Read James 5:13-20
What is spoken out loud or in the quiet of a heart, it’s subject is large or small; it is offered in a time of anxiety, a time of rejoicing or in sadness; it can be made with simple words straight from the heart, and is on behalf of others or nations, even the cat? It is prayer.
Our Lord Jesus used to rise early in the morning before the sun would shine and pray to His Father in heaven. Prayer was not a complicated thing and Jesus simplified it more in teaching the disciples how to pray. It does take time to pray, but prayer does not have to be formatted in a certain style, place or time. You can pray while driving (although it is usually a good idea to keep your eyes open), in the garden, in a quiet place, even while listening to someone pour out their heart to you.
The Lord has given us a great privilege to pray for one other. James wrote: “Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone 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. And 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. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Confessing our sins to one another is a humbling experience, but that is what delights the Lord. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” The outcome of humbling ourselves before the Lord and each other is knowing forgiveness, and healing from the Lord. And so we pray for each other because we know that this pleases the Lord and strengthens our hearts and fellowship.
When did you last pray for someone from your church? What were you praying for on their behalf? Was it that they would be growing in their knowledge of and relationship with the Lord? Perhaps it was that you prayed for their health or for their daily life situation?
Next time when you pray for someone let it be for their growth and right relationship with the Lord. Pray that they will be trusting in the Lord for every situation rather than being anxious in what they cannot do in and of themselves.
When you pray for your church, do you pray that the Lord will provide it with a little more income to pay the way? Or do you pray that the Lord will bring an increase in the harvest and grow His church, that God’s people will give of themselves, firstly to the Lord and then to the church as His faithful servants?
To pray for one another means that you will be sharing with one another with the degree of comfort we feel able with each other. That degree of comfort will only grow over time and as you share more and more together.
Think about how you became friends with your friends. You started talking. You may or may not have had common interests. But as you shared a bond began to form. As Christians our common bond is dependence upon Jesus Christ for salvation. We have a wonderful Lord who gave Himself for our eternal good. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him as we learn to share together and pray for one another.
Prayer:
Using today’s passage and the reading notes spend time in prayer.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
· Pray for the youth group leaders as they prepare for the next term activities and studies. Pray that they will be sustained in their walk with the Lord and renewed in their stamina for ministry.
· Pray that your church would see great growth and conversions as the Word is proclaimed and lived out.
· Pray for all Christian school teachers that during these school holidays they will be renewed in their mission in training up children in knowledge and development in life skills.
1. What would you pray about if you were praying for one of your friends from your church?
2. If someone was to ask if they could pray for you, what would you tell them?
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