The character in the photo to the left is Ernest P. Worrell. A few years ago, Ernest provided quite a few laughs for people.

I’m not really concerned with the puns of Ernest, but I do have some interest in the prayers of earnest. When I think of my life and the prayer principles of Scripture, I wonder if my prayers are puns, puny, or powerful in comparison.

Do your prayers manifest the same sense of urgency and importance as those in Scripture? Can you see any resemblance in the verses that follow?
• Earnestly seek God and make your supplication to the Almighty (Job 8:5).
• Jairus “begged Jesus earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live’ (Mark 5:23).”
• Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2)
• Elijah “prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months (James 5:17).”

The simple thought and profound truth of the verse above, is explained for us in The Message: “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again (James 5:16-17).”

Is prayer a “common practice” in your life? Is it an earnestly practiced discipline or is it a ho-hum after-thought?