40 Days of PRAYER
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 5 | PRAYER OF FAITH | James 5:13, 15
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 5 | PRAYER OF FAITH | James 5:13, 15
PRAYER OF FAITH
James 5:13, 15
“Are there any believers in your fellowship suffering great hardship and distress? Encourage them to pray! Are there happy, cheerful ones among you? Encourage them to sing out their praises! 15And the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise them up.”
Do you know anyone in your church family that is hurting? If you do, then YOU have a responsibility – stated here in the book written by Jesus’ half-brother, James – to “encourage them to pray.”
Do you know anyone in your church family that is enjoying a time of being happy and cheerful? Then encourage them to “sing out their praises” to God!
I would also add that we can help our hurting brothers and sisters in Christ by praying with them and for them. We can come alongside and encourage them by what I call the “ministry of presence” – that is – just being there.
If you read the book of Job, you’ll see that when Job was hurting in the early chapters, three of his dearest friends just came and hung out with him. They didn’t talk or try to explain his pain away; they were just there.
This is my KEY encouragement to others who want to help hurting friends: just be there with them. You don’t have to talk… whether they’re in the hospital or home or rehab or wherever. If God gives you something to say, do so… but just being there helps a LOT.
And finally, verse 15: “And the prayer of FAITH” (in God… in God’s Word… in God’s Spirit) has the power to “heal and raise them up.”
Prayer: LORD, help me be more sensitive to pray for those in my circle who are hurting: physically, emotionally, spiritually, or however. And teach me more about this ministry of just “being there.” Amen.
James 5:13, 15
“Are there any believers in your fellowship suffering great hardship and distress? Encourage them to pray! Are there happy, cheerful ones among you? Encourage them to sing out their praises! 15And the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise them up.”
Do you know anyone in your church family that is hurting? If you do, then YOU have a responsibility – stated here in the book written by Jesus’ half-brother, James – to “encourage them to pray.”
Do you know anyone in your church family that is enjoying a time of being happy and cheerful? Then encourage them to “sing out their praises” to God!
I would also add that we can help our hurting brothers and sisters in Christ by praying with them and for them. We can come alongside and encourage them by what I call the “ministry of presence” – that is – just being there.
If you read the book of Job, you’ll see that when Job was hurting in the early chapters, three of his dearest friends just came and hung out with him. They didn’t talk or try to explain his pain away; they were just there.
This is my KEY encouragement to others who want to help hurting friends: just be there with them. You don’t have to talk… whether they’re in the hospital or home or rehab or wherever. If God gives you something to say, do so… but just being there helps a LOT.
And finally, verse 15: “And the prayer of FAITH” (in God… in God’s Word… in God’s Spirit) has the power to “heal and raise them up.”
Prayer: LORD, help me be more sensitive to pray for those in my circle who are hurting: physically, emotionally, spiritually, or however. And teach me more about this ministry of just “being there.” Amen.