Pray Red Hot Prayers!

".. . by prayer and supplication . . ."

The Bible speaks of supplication prayer such as when Paul states, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7). Anohter way of describing prayer that is supplication is that prayers should be red hot. That is what the great teacher of prayer E.M Bounds stated when he said:

“Prayers must be red hot. It is the fervent prayer that is effectual and availeth. Coldness of spirit hinders praying; prayer cannot live in a wintry atmosphere. Chilly surroundings freeze out petitioning; and dry up the springs of supplication. It takes fire to make prayers go. Warmth of soul creates an atmosphere favorable to prayer, because it is favorable to fervency. By flame, prayer ascends to heaven. Yet fire is not fuss, nor heat, noise. Heat is intensity – something that glows and burns. Heaven is a mighty poor market for ice. . . . The Holy Spirit comes as a fire, to dwell in us; . . . Our Lord warns us against feeble praying. ‘Men ought always to pray,’ He declares, ‘and not to faint.’ That means, that we are to possess sufficient fervency to carry us through the severe and long periods of pleading prayer. Fire makes one alert and vigilant, and bring shim off more than a conqueror. . . . Fervency has its seat in the heart, not in the brain, nor in the intellectual faculties of the mind . . . It is not in our power, perhaps, to create fervency of spirit at will, but we can pray God to implant it. ”

(E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House) 1981. Page56, 58,59).


How's your prayer life? When was the last time you prayed a "red hot" prayer. I encourage you to do so. I think that's what Jude meant when he was inspired to exhort his readers to be "praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20). I pray we all learn how to pray red hot prayers in the Holy Spirit. Let's pray in a way that melts any coldness that has crept into our spiritual lives. God bless you as you go to prayer.