Prayer and Praise (James 5:13-15)

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
(James 5:13-15, NASB)

I think most of us would agree with the first part of today’s verses. We can pray when we’re suffering. We can praise when we’re cheerful.

We have an amazing privilege as children of God. We can talk to Him. Doesn’t that amaze you? The Sovereign Creator, the Lord of all, our heavenly Father, wants to hear our voices. That just astounds me. Who in the world am I that God would want to hear my words? I don’t understand it, but I’m grateful beyond words. Just listen to your Father: "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3). (excerpted from The Best Laid Plans © 2005 Sauni Rinehart)

Yes, we can speak to God when we’re hurting, when we’re confused, when we’re celebrating. And He listens.

Not only does He listen, but He delights in hearing our voices. Proverbs 15:8 tells us that “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

But then James also tells us that when we’re sick, we can call on the elders to pray over us and anoint us with oil, and we’ll be restored. And indeed that sometimes happens. We have to remember, however, that all prayer must be said with the sincere request for God’s will. Just as Jesus prayed in the garden (Luke 22:42). Sometimes, beyond our understanding, God's will is not to heal here on earth. Sometimes, His answer is to give us strength to endure the pain. And sometimes, His will is what I call eternal healing ... the privilege of entering His presence.

Prayer is indeed a privilege and something we should never take for granted.

God wants to hear our prayers. He desires to give us joy. He longs to provide for us. But He also knows what’s best for us. Again, He knows the plan He has for us. All we need to do is ask for His will and trust in that will. And He will answer. (excerpted from The Best Laid Plans © 2005 Sauni Rinehart)