Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NKJV
The context of this portion of scripture is meeting specific needs. It is not the power of prayer although prayer is mentioned seven times in James 5:13-17. Anyone who is suffering should pray. Anyone who is sick should be anointed with oil and prayed over. Elijah was a man with a nature just like ours. God told him to pray for the rain to stop. It did not rain for three years and six months. The Lord sent Elijah to pray when He was ready to send rain. Elijah obeyed. It rained. Elijah prayed according to God’s will. The Lord answered. God answers when we pray according to His will. There are times when God will not act until we pray. Why did God wait until Elijah prayed before He did what He already determined to do? God sent Elijah to pray publicly so there would be no doubt He was withholding the rain. He wanted to show Israel He is God of the heavens above and the Earth below. The Lord wanted to show Israel He answered when they prayed according to His will. The Lord created us to live in interdependent relationships. God did not send an angel to declare it would not rain. He sent a man to speak to other men. He wants us to make our needs known so we can lift each other up in prayer. God does not need us to confess our sins to each other so He can forgive them. He does not need us to turn to each other so He can bring healing and restoration into our lives. He knows everything we have done. Nothing is kept secret from Him. God tells us to confess our sins and make our needs known so we can help each other. When we pray for someone who is caught in sin we are praying according to God’s will. God wants to set people free from bondage. He wants us to hold each other up in prayer. He wants to use us to meet each other’s needs. God wants us to help each other walk out our faith. A person who is struggling with sin cannot confess if no one is willing to listen. A person who sits in self righteous judgment cannot pray the effective fervent prayer of righteousness. We all struggle with sin. Saying we have no sin is the same as calling God a liar! Sometimes we just need someone to be open and honest with. We need people who care to pray for us! Love Jesus with all of your heart mind soul and strength. Demonstrate your love for Jesus by loving people! Push every hindrance aside. Pray effectively and fervently for the people you love. Your faith in Jesus makes you righteous in God’s eyes! http://www.joyfor2day.com https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day #Joyfor2daydailydevotional
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Louie GarciaJoyfor2day daily devotional goes out over the internet to thousands of people all over the world five days a week
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