DECEMBER 7 HANDLE WITH PRAYER By HB Charles Pastor-Teacher, Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. (James 5:13)
James’ letter gives a series of tests of genuine faith. The relationship between prayer and faith is affirmed in James 1:5-8, saying, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Why pray? Pray because the Word of God commands it. James 5:13-15 is a divine call to personal, interpersonal, and corporate prayer.
Verse 13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” These two rhetorical questions establish the text’s point upfront: Genuine faith is demonstrated by a prayerful dependence upon God in every situation. Pray! It is a divine command. And, it is in a grammatical emphasis that denotes continual action. The benefits of prayer are not mentioned. We should not view prayer as a means to an end. The act of prayer is as vital as the answer to prayer. Prayer may not yield the answer you want. It will always yield the answer you need. And do not forget God when life gets good! Advertise your dependence upon God in every situation you face. The life of faith is a life of consecration.
Lord, I hear of showers of blessing, Thou art scattering full and free; Shows the thirsty land refreshing; Let some drops now fall on me.
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