James 5:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
When you look up the word earnest it says, “characterized by or proceeding from intense or serious state of mind”. That means we should pray intently to confess sin, praying for others, and for healing.
Recently, my wife and I were walking on the bike trail, and I made a statement about work. I said that we could really use another good man on our crew. Then she looks at me and says, “Are you asking God for that?”
To be honest, I did not want to hear that. Too often I think that I can do that, or I can fix that. I did not want to bother God with this. There are bigger concerns for him to deal with. To my dismay, my pride was fully in the way, and I lacked faith.
It says in the following verse that Elijah prayed that no rain would fall for 3 1/2 years. The key was he prayed earnestly. He prayed with intensity before the Lord and because he held to obeying God, he was made righteous before God.
I am realizing that my prayers need to be intense and serious. When that happens, the Holy Spirit comes and produces wonderful results. What are you praying about in your life? Is it an earnest prayer? Is your pride getting in the way?
Let’s be earnest prayer warriors in God’s Kingdom and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our prayers.
Strength and Courage
Michael
