Effective Prayer

James 5 cont’d:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

This “therefore” comes after our instruction to seek prayer when we are sick. 

Sin is a form of sickness, too.  Did you know that?  When we are sinning (doing what we know to be wrong) we are creating sickness in our heart that permeates throughout our bodies.  We can try as hard as we want, but without prayer and confession, the complete healing won’t take place.

You want healing in your body, mind, or spirit? 

Ask the Lord to show you where you’re sinning and then confess it. This is a hard thing to do, because we are afraid of shame and judgment.  However, there is neither of those in the presence of Jesus. 

Doesn’t that second sentence seem redundant?  The “effective” prayer of a righteous man can “accomplish” much?

A prayer that is effective is one that prays for the sick and the lost.  Hands down, that’s an effective prayer, because it is in the heart of God to restore.

A prayer that accomplishes much is one that is prayed by those who love God and love others.  Answers will come.

We focus too much on the outcome of prayer, because we have a preconceived idea of what that answer should be.  However, our focus should be on obeying his word by praying and believing, and then resting in the loving God we serve, that his answer is on the way.