Therefore,
confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be
healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 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.
Insights: Today we look at the final area of hope in regards to
the fathers in our nation. That area of
hope is prayer. Notice the first thing
James referenced to prayer is healing. I
want you to notice the context of that sentence. The healing prescribed here is a spiritual
healing. Yes, we are to pray for the sick around us, but this is specifically
about the spiritual healing of the heart.
Our fathers who have abandoned their child(ren) or have become absentee
fathers are in desperate need of spiritual healing and it starts with us
praying for them. Then James explicitly
tells us the prayer of a righteous
individual accomplishes much. In other
words, prayer is powerful. Remember back
to yesterday and the kind of attitude John the Baptist was going to restore to
the fathers. He was going to turn their
disobedience into an attitude of righteousness.
A righteous individual is one who lives life under the Lordship of
Christ Jesus and that is from where the true power comes. James finally gives us an example of powerful
praying from Elijah. Now remember
yesterday, John the Baptist was to walk in the spirit and power of Elijah. I emphasize this part of the passage because
of what James tells us about Elijah in today’s verses. Elijah was a man with a nature just like
ours. In other words, Elijah was a
sinner just like we are. What made him
different than us then? It was his
active, vital and intimate relationship with God. When sin did enter into his life, he was
quick to repent. When decisions had to
be made, he went to God first, not last.
When courage was needed, he called on the Lord to provide it. Everything this man did was centered on the
Lord and because of that relationship, his prayers were powerful. Your prayers and mine can also be powerful if
we will commune with God!
Questions:
- Are you willing to pray effective prayers on behalf of
your child(ren)?
- Are you willing to pray effective prayers for the fathers with whom you are being called to disciple?
Prayer: Father, I am so
grateful You have given us the gift of prayer.
This two way conversation is the life blood of our relationship in so
many ways. Change the focus, shape and
scope of our nation and the men who live here.
Raise a generation of men totally committed to You. Let Your name spread as a result of Your
greatness. Amen.
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