Eph. 6:18 (KJV) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Paul exhorted the Church to keep continuously praying, with every kind and variety of prayer and SUPPLICATION. The Greek word translated “supplication” is a very strong term meaning more than just a simple request. The word could also be rendered as “plea,” or “entreaty.” The question that each of us must answer, with God’s help, is whether we are praying merely from a platform of “preference,” or from a position of “passion.” Many Christians would “prefer” to walk in the fullness of the Purpose of God for their lives. They would “prefer” for their lives to be different than they are. But too many are not willing to actually do what it takes to cooperate with God’s process of change. Never forget that the primary difference between a “person of desire” and a “person of destiny” is that a “person of desire” will do what he can, but a “person of destiny” will do what it takes.

James, the half-brother of Jesus according to the flesh, declared that it would be the “earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man” that would “make tremendous power available – dynamic in its working” (James 5:16b AMP). Jesus instructed us when we pray to believe we receive “what things so ever ye DESIRE” (Mark 11:24). That word “desire” is one key to the operation of faith in prayer. God promised to give us the “desires of our heart” (those God-birthed desires that He brings forth in us as we “delight” ourselves in intimate communion with Him), but He never promised to simply bestow upon us all the “lusts of our head” (Psalm 37:4). True supplication will “pitch its tent” on the revealed Desire and Purpose of God, and refuse to budge until it sees the manifestation of what God has declared.

The prophet Isaiah was sent by the Lord to King Hezekiah to inform him that he was going to die (II Kings 20:1-6). What an “encouraging word” that must have been to the king! Never forget this prophetic principle: Personal Prophecy is ALWAYS conditional, regardless of whether there are any stated conditions in the prophetic word itself (Jeremiah 18:7-9). Now, ultimately, God’s declared Purpose in the universe WILL come to pass, and there is no force that can withstand its eventual fulfillment. However, God’s revealed personal will and direction for each of us as individuals is conditional upon our receptive obedience for its full manifestation. God will often warn His people that if “adjustments” are not made, a certain outcome will occur. Yet, even if conditions are not directly stated, that personal word to us (whether by witness of the Spirit in our hearts, or whether delivered to us by a seasoned human vessel) is still conditional. Hezekiah believed the word delivered by Isaiah, but he went to God about it himself. He “turned his face to the wall,” shutting out all distractions, so that he could passionately focus on his supplication. As a result, God answered Hezekiah’s prayer and gave him fifteen more years. Now we might argue that, because of political blunders made by Hezekiah in those last fifteen years, the nation would have been better off if he had died. However, the point I want you to see, is that through fervent supplication, Hezekiah prevailed in prayer, reversed the immediate fulfillment of the prophetic word (of course, Hezekiah did eventually die later) and changed the sentence of imminent death. The fact that Hezekiah made some foolish mistakes later does not diminish the powerful lesson about the power of prevailing fervent supplication.

Many years ago, in my studies, I ran across an interesting individual who lived shortly before the birth of Jesus Christ. His name was “Oni,” and he was recognized by his peers as a “t’sadiq” (a righteous man, one whom they believed had “special” standing with God). In the midst of a severe drought which threatened the entire region, Oni set himself to pray and believe God for rain. As a symbolic act of faith, Oni drew a circle in the dirt, sat down in it, and determined to stay right there praying until the drought was broken and the rain came. When the downpour began, all of the people gave thanks to God, and Oni’s reputation among them as a “t’sadiq” was even further established. In ancient Hebrew tradition, a “t’sadiq” was believed to have a prophetic touch upon his life and to have special favor from God to pray for rain. Through earnest and fervent supplication, Oni saw his prayer answered and the entire land refreshed.

Supplication has almost become a “lost art” to much of the Church. In Charismatic circles it has become “easier” and more “convenient” to simply “confess” what we wish would happen, rather than staying before God long enough for His Holy Desires to be conceived in our hearts, and then continuing to “pray through” until we see the revealed Purpose of God come into manifestation. Let us stop praying merely from “preference,” and begin again to pray fervently with God-birthed Passion for His Purpose! Be Blessed.