1 Peter 4:7 "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers".
Revelation 8:3-4 "And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel."
A soldier was brought before his commanding officer and accused of communicating with the enemy. He had been seen emerging from an area where their troops were known to patrol. The man summed up his defense in a few words, he said that he had slipped away to spend time in prayer. "Have you been in the habit of spending an hour in private prayer?" demanded the officer. "Yes, Sir," he replied. "Well" said his commander, "you need it now” kneel down and pray aloud so that we all may hear you."
Expecting cruel punishment, maybe even death, the soldier dropped to his knees and poured out his heart to God. His prayer revealed a deep intimacy with God. His humble appeal for divine intervention, and very evident trust in one who was strong to deliver, told without a doubt that he came before God regularly.
"You are free to go," said the officer. "No one could have prayed that way without a long apprenticeship - soldiers who never attend drill are always ill at ease for the review."
This soldier was praying intensely because he was plunged in the midst of a battle - as we look around us we see that the entire world is in turmoil literally and on an epic level spiritually, and we are in the thick of it.
One of the tactics of the enemy is to prevent us from praying. Let's realize the strategy of the enemy, and become disciplined in prayer. As you pray, remind yourself that you're not just praying, but warring against principalities and powers in the heavenly places. As we come to a realization that we're are battling, our prayers will become more intensified and our actions will then be backed by the power of prayer - this is how we change the small world around us!