Effective Prayers

James 5:13-18

The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is 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. 15And 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. 16Therefore 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.

17Elijah 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. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Reflection of Bee:

Sometimes we wonder why our prayers are not answered. Tonight's devotion tells when and how we should pray so that our prayers are effective.

We pray when we or someone is
- in trouble (v13)
- sick (v14)

Our prayers must be
- in faith (v15)
- from a righteous heart, no unconfessed sins (v15,16)
- earnest (v17)

Dear Lord,
Thank You for teaching me how to pray. May I practice what I learn tonight and not just keep them as head knowledge. Let me pray in faith and earnestly with a clean heart. I commit myself to You once again.
In Your holy name I pray. Amen.