POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE PRAYER
Sixth of seven devotions in World Stage Series
James 5:13-18
James 5:16b “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful
and effective.
Besides praying in communal worship and
giving thanks for food, most people pray when they’re alone. Our private conversation is between us and
God. Jesus confirms the correct way to
pray in Mathew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Jesus
criticized Jewish leaders of His day who enjoyed standing in the synagogues and
on street corners praying out loud—babbling on and on is more like it. Their performance of piety and holiness on
the world stage intended to get others’ admiration. Jesus called them “hypocrites.” The word hypocrite means a phony, a
fraud. These people pretended to be
pious and holy. But they really wanted people’s
attention and admiration.
Jesus
said, “they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:5b makes it sound like that
admiration, (and possibly applause for delivering a good show) is the only
reward they’ll EVER get!
Believers
pray because Jesus taught us how. We
pray because we may approach God directly.
Apostle Paul urges us to pray continually in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. We pray because we want stuff. We even pray so that God blesses others. Serious believers would love assurance that
our prayers are effective. We also want
our prayers to be powerful. No one
enjoys wasting time.
So,
what does God require to hear and answer prayers?
There
are just two:
Number
one is fervent prayer. Fervent means
committed, eager, passionate. Who wants
to listen to someone speak who’s not fired up about what they’re saying? Fervent prayer comes from personal helplessness
asking what seems impossible. Fervent
prayer comes directly to the point. Colossians 4:12 gives an example: “Epaphras…is
always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of
God, mature and fully assured.”
Number
two is that whoever is praying must be righteous. (Gulp).
Don’t dismiss this: Whoever
believes in Jesus as Savior becomes God’s kids.
God’s Spirit immediately seals us permanently as righteous because we’re
positioned in Christ.
But
believers who intentionally sin are not living righteously. Their prayers are never effective.
Requirements met, problem solved. Every believer may, can, and is urged to pray
effectively and powerfully every day!
Take Home Nugget
Out of the billions who pray, God wants to hear from you. Believer’s intercessor, Jesus “dresses up”
our prayers to be acceptable. God
acknowledges who’re following His ways, then releases His Spirit to begin His
divine work.
No excuse. God awaits hearing from you.
J.D. Griffith
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