Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (NIV)

E. M. Bounds' "Complete Works on Prayer" has re-opened my eyes to several truths about prayer. The one required element of prayer which stands out to me the most is "desire".

In our daily lives, the things that we want and desire most, we are most likely to achieve. Why? Because these are the things we pour our hearts into, and, most importantly, the things we willingly devote the most time and attention to.

But often our prayers are more like the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" car as we pray for a list of things, often without passion or desire. Sure, we have the right motives and intentions, but we just don't put enough into it. Our prayers, and their results, become sputtery — without the "zoom" and "pep" that we really want.

If we switch to that "Streetcar Named Desire", our efforts achieve much greater prizes. Bounds ventures to suggest that we only pray for those things that we greatly desire. After all, if we have a great desire for something, we will unceasingly and patiently pray and seek after it with relentless effort.

Today's Scripture tells us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. James 5:16b states, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (KJV) So, unless we put desire and zeal behind our prayers, they will avail little, or nothing. Unless we hunger and thirst for something, our plate will never be filled.

Just as Potts was able to re-vitalize the junkyard car he found and make it fly, our Master mechanic can re-vitalize our prayer lives if we have the desire and allow Him to work.

Prayer: O Lord, our greatest desire is to be closer to You. Help us to thirst and hunger for righteousness and to be fervent in our prayers, that we might receive the full measure of Your blessings that You promise in Your word. Amen.

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