"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much..."

                                                - James 5:16

      The forces of prayer are far greater than any of us can imagine.  Through it we are able to pipe down the realities of heaven's power.  There are influences to be made through prayer that can alter the affairs of men, and when we learn how to transmit the energy of prayer into things that need changing, we can impact our world with the forces of heaven.

      Every move of God, whether it has to do with overturning the powers of darkness or by releasing the forces of heaven's influence, it is all bound within the energy of prayer.  In other words, all spiritual endeavors are founded upon prayer.  The entire range of God's dealings with man is only accomplished through prayer.  The fundamental law surrounding prayer must be taken into consideration if there is going to be any act of supernatural intervention.

      The reality of prayer is that God will not enter into any degree of engagement with man unless first prayer is made.  Everything that concerns the benevolent plan and purpose of God can only be wrought through the avenue of prayer. Yes, there is a sovereign will of God that is fixed for all eternity, but there is a heart cry that our Father has for man that beacons us to pray, and through prayer we are able to see the advancement and cause of Christ accomplished.

      When Jesus gave his disciples instructions on how to pray, he said: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven..."(Matt. 6: 9, 10).  If everything on earth was solely a matter of God doing what he willed then Jesus' instruction concerning prayer would mean nothing.  Why pray if God is going to do what he wants to anyway?   Major parts of God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven involves us praying. For instance Peter said that God was unwilling that any perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).  Yet, we know from the words of Christ that he asks of us to: "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest" (Matt. 9:38).  Why tell Cornelius through a sovereign intervention of an angel, "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved," if there is no need for the aid and assistance of men (Acts 11:13, 14)? Why call on Peter?  Why not just save Cornelius and his household through a sovereign act of the Holy Ghost?

      If you remember correctly, Peter was in a season of prayer when the angel came to Cornelius. And, it was Cornelius' own prayers that got heaven's attention.  See prayer is what opens the door for God to enter into the matters of men with commanding power.  That's why James said, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jam. 5:16). He was saying that behind the force of prayer is the power of righteousness and through the energy of a righteous prayer comes commanding power, or power that is dynamic in its working. 

      The vast majority of prayer failures come because it lacks the energy generated through one knowing the position that prayer holds.  If you know your place in God, then you know you hold the secret to prevailing prayer.  The Lord spoke to my heart and said, "I'm turning the helm concerning prayer.  What has been lying listless and dormant is about to come alive in the hearts of my people. I'm about to release revelation concerning the energy of prayer that will bring a major assault upon the forces of darkness."

      Far too long the church has laid back in disbelief and wandered around in a state of denial, not realizing the place that prayer holds in bringing the forces of heaven to bear. But she is about to awaken with a divine energy that will catapult her into a new dimension of partnership with heaven. She will take her place as strategic emissaries who will unlock the energy of prayer.  The windows of revelation are about to be raised and the rays of power concerning prayer are about to shine in on her.

      I saw an invasion coming!  I saw eyes wide open and ears attentive to prayer like never before. I saw hearts compelled to take prayer to a new level.  I saw the rain of heaven pouring down as prayer was being lifted up! 

      For the most part, prayer has been hard, very taxing and very demanding. Only a few have engaged a life of prayer where they were willing to go beyond the threshold of resistance and press past the deterrents of every obstacle. Without understanding the need for persistence many have fallen to the onslaughts of demonic influence. It has caused men to quail in silence who could have been world changers.  The mantel of prayer has been abandoned on the battlefield of doubt and fear, but I am persuaded that there is about to be launched a holy crusade where the prayer armor will once again be worn with dignity.  Like a desert storm suddenly rising up and covering the church with all its billows, prayer will once again take center stage and become the thrust that will usher in an unshakable, unquenchable, undeniable power full of the energy of heaven.  E. M. Bounds once said, "Praying people are the only people who truly represent God in the earth. No prayerless person can claim that right. He only misrepresents God in all His work and all His plans."   

      If your heart is eager to see the move of God, then know that the most penetrating effect you can have in seeing it take place is to hunger and thirst to be a person of prayer.  When you give yourself to prayer, you give God the right to move in your life and the power to execute his will on earth. "For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).