By Ron Smith
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. James 5:16 (KJV)
The pastor and the elders and I huddled together praying on cold church benches early that Sunday morning. With heads bowed and eyes closed, we had been taking turns praying for the service.
Suddenly, my soul began to grieve for the souls of three couples in particular. They had been coming to our church on and off for a couple of years. I had prayed for them before. But this morning was different.
As soon as the person next to me finished, I began to pray. Naming all six people, I said, “Lord, send out your angels! Wake them up right now! Don’t let them snuggle in and turn over to sleep some more! Get them out of their comfortable beds and down to this building!”
As I prayed these words, my heart ached for their souls. I began to cry. At first a single sob, then a torrent of tears. I couldn’t control my emotions. I felt that God Himself was “streaming” through me. I cried with such intensity that my whole body became involved. Leaning forward, I buried my face in my hands, continuing to plead with a passion I had never known.
When the church service started an hour or so later, all three couples showed up! I noticed the astonished looks of the elders I had been praying with. I couldn’t remember a single time when all three couples had been at church on the same day-not even at Christmas or Easter!
Have you experienced that fervency when you pray? Be on the lookout for God’s response when you do!
