God-given desire is the fuel of powerful prayer, says author and missionary Wesley Duewel.
In his book Mighty Prevailing Prayer, Duewel says: "Holy desire is a holy power that energizes prayer. It is a dynamic of the Spirit."
What does this desire look like? Duewel points to the apostle Paul's prayer in Romans 9:1-4 where he says that "I could wish I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel".
Paul preached to the Jews and suffered persecution for doing it - but many became believers because of the apostle's deep desire to see them enter God's kingdom. He prayed fervently and saw God answer amazingly.
Duewel says: "From one viewpoint, real desire is a gift of God. From another viewpoint, you must deepen your own desire with the help of God."
So, what desire has God planted in your heart? Are you nurturing that desire through consistent, regular, fervent prayer?
That's a good question for me. I have a personal vision of everyone in our church coming together "seeking God's face" as author Daniel Henderson says - wanting more of God in prayer. But I haven't been feeding that desire in persistent prayer.
"Do not let other things divert you or distract you," Duewel says. "Let the Holy Spirit deepen your prayer more and more as you cherish these holy longings and hunger for them ever more deeply."
As well, we must surrender our own desires, he says.
"The Holy Spirit will faithfully teach you God's perspective, God's priorities, and God's process if you remain filled with the Spirit and selflessly committed to God's will."
Finally, he says, "trust God for what you desire and praise him". Our faith grows as we praise and thank God for what he is doing and will do.
God drops the seeds of holy desire in our hearts and we fertilize them with our prayers. God moves in response to these prayers and the world changes.
In his book Mighty Prevailing Prayer, Duewel says: "Holy desire is a holy power that energizes prayer. It is a dynamic of the Spirit."
What does this desire look like? Duewel points to the apostle Paul's prayer in Romans 9:1-4 where he says that "I could wish I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel".
Paul preached to the Jews and suffered persecution for doing it - but many became believers because of the apostle's deep desire to see them enter God's kingdom. He prayed fervently and saw God answer amazingly.
Duewel says: "From one viewpoint, real desire is a gift of God. From another viewpoint, you must deepen your own desire with the help of God."
So, what desire has God planted in your heart? Are you nurturing that desire through consistent, regular, fervent prayer?
That's a good question for me. I have a personal vision of everyone in our church coming together "seeking God's face" as author Daniel Henderson says - wanting more of God in prayer. But I haven't been feeding that desire in persistent prayer.
"Do not let other things divert you or distract you," Duewel says. "Let the Holy Spirit deepen your prayer more and more as you cherish these holy longings and hunger for them ever more deeply."
As well, we must surrender our own desires, he says.
"The Holy Spirit will faithfully teach you God's perspective, God's priorities, and God's process if you remain filled with the Spirit and selflessly committed to God's will."
Finally, he says, "trust God for what you desire and praise him". Our faith grows as we praise and thank God for what he is doing and will do.
God drops the seeds of holy desire in our hearts and we fertilize them with our prayers. God moves in response to these prayers and the world changes.
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