James 5:16

For Reading and Meditation:     Psalm 22:1-11

We continue looking at the attitude of the psalmist, who does not hesitate to tell the truth about himself. As we saw, he admits that his feet had well-nigh slipped and his faith had almost gone. I find the psalmist's honesty both stimulating and refreshing, especially when compared to the tendency of many in today's...

As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications-and the more like our prayer is to Christ's, the sweeter it will be; thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for...

A verse like this raises an interesting question. If we have not because we ask not, what great things are we missing in life simply because we do not pray for them?

A similar question arises from James 5:16, ""The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." If this righteous man doesn't pray, then does it not follow that little is accomplished through him?

The trouble with most of us is that we do not pray enough, or...

We are not to take the word righteous here in an impossible sense. "In many things we offend all," says James; and in the very verse we quote from, he says, " Confess your fault one to another." Otherwise understood, the promise would check prayer, instead of exciting it. The righteous man is the true Christian; one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, and in whose life appears the fruit of the Spirit. But the expression is doubtless intended to discourage the man who, while he gives...

Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. § Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have...

Is anything too hard for the Lord? § Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. § Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. § [Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed to the...

[You] have made us kings and priests to our God. § The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, “Seek Me in vain.” § Their voice was heard; and their prayer...

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him … And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up … Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the...