The particular language used in a passage from Acts 12:5 struck me as something we should all take to heart.  The context of the verse is Herod had just killed James the brother of John.  He received a favorable response from the people over this execution so he grabbed Peter next.  It was the time of Passover so a trial could not take place.  Herod decided to imprison Peter until after the Passover.  To insure there would be no trouble, Herod assigned 16 guards to watch him.

Verse 5 says that “…the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”  It is the word “earnestly” that I thought was worth noting.  They didn’t just pray for him, but “earnestly” prayed for him.  That shows us the intensity, the oneness of purpose, that the church had in prayer in this matter.

We should strive to “earnestly” pray for everything that God wills for us.