The Prayer of Faith

Today’s Devotion is taken from James chapter 5:13-20

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

This passage is one that all Christians should take the time out to read. Here God reminds us of not just the importance of prayer but the power of the Prayer of Faith. Quite often we come to the Lord with our petitions and recite traditional prayers or read through our prayer books and twirl the rosaries. However, in this passage Paul is not talking about prayers of tradition or rituals, he is talking about prayers that come from the recesses of our souls and that are uttered with complete faith that what we have asked of God will truly come to pass.

Notice how the apostle points out that Elijah prayed and asked God that it not rain and it didn’t for 3 1/2 years. Then, he asked for rain and guess what? IT RAINED!!!!! Elijah’s faith was so strong that his prayers moved God to action. How many of us would love to be able to move God to action? I know I would. Just to be able to be right there with God. To be able to bring my petitions to him and know that he will bring them to pass.

As Christians, it should be our goal to get to the point where we can pray to God for our children, husbands, boyfriends, parents and acquaintances and know without a shadow of a doubt that God is and will work things out in our favor. My prayer today is that we all will learn how to come to the Father with our prayers and have the Faith that will move him to action.

Memory Text:
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. – James 5:15

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, thank you for reminding me to develop the Prayer of Faith. Teach me to come before you knowing that you will bring the things that I desire to pass if it be in accordance with your will. Help me to pray with the Faith of Elijah and guide me in the ways that you desire that I go.

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