Can I pray for you in any way?
Send
any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
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. 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.
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
James 5:15-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Consider this for a moment.
There is an omnipotent, omniscient God who created everything we know and reigns in utter supreme authority over that creation. He has no rival and there is nothing beyond the work of His hands.
Wouldn’t you like to be able to tap into that kind of power?
The good news is that you or any other believer can do so through prayer and not just any prayer but one lifted up in complete, uncompromising faith.
You see, the Lord God Almighty, despite being supreme over everything, is not a God who distances Himself from mere mortal human people. Rather, He loves them so much that He encourages them to communicate with Him out of a trust that believes He can and will hear and respond to the petitions He receives.
It’s this truth that is at the heart of today’s scripture passage from James, chapter 5, a passage that even provides an Old Testament reference on the subject. Look again at these words here:
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. 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.
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. Vv. 15-18
Note here that there is power in faithful prayers lifted up to the God of all possibilities.
The sick become well and raised up from their affliction.
The sinners who confess and repent of their iniquities become forgiven.
And so not only should the ill and transgressors pray to God for healing and pardon but those believers who know these people should also be intercessing for them in prayer. All of God’s people should regularly engage in praying for one another because whether a believer is praying for themselves or someone else, this truth applies:
The power of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Take the prophet Elijah, for example. Although he was just a mere “human being” like the Hebrew Christians that James wrote to as well as us today, Elijah was able to experience how powerful prayer was, first earnestly asking for no rain to fall and then for it to resume with God listening and taking action in both instances. You can read about the account in 1 Kings, chapters 17 and 18.
There has been a saying that has been around a long time that goes like this:
“Never underestimate the power of prayer.”
My encouragement to you is to take these words to heart and never hesitate to bring your prayers to a God who listens and acts according to His perfect will.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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