The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5:16
The Bible provides many examples of the power of prayer. King Hezekiah prayed with the people in besieged Jerusalem and, in the night, the angel of the Lord killed the 185,000 soldiers who were ready to ransack the city (Isaiah 37). King Solomon prayed for wisdom and “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure” (1 Kings 4:29-30). After Elijah predicted there would be a drought, there was no rain for three and a half years until the prophet prayed to the Lord to send it (1 Kings 17-18). Mighty men of God prayed, and yet they were men with natures just like yours (James 5:17-18). Lowly Hannah beseeched the Lord for a child. God’s gift of a son was Samuel, the great prophet (1 Samuel 1).
A young missionary woman in South Sudan prayed recently that the Lord would send 450 children to Vacation Bible School to hear the Gospel. By Tuesday, there were over 470, and by Friday over 500. Of those, 170 accepted Christ as their Savior. A mother of one child came to camp and asked, “What have you done with my child?!” The boy’s arrogance had turned to obedience.
Effective prayer, prayer with power, is your prayer when you have a right relationship with God, a heart and mind open to God’s leading, a passion for the desires of God, and a belief that the Lord will answer. In the words of Pastor Tony Evans, it is a “God-consciousness” that pervades your life. It is a mystery how God uses your prayers to influence people and times that are under His sovereign control. But He does! Pray now for this nation. Your prayer is powerful and will work to God’s glory.
Today’s Verse: James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: James 5:13-18
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
