July 8

Hebrews 5:7 (NIV84)
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

This passage may well be talking about Jesus’ time in the garden, I am not sure, but this one thing I know, Jesus had need that only God could fulfill, and that influenced Him to cry out (get noisy) loudly, with tears to God. Do you see the passion? Do you see the lack of religious praying?

Our prayer lives are sometimes spent in thoughtful, almost rehearsed sounding, at times monotone or close to it, praying. Jesus knew how to “let it go” from the very core of Himself at the time of need and pray with the fitting passion that would go along with His need and the desire for it to be fulfilled. One time recently the Lord spoke to me while I was at church and said to begin to pray for the church, for me to fill this building. As I prayed it was so….regular….so emotionless. It really did need more passion to match the great importance of the prayer. The Lord then told me to stir myself up and pray with fervency, so I did. I am not talking about yelling our prayers, but about releasing the passion of God in you for what you are praying about.

Stir yourself up today. Let the river flow from within you toward your Father who delights to see your passion. Get away in a place where you CAN let it go and pray louder than usual when you ask for things or intercede for people that you are passionate about seeing God Spirit move upon.