James 5:13-18 (NASB) Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
I got a bit of bad news this week. I started feeling poorly off and on over the past few weeks. It came to a head on Tuesday, so I went to the doctor. Things are not good. The disease that I have battled off and on since 2012 has reared its head. I’m writing this from my hospital bed. I don’t tell you this to arouse pity. I tell you this to illustrate the way I choose to view this situation. Our initial reaction to being dealt a hand like this usually falls somewhere in fear, anger, self pity, anxiety. I think that is to be expected and hard to combat. The last couple days have been tough, and I’ve allowed those types of thoughts to take root, but only in fleeting instances. When those thoughts come, some would say they’re justified, but why? What good does it do anyone to take such dark paths?
Thankfully, I can praise God for steering me toward thoughts of peace. I can praise God for leading me down faithful paths of knowing that I reside in His loving embrace. Regardless of the fork in the road this disease takes, it is what it is, and that’s ok. I can have peace knowing that God has me through the entire process. He hears my prayers, as well as the mant prayers of the righteous lifting me up. I’ve seen Him work miraculous things in my life, as well as what I’ve witnessed Him work for so many others. What do I have to fear? Nothing…
The other thing that this has strongly illuminated for me is how richly God has blessed my life with very dear and true friends and family. The outpouring of support, the genuine concern and desire to help and love me is overwhelmingly powerful. Praise God for my wife, brothers, mother, father, daughters, a great many dear friends that have come from all directions with a willingness and desire to do and provide anything within their power to provide. I am a very fortunate and blessed man. Most importantly, there is a great many people faithfully committed to prayer for my peace, healing, protection and recovery. And… they know its power. Praise God.
So, if you are experiencing anything yourself, or know of anyone experiencing a difficult physical or spiritual struggle, know that there is endless power and possibility in the heartfelt prayers of the righteous. Be that prayer warrior for someone. Allow someone to be that prayer warrior for you. Love them, provide for them and be there for them. Peace be with each and every one of you and have a blessed weekend!
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
