How powerful do you believe prayer is? I have a feeling that we often underestimate the power and significance of prayer.  The Bible certainly doesn’t.  We are given many examples of just how powerful prayer is.  James gives us a reminder of this truth in chapter 5.  Let’s look at it together today. 

 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Prayer isn’t like rubbing a magic lamp and asking to have a wish granted.  Often prayer works to put our desires in line with God’s desires.  There are clearly times when God answers big prayers beyond our wildest dreams.  Jesus even repeatedly makes it a point to go away and pray.  He teaches His disciples how to pray.   Thanks to the work of Jesus on the cross we are told to boldly go before the throne of God in prayer and cry out to Him.  I find that the more I pray and the bolder I pray the more I become certain that however God answers I will be ok because God is with me.  Today pray boldly and watch and see what God does in your life.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave