The Mystery of Prayer (James 5:16-18)

Today’s scripture: James 5:16-18

I have to be honest. I don’t really understand how prayer works. God knows everything. There is nothing that is outside of His sight. He could do anything without our intercession.

So why do we pray? Why does James insist that the “effective prayer of a righteous man [or woman] can accomplish much”?

Because, somehow in God’s plan, prayer does change things.

Paul wrote on more than one occasion that prayer isn’t an option. We are to “pray without ceasing … for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:17-18). And he told Timothy, “I desire that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands …” (1 Tim. 2:8).

As I’ve mentioned before, for reasons beyond my comprehension, God loves to hear our voices raised to Him in prayer. In fact, as I wrote yesterday, He delights in hearing our voices (Prov. 15:8).

When we pray with sincere and open hearts, God listens. And He answers. Every time. We just have to remember that His answers aren’t always what we’re hoping for. You’ve heard this before, I’m sure, but sometimes He answers, “Yes.” But sometimes His answer is “no.” And then there’s the answer I don’t really love … “wait.”

So pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray for your needs and for the needs of others—within His will. Be ready to accept His answer, not matter what that answer might be.

Because your effective prayer can accomplish much.

NOTE: Although I don’t usually post on the weekends, come back tomorrow to finish up the book of James.

Constant Prayer (2 Timothy 1:1-4)

Today’s scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-4

I’m sure I wrote something similar when I began Paul’s first letter to Timothy, but I’m writing again: I really love that love is such an integral part of everything Paul wrote. Every letter he wrote was a love letter.

In this letter, he assured his protégé Timothy of his constant and unfailing love. He called Timothy his “beloved son.” He prayed for God’s grace, mercy, and peace to flow over Timothy.

More importantly? He wrote how he constantly prayed for Timothy. And I believe that. I believe that Paul was so in tune with God that he really did “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17) And as he prayed, he prayed for those he loved.

I know I don’t do the same. Oh, I do pray regularly for those I love. Pretty much every day, in fact. But without ceasing? Constantly?

No.

The best thing I can do for those I love is to remember them in prayer. Interceding for their needs, their protection, their peace. And if I don’t, then I’m not showing love as I should.

I want to demonstrate my love by remembering them in prayer. If not constantly, then as often as I can throughout each day. And maybe, one day, constantly.

Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Many Christians have memorized these verses and recite them regularly. However, have they stopped and really thought about what Paul is exhorting us to do?

Rejoice always. Always. It’s easy to rejoice when things are going well. But what about during dark times? A broken marriage. A terminal illness. A wayward child. Can we really rejoice? I mean, sincerely rejoice?

It’s certainly not easy. And I don’t think Paul meant we’re supposed to rejoice in the circumstances; rather, we’re to rejoice in spite of them. The rejoicing comes from knowing God is working His plan even through the pain, trials, or suffering (see Jer. 29:11 and Rom. 8:28). I live with chronic pain. Not a moment goes by when I don’t feel some kind of pain, and sometimes the pain is severe. I’m in that kind of season right now. I don’t rejoice in the pain; in fact, if I had my way, the pain would go away completely. But I know God will carry me through this season just as He has in the past. And I know He has a purpose for my pain, and I can rejoice knowing He’ll use it for His glory.

Pray without ceasing. I don’t think Paul meant we’re supposed to be on our knees every moment of every day. It’s not practical when we’re also called to work as unto the Lord and care for others. I think pray without ceasing is a mind-set. It’s keeping our Lord God first and foremost at all times. So when something happens—good or bad—our very first thought is to go to the Lord. Talk with Him. Listen to Him.

In everything give thanks. This ties the other two together, I think. If we’re rejoicing in all things and if we’re focusing on God, we’ll be thankful for everything. We’ll be thankful for His blessings—and we’ll tell Him so. We’ll be thankful for the hard times, knowing He’s using them to refine us and for His glory—and we’ll tell Him so.

It comes down to this: If we believe God is sovereign and that He has a loving plan for our lives, we’ll trust Him at all times. We’ll keep our eyes and hearts focused on Him, and we’ll rejoice and be grateful for all He does in and through us.

Pray ... At All Times (Ephesians 6:18-20)

Today's scriptures: Ephesians 6:18-20

We know we need to put on the armor of God to be ready to meet the enemy head-on. But the armor needs just one more thing … one very important thing: Prayer.

We need to cover ourselves, those we love, and the entire church of Christ in prayer. More than once, Paul wrote of praying “at all times” or “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should be praying for provision, protection, and peace. We should be praying for firm and grounded faith. We should be praying for boldness to share the truth of the gospel of Christ.

And we should pray for the softening of hearts of those who have yet to come to faith.

We should also pray for those who have been called into ministry: pastors, missionaries, mission leaders, ministry leaders. Not everyone has the gift of preaching or teaching or evangelizing. And those of us who’ve been gifted in other ways need to offer prayerful support.

Just as Paul asked for the prayers of the Christians at Ephesus, so should we pray for those who are boldly and regularly proclaiming God’s truth.

Make it a habit—one of the better habits—to pray for others. At all times. Without ceasing.

Waiting on God (Galatians 2:1-3)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 2:1-3

We’ve talked about this before: God always answers prayers, but He answers differently, according to His will. The hardest answer to receive from God is “wait.”

Sometimes God just wants us to patiently await His work. Paul waited 14 years to continue his God-given journey. He was an itinerant missionary and knew God had designed a particular path for him to take. And he was patient, knowing God would reveal His will in His timing.

Have you prayed for something for a long time, yet you feel God hasn’t answered? Chances are, He’s asking you to wait and trust Him.

I’ve been praying well over 20 years for my husband’s salvation. I believe God is softening his heart, but so far, the answer has been, “Wait, my daughter.” It’s hard sometimes, but I know without doubt that God is faithful. I know with quiet certainty that He loves Russ so much more than I ever could. I know I can patiently and trustingly wait for the moment when the answer is finally, “Yes!”

We are invited to come to God and pray to Him, knowing He will listen. (See Jeremiah 29:12-13.) But we have to be ready to receive whatever His answer is. Even if He asks us to wait—for 14 years … or 20 years … or even longer.

Pray for Those Who Serve (2 Corinthians 8:16-24)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Few of us are called to leave our homes and venture out to spread the gospel. In fact, it’s often joked about when we talk about areas of giftedness: “I’ll do anything for You, Lord, but don’t send me to the mission field.”

Full-time missionary workers often give up everything they hold near and dear. They leave their homes, their families, their friends. They go to foreign, often hostile, lands. They’re faced with strange customs, traditions, and foods. They usually don’t make much money and, in fact, are dependent upon others to provide their support.

And they do it earnestly, readily, and diligently. They do “what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of man.”

I have several friends who have listened to God’s voice and His call to full-time missions work. In fact, my middle-born nephew and his wife and infant son will soon be leaving to work full-time in Latvia. They’d be the first to tell you it can be tough. Some are in countries that are so anti-Christ, they can’t openly share God’s word. Some live in harsh climates. Others work in “regular” jobs as well as perform their missionary duties.

They do this while we sit in comfort in our familiar homes with our familiar things and our familiar friends. So what can we do to help? More than anything, we need to pray for them diligently—much more diligently than we probably do. We need to lift them up daily to God’s throne, praying for protection, strength, and provision. And if possible, we need to support them financially.

Because while not all of us are called to the mission field, all of us are called to pray for our brothers and sisters, including those who serve—both here and abroad. 

The Mystery of Prayer (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

Today's scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Prayer is, for me at least, a great mystery. If God is omniscient, knowing all things, than He already knows what I’m going to pray before I even pray it. So why do we pray?

I think it’s because it keeps our focus on God and His will. We pray for healing or provision or strength, and we seek God’s will in each situation. We trust that He’ll do exactly what is right as He sees right. We hope in His sovereignty, knowing that all things will work out for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).

Another reason we should pray is because when we’re praying for others, we think of them rather than ourselves. And it often puts things into perspective. When I pray for a friend with cancer, I realize how blessed I am, even with my daily aches and pains. When I’m reminded of a need for financial provision, I remember that God has given ample funds to take care of my daily needs.

Prayer is still a mystery to me, but I pray. I pray for God’s will in all things. I pray that my friends and family will find peace, will be provided for, and will be protected.

I pray for those who serve God full time. I pray for those who don’t yet know my Lord. I pray for our government, for our nation … for our world.

And I pray for you.

Hear My Prayer (Psalm 84:8)

Today's scripture: Psalm 84:8

Prayer is one of those “mysteries” I don’t fully understand. Our God is all-knowing and all-powerful, so how can our prayers make a difference? I’m not exactly sure.

However, I know we’re commanded to pray. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians that we’re to, “Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” (5:17-18). And in his first letter to Timothy, he wrote that we should “pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or doubting” (2:8).

But it’s not just about what we’re supposed to do. It’s also a privilege for God’s children. It’s an amazing thought to know the Creator of the universe wants to hear my voice; He wants to hear your voice. In fact, “the prayer of the upright is His delight” (Proverbs 15:8b). Have you ever thought about it? That your voice delights God?

Amazing.

And when we pray, we put our focus exactly where it should be: on the Lord. We seek His will for our lives and the lives of those we love. We offer words of praise and worship. We confess those things we’ve done that break His heart.

I don’t know why we’re commanded to pray. Not really. But I do know it’s something we shouldn’t take for granted.

In fact, we really should pray without ceasing—just as Paul said we should.

Pray ... Always ... (Ephesians 6:18-20)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 6:18-20

We know we need to put on the armor of God to be ready to meet the enemy head-on. But the armor needs just one more thing … one very important thing: Prayer.

We need to cover ourselves, those we love, and the entire church of Christ in prayer. More than once, Paul wrote of praying “at all times” or “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should be praying for provision, protection, and peace. We should be praying for firm and grounded faith. We should be praying for boldness to share the truth of the gospel of Christ.

And we should pray for the softening of hearts of those who have yet to come to faith.

We should also pray for those who have been called into ministry: pastors, missionaries, mission leaders, ministry leaders. Not everyone has the gift of preaching or teaching or evangelizing. And those of us who’ve been gifted in other ways need to offer prayerful support.

Just as Paul asked for the prayers of the Christians at Ephesus, so should we pray for those who are boldly and regularly proclaiming God’s truth.

Make it a habit—one of the better habits—to pray for others. At all times. Without ceasing.