Intense Prayer Brings Powerful Results

"Peter was kept in prison: but prayer (instant and earnest prayer) was made for him" (Acts 12:5, margin).

Peter was in prison awaiting his execution. The Church had neither human power nor influence to save him. There was no earthly help, but there was help to be obtained by the way of Heaven. They gave themselves to fervent, importunate prayer. God sent His angel, who aroused Peter from sleep and led him out through the first and second wards of the prison; and when they came to the iron gate, it opened to them of its own accord, and Peter was free.

There may be some iron gate in your life that has blocked your way. Like a caged bird you have often beaten against the bars, but instead of helping, you have only had to fall back tired, exhausted and sore at heart. There is a secret for you to learn, and that is believing prayer; and when you come to the iron gate, it will open of its own accord. How much wasted energy and sore disappointment will be saved if you will learn to pray as did the Church in the upper room! Insurmountable difficulties will disappear; adverse circumstances will prove favorable if you learn to pray, not with your own faith but with the faith of God (Mark 11:22, margin). Souls in prison have been waiting for years for the gate to open; love ones out of Christ, bound by Satan, will be set free when you pray till you definitely believe God. --C. H. P.

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Emergencies call for intense prayer. When the man becomes the prayer nothing can resist its touch. Elijah on Carmel, bowed down on the ground, with his face between his knees, that was prayer--the man himself. No words are mentioned. Prayer can be too tense for words. The man's whole being was in touch with God, and was set with God against the powers of evil. They couldn't withstand such praying. There's more of this embodied praying needed. --The Bent-knee Time

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"Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused." --C. H. Spurgeon,  Step-By-Step Grace

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"When thou passest through the waters...they shall not overflow thee" (Isa. 43:2).

God does not open paths for us in advance of our coming. He does not promise help before help is needed. He does not remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them. Yet when we are on the edge of our need, God's hand is stretched out.

Many people forget this, and are forever worrying about difficulties which they foresee in the future. They expect that God is going to make the way plain and open before them, miles and miles ahead; whereas He has promised to do it only step by step as they may need. You must get to the waters and into their floods before you can claim the promise. Many people dread death, and lament that they have not "dying grace." Of course, they will not have dying grace when they are in good health, in the midst of life's duties, with death far in advance. Why should they have it then? Grace for duty is what they need then, living grace; then dying grace when they come to die. --J. R. M.

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There is prayer that is so intense that it travels beyond the realm of spoken words. This prayer is passionate and the one praying is engrossed in its cause. The one praying has fallen prostrate before God and he does not offer up words, but himself wholly. It is the very existence of the man himself that lies before the alter of God. It is not the audible words of spoken prayer that is present, but the passionate yearnings of this person's soul. Whether it is Elijah on Mt. Carmel or David in the cave, there is a prayer that move beyond the barriers that restrain. God responds to the pertinacity and fervency of our prayers. He hears the yearnings of our broken hearts.

No matter where you are now; no matter how dark the day; God answers prayer. No matter how far you seem from your breakthrough; irregardless to the silence of the moment, God answers prayer. When you have been written off by the naysayers, and others have counted you lost, God answers prayer.

Steady yourself in your faith and reach toward the heavens. Make your concerns known unto God. Let your tears speak to His mercy. Let your broken heart take hold of His grace. Yes, you are struggling in ways beyond expression. You are trapped a prison that has stifled your movement for years, or at least it seems, but God still answers prayer. Offer up yourself and receive your blessing. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace