Fervent Prayer

My prayer life was weak and feeble, it had become a dull routine.
My concern was only half-hearted, and therefore, the results were lean.
And then during a moment of good intention, I asked God to burden me
with the names of those around me with troubles that I couldn't see.
My eyes were slowly opened to needs that only God could meet;
my heart began to ache for others, and my prayer life became more complete.
I realized more of my own shortcomings, and my list of concerns grew longer.
I found more time to talk with my Lord, and I felt my faith grow stronger.
Prayers of praise and thanksgiving began to balance the prayers of requests,
and every time I called upon God, I felt that my heart had been blessed.
My concerns were no longer "burdens" -- they were opportunities to put a privilege to use --
The privilege of bringing a problem to God and seeing what joy He produced.
My Lord has taken my feeble prayer life and shown me that I have so much to learn.
I just pray that God will continue to strengthen me and deepen my concern.

"Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sings psalms.
Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayers of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:13-16