August 27, 2014
All of us wonder if we have what it takes to make a difference. Will our life count? Will we reach our God-given potential? Will we do what we were designed and created to do?
Not without prayer.
Prayer connects us to God and prayer moves the hand of God. God has ordained that His highest creations unite with Him through Christ’s saving work and His Spirit’s indwelling. Then, through the daily dependence of communion with Him in Word-based prayer, we join with Him in a partnership that unleashes His power through us.
With prayer—unceasing, fervent Word-based prayer—as the foundation of our lives, we bring God into the equation and EVERYTHING is possible! James gives us a phenomenal promise from God that never ceases to amaze me.
""The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."" (James 5:16)
There it is. Your pathway to accomplishing great things for God. When you DON'T pray you get what man can do; when you PRAY you get what God can do...in your life, your family, your church, your ministry, in your witness to those far from God.
It is almost as if James thinks we won't believe this and so he reminds us this is for any common follower of Christ in verses 17-18. (This is about YOU!)
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
And He also reminds us in this same passage of the ultimate purpose of this partnership while we are on earth. It is so people wandering from Him can be brought home. The tool of God-empowered intercession is for the purpose of helping people God loves come to repentance and faith. He wants to continually, exponentially expand the work of Christ to “take away the sins of the world.” And He wants to use you in the process.
My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (verse 19-20)
Want to accomplish something eternal today? Get your heart right with God, pray all day long for others, then follow the Spirit's promptings as He leads you in loving testimony to others...and stand back and see what God will do through you!
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