James 5:13 “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”
James chapter 5 goes on to tell us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” I must admit that I do not always feel righteous, power or effective in my prayers! Most of my prayer happens while driving (with my eyes open!). Stephanie and I pray together at night. Our family offers prayer before every meal. We pray with gratitude for blessings and with humility for help. More often than not we are praying for wisdom and direction in our daily lives and for the needs of our loved ones in our family and our church.
But powerful and effective? That’s a little hard to understand. How can the prayer I pray really cause change? How do I know that praying will make a difference? The Bible seems to make clear that God wants us to pray in all circumstances. Whether we are in need of help or just want to express our joy to God, the reality is that God wants us to communicate with Him. The same is true of our relationships with our family and friends. It’s not always the exact words that are said, but the fact that someone takes the time to say them, that really counts. God already knows the needs of others. And God already knows our hearts. When we are intentional about taking the time to talk with God we honor the relationship that God has initiated with us.
During this holiday season, let’s all commit to taking a few additional minutes each day to read the Bible and pray. Both spiritual disciplines allow us to encounter the living God. Both enable us to listen and interact with God’s message for us. And regardless of what you are going through today, God has a special word of hope and encouragement for you.
Prayer: Dear God, I come to you with my words and thoughts knowing that you desire to hear from me. Help me to listen and to look for new ways to grow closer to you each day. Amen.
Phil Greenwald, Executive Pastor of Administration
