5.03.2007

Effective. James 5:13-16

Did you know that prayer is effective? Did you know that God hears the prayers of His children and responds to them? It's tempting to think, and some people errantly teach, that prayer is just for the individual praying. Maybe you think that the benefit of prayer is that it teaches the prayer reliance on God and is a good form of meditation. It's a good stress release. Today's passage shows us that prayer is much more than that. The prayer of a righteous man can move God's hand to heal. The prayer of a righteous man is effective, it changes things. Let me encourage you today to pray. Pray for all things in all occasions because it makes a difference.

James 5:13-16
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Questions.
1. What do you typically pray for?
2. With the knowledge that your prayers can change things, what else do you think you might start praying for?
3. What was most impacting about this passage?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Questions.
1. What do you typically pray for?
family, friends, Blood Water Mission (thanks danielle!) things that are on my heart that i just HAVE to pray for, depending on the day.
2. With the knowledge that your prayers can change things, what else do you think you might start praying for?
bigger things.
3. What was most impacting about this passage?
the fact that God can do so much, IF WE PRAY TO HIM!
God can work miracles. And i love miracles!