Scripture
James 5:13-16 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Observation James 5 begins with a warning to the rich – those who had hoarded wealth and oppressed those who worked for them. Then it speaks to perseverance – being patient in suffering. Then it turns to the power of prayer! <3
Understanding
It’s always a good time to pray. Troubled? Pray. Happy? Pray. [Praise.] Sick? Pray. But, while God is all powerful and can work through ANYone, he calls us to be righteous and filled with faith as we pray.
Life Application
I don’t know about you, but I’d hate to be a part of unanswered prayer – out of praying with weak or ineffective prayers, an unrighteous heart or lack of faith. And it starts with the heart…
Matthew 12:34b
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life.
Luke 6:45
The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
So, may we protect our hearts, watch our words and pray with faith…and may those prayers go forth with power! To check out the discussion or to join in click
here.
Rei
