Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5 13-16

Prayer is a beautiful thing. Here in James 5, he talks about specific prayers. Are you happy? Rejoice. Suffering hardships? Pray. Sick? Ask others to pray over you so that you may be healed. Confess, and be forgiven. James gives us these instructions to remind us of the importance of a powerful prayer life. Prayer reminds us that God is in control and that we need Him. It allows us to surrender our circumstance and give it completely to Him. There is confidence in these verses, an assurance that God answers prayer.

Sometimes though, things are just so overwhelming and we are so consumed with grief or pain that specific prayers elude us. In those times we must remember there is power in the name of Jesus. Calling out His name in prayer is powerful. Prayer is a weapon against Satan and his schemes to make us doubt our mighty God and what he is capable of doing in our lives. There is nothing God cannot do. When we go to God in prayer let us remember that truth and pray boldly in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer

Gracious God, as I begin my day today, I pray that I remember the power of prayer. May my faith be so deeply rooted in prayer that it is the first thought in my head when things go south. Help me to rejoice in the happy times and confess my sins to be forgiven. Help me, Jesus, to pray in all things and give You the glory in every circumstance. In Jesus Name, Amen.