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Are you looking for an April 5 prayer to read and reflect on? We provide a guiding Bible verse, prayer questions, and example prayer for the day below.
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Bible verse for April 5
Then [the Shunammite woman] called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” … Then the mother of the child said [to Elisha] “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So [Elisha] arose and followed her. (2 Kings 4:22, 30 ESV)
Prayer Reflections for April 5
What Does Desperate Prayer Look Like? And How Does God Respond to Desperate Prayers?
I’m so glad this story is included in the Bible because it reveals God’s heart for those who are desperate for God to intervene in their circumstances. The Shunammite woman also demonstrates a course of action for our desperate prayers.
A Little Background
Whenever Elisha visited Shunem, a city located in Israel, the woman and her husband would host him. During one visit, Elisha asked the woman how he may bless their generosity. Seeing that she had no son, Elisha prophesied that she would have a son about that same time the following year.
When the child had grown, he complained of a headache and ultimately died in his mother’s arms. Afterwards, she laid his body on Elisha’s bed, in the room she had prompted her husband to make for the traveling prophet. Then she made herself ready to quickly go to the man of God. She told no one the reason for her hasty departure. She knew that only Elisha, the man of God, could help her and was determined to have him come to her son’s aid.
When the woman came to Elisha, she fell at his feet, but he didn’t know why she was troubled; the Lord had hidden it from him. Consequently, the woman had to speak to Elisha about the boy. She didn’t state the desired outcome; only that the man of God needed to be present to address the situation.
Elisha attempted to perform a miracle at a distance by sending his servant, but the Shunammite woman wasn’t satisfied with a distant intervention. She insisted that Elisha come to her home.
Elisha returned with her without argument. He went to his room, where the boy had been laid, and prayed to the LORD. Elisha stretched himself upon the boy and through his intervention, the child was resurrected; the breath of God was breathed through Elisha into the boy.
Reflection
Elisha is a picture of God’s response to our desperate prayers. The Shunammite woman trusted Elisha as a spokesman for God and his ability to accomplish the impossible. She pursued the man of God (and God) relentlessly. And when we trust the Lord and are desperate in seeking both Him and His intervention, He responds and breathes life into our desperate situation through His Holy Spirit.
Unlike Elisha, however, our fears, worries and concerns are not hidden from the Lord. Even before we open our mouths in prayer or offer silent pleas and requests, the Lord knows our hearts and minds. But the woman had to make her request known to Elisha because it had been hidden from him. Perhaps the Lord is reminding us that even though He knows all, He still desires that we share our heart with Him.
Applications we learn from the Shunammite woman’s pursuit of Elisha:
Desperate prayer knows only one Person can help.
Desperate prayer is passionate.
Desperate prayer is without distraction.
Desperate prayer is steadfast and resolute.
Desperate prayer believes God will intervene.
1. What desperate prayers are you bringing to the Lord?
2. How can your desperate prayers be more like the Shunammite woman’s approach? Perhaps more passionate, without distraction, steadfast and filled with belief that the Lord will breathe His life into the situation.
3. Can you keep seeking the Lord until He intervenes in some way?
4. Stay observant to how the Lord intervenes, even in small ways.
Prayer for April 5
Dear Lord, we are desperate for You to intervene in the various trials we encounter. We come to You believing You will intervene and yet we leave the outcomes in Your hands. Many of our prayers may not be truly desperate and we thank You that You hear these prayers. When we are facing a desperate situation, may we follow the Shunammite woman’s example of seeking Your presence without distraction, passionately and steadfastly. May we believe that You will reward us with the gift of the Holy Spirit to comfort us as we continue to pour out our hearts to You. May You breathe Your life into our situation and may we recognize Your presence as we continue to seek You.
