spirit taught me through those two experiences.
The Holy Spirit is always working to bless people, especially those who are born again, and who are a part of his family. Long ago God chose to work in the earth through people. When God wants to do something in the earth, he stirs up his children to pray for what he wants.
Some would say, "But can't God just go ahead and do whatever he wants?" Certainly, God is powerful enough to do whatever he wants. But he chose to walk in covenant with his church, and he chose to use his church to pray his will into the earth.
In both of the young women for whom I had prayed regarding a spouse, it was God's time to move in their lives in this area. By God's grace I was sensitive enough to pick up on it. God allowed me the honor and the privilege to help pray "His kingdom come, his will be done" in the lives of these two young ladies.
Your prayer life will become much more effective and fruitful, as you become more sensitive to leadership of the Holy Spirit in prayer.
A few years ago there was a teaching published by the Southern Baptists entitled "Experiencing God." One of the major themes of that book was: Find out what God is doing and get involved with it.
That is way it should be in our prayer lives. Find out what God is doing, and then get involved in praying for his will to be done.
There may be times that God will lead you to pray for someone who is not in your regular sphere of influence. Be sensitive to that possibility.
But, there are certain people for whom you should pray regularly. We know that Paul teaches that the church should pray for those in authority. Certainly, you want to pray for close family members and brothers and sisters in Christ on a regular basis.
When praying for a family member, learn to be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is wanting to do in that individual life. We see obvious needs. But, the Holy Spirit can see what is hidden. Commit yourself to keep your ear open to the Spirit, as you pray for that loved one. The Holy Spirit wants to give you insight on how to most effectively pray for your relative.
In another article, I mentioned my daughter recently passed the NCLEX examination to become a registered nurse. The Holy Spirit gave me specific revelation on the way to pray for her as she prepared. God led me to pray, that He would bless her study. So, I prayed that way consistently, and I urged others to do the same. God did bless her study.
My wife works as a liaison for a medical equipment company at a local hospital. They sell various types of medical equipment, but their "bread and butter" is oxygen. My wife is eligible for a bonus, if her qualified oxygen orders reach certain levels each month.
My wife walks faithfully with God. She seeks to obey him, and she is a tither and a giver. Based on the Word of God, I know God wants to bless Cathe on the job.
One day the Holy Spirit put it in my heart to begin to call her a "qualified O2 order magnet." Her business is very competitive. She competes with several other companies for orders.
Since the Holy Spirit gave that revelation to us, we have seen her orders increase. Please understand, we are not believing for people to be sick, so she can sell oxygen. But, we do believe, if a person in that hospital needs to go home on oxygen, God wants Cathe to have an abundance of those orders. She walks in the favor of Almighty God.
Prayer is serious business. It can mean life or death both in the spirit realm and in the physical realm. But many are discouraged in prayer, because they never see any positive results.
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Quiet yourself before him, and ask him for his wisdom in prayer. When the Holy Spirit gives you revelation on how to pray for a person or a situation, then set your face like flint. Be determined to pray until you see the answer.
God wants your prayer journey to be effective and powerful. God has given you the key of sensitivity to the Spirit. Use that key, and he will lead you into green pastures of fruitfulness in prayer.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org