Do you ever compare your prayers to those who spend hours in prayer and feel like you come up short? What does the Bible say about long prayers versus heartfelt prayers? Can short prayers as you go about your day be as powerful as extended times of prayer?
Paul stated in Ephesians 1:16 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.”
1.Do not cease means never to stop or quit.
This doesn’t indicate that the prayer is long as far as minutes or hours prayed. But instead it means I will continue to lift this person in prayer as long as the need presents itself. These prayers Paul prayed are specifically prayed that we might have revelation and see what God’s plan is. This means we don’t quit because we get tired or discouraged.
2. Giving thanks indicates that gratitude is so vital to our prayer.
We are grateful to God for what He has already done. We are grateful for this person’s life for whom we are praying. We are grateful for the good things that have already happened. How many times do we complain about the person’s situation instead of thank God that He is the answer? This component of prayer keeps us in the arena of faith and optimism rather than discouragement for how much is yet needed to happen. All things are possible with God!
3.Making mention indicates we continually recall this person in our prayers as God’s Spirit brings them to us.
We are remembering people by name in our prayers. We are valuing their life as worthy of our prayer investment. This phrase indicates that merely mentioning someone in our prayers is of value. Never underestimate the power of prayers- whether long or short. There are times when we are directed to spend more time praying for someone who may be in imminent danger and we want to yield to these times of prayer as well. But intercession is not the only prayer that we pray.
I want to encourage us to pray as Paul did and mention those loved ones we have been assigned to in our lives. These would include government leaders, spouses, children, grandchildren and our pastors as well as others for whom God leads us. Your prayers avail much!
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