Often earnestness can be mistaken for anointing. Someone who is anointed will feel earnest toward prayer. But just because we feel eager to pray, doesn't mean our prayers will be anointed. Men can pray long prayers, using beautiful language, but if the Spirit of God doesn't touch their hearts and lips, the words are empty. Jesus rebuked the pharisees for doing this. We understand this in preaching. A man can stand behind a pulpit and proclaim the gospel without any anointing on his life. The words he speaks may be true but it somehow sounds empty. Why? Because his life doesn't testify that he lives what he is preaching. It is the same with our prayers. The disciples recognized this when they asked, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Matthew 6:9). No doubt they saw that Jesus prayers were answered much more quickly than their own. This was because he always prayed according to the will of his father. The very first thing he taught his disciples to pray was : "Our father ..... thy kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE." We can pray long prayers with beautiful words; they may even be sincere. But the prayers that really touch God are prayers that are anointed with His Spirit according to his will and word.
Prayer: Lord, when I come to you in prayer, anoint my mind, heart, spirit, and lips that I might ask of you petitions that be according to your will. Let me pray with the anointing that will destroy the bondage of sin and sickness in people's lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Prayerfully Yours,
Sullivan Jones