Deeply or sincerely felt. As I read through a handful of prayer requests, I was reminded of a verse in the Book of James: “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16, AMPC).
Heartfelt.
I don’t know the origin of this word but its very descriptive, isn’t it? Just the word itself insinuates something from the heart that is felt deeply and sincerely. And isn’t that the place all genuine prayers are birthed? They are often felt in the heart long before they cross our lips (or find themselves on a prayer request card).
It literally means something deeply or sincerely felt. Of course the insinuation is that it is felt by the person– but as I prayed over the “heartfelt” prayer cards, I thought Heaven is touched by these too. The heart of God hears every sigh. He feels every honest and sincere longing for His involvement in situations. And He responds to faith.
God longs for us to reach the end of ourselves and reach for Him. This is faith. And when faith is activated, God’s heart is touched. Throughout His Word, He says, “Ask of Me…” Why would the God of the universe need us to ask? Because faith is an invitation for action. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Heartfelt faith knows WHO they are asking and the results of asking.
Words alone don’t activate faith. There must be sincerity of faith behind the words.
When Jesus met a Syro-Phoenician woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit, she asked Him repeatedly to cast the demon out of her child (Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 15:21-28). But Jesus didn’t respond immediately because she used words she had heard instead of words from her heart. She said, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed!” At first glance, there seems to be nothing wrong with her words.
But her use of the phrase “O Lord, Son of David” were not her words– they were words she had heard others use. This woman wasn’t of Jewish decent. To call Jesus the Son of David didn’t mean anything to her, other than perhaps a formula to get her needs met.
“But He answered her not a word. After His disciples came and urged Him to send her away, He replied, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'” In other words, if you’re going to use “pretext” as your prayer, Jesus will respond in kind. But when heartfelt faith is activated, so is His heart.
“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ And He answered and said, ‘It’s not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.'”
Earnest, heartfelt, sincere faith finally arrived.
“Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
Was Jesus being mean? No. He knew Heaven responds to heartfelt prayer, not word formulas. He helped position her to receive. And He will do the same for any of us.
I encourage you today to keep your prayers authentic. Talk to God from your heart. Express your faith in Him. Thank Him for hearing you before you have the answer. Share your heart with your loving Heavenly Father. I am confident Heaven will move on your behalf.
