The two Amplified Bible versions of James 5:16 read like this. “The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”

I'm not sure the Church as a whole totally understands the real power of prayer. We understand bedtime prayers, mealtime prayers, and memorized prayers like the Lord’s prayer, but do we really understand prayers that are so powerful that they heal the sick, change lives, and alter the course of history.

I gave my life to the Lord and was saved in April 1982. I was baptized in water and in the Spirit later that same year. I have been in the ministry since 1982 (37 years) and have seen and experienced many miracles and many answers to prayer. However, it hasn’t been until recently that I have fully realized the true power of prayer and what it takes to touch God.

We recently had a situation where we were praying for a young person that was in the hospital on life support. This was not a normal prayer time. Maybe that’s the problem! Maybe we have gotten too accustomed to normal prayers! As I prayed for this individual I felt a compassion and love for them that was way beyond normal. I knew this was an attack from the enemy on a young person that was highly anointed of God. I did not directly rebuke the enemy, like I normally would do, but I called on the Lord to rebuke him (Jude 1:9). I called on the goodness of God to intervene in this situation. I basically asked Him for help!!! When I finished praying, and crying a lot, there was a peace that came that indicated to me that everything was going to be alright.

That young person is out of the hospital now and doing well. Now, there were a lot of people praying for this individual and I am not saying my particular prayer changed everything. What I do know is this. That prayer changed me. I knew I had touched Heaven that day and it had a lot to do with the love and compassion I had for this particular individual. Prayer is more than just something we do as a custom. It is more than just repeating some memorized script. It has to be mixed with genuine heartfelt love and compassion if we want to experience signs and wonders.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14)

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. (Matthew 20:34)

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. (Mark 1:41)

The Greek word used for compassion in the above scriptures is “splagchnizomai” which means to have the bowels yearn, to feel sympathy, or to have an inward affection. The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament to describe the compassion the Lord has for us is “racham” which means to love.

The bottom-line is this. God tells us in Hebrews 4:12, “but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Prayer is similar in nature. For our prayers to be profitable they need to have the right ingredients. Our prayers need to be mixed with compassion and love if we want to touch Heaven and see signs and wonders.