Pray for One Another

Saturday, December 13

James 5:16 (NKJV)

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Devotion

Have you ever been so overwhelmed that all you can do is cry uncontrollably? Was there ever a time you felt so lost and in desperate need of help, yet were too embarrassed to ask? The Bible tells us in James 5:16 to “confess our sins, pray for each other, and be healed,” adding that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

We ought to tell a righteous person—meaning someone who earnestly seeks God, obeys His Word, and is led by the Holy Spirit—what we are going through, no matter how dark and awful it seems. We should also pray for one another so that we can be healed and restored to God.

Believers are not perfect, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and we all need Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ has taken upon Himself the penalty for all our sins. When we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, we are reconciled to the Father by His redeeming blood, which cleanses us and purifies our souls. We have been justified by the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, and we can humbly come to His throne of grace to receive mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing from all unrighteousness.

At times, the devil will convince us that we are beyond forgiveness. We believe the lies of the enemy and beat ourselves up for falling short or failing to do what is right. We feel condemned and beyond His reach. Yet Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, NKJV).

When we receive Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within us to convict us of sin. When we acknowledge our powerlessness and our need for Him, we are assured that He has paved the way for reconciliation with the Father.

Asking a righteous believer—a follower of Jesus—to pray for us strengthens our faith and reinforces our belief in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Likewise, we need to pray for others once we are restored and continue to intercede for all believers who may be going through difficult times. As one Body in Christ, the pain of one is felt by all, and when we lift up our brethren in prayer, the Body becomes stronger and better able to accomplish what God has called each of us to do.

Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Let prayer be my lifestyle: to seek You first when I rise, to seek You throughout each day, and to seek You before I lay my head to sleep—to pray unceasingly. Help me be a person of faith who daily seeks Your Word and Truth. Enable me to pray fervently for the people You put in my heart, bringing them to Your throne of grace to be reconciled to You. And when I fail You and hurt someone because of sin in my life, forgive me, Lord, and send someone to help me pray when I am unable to do it on my own. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and renew a right spirit within me. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Apply It Today

Seek the Lord while He may be found. Do not delay. Boldly and humbly come to His throne of grace, ask forgiveness, pray for each other and be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is effective and powerful.

Resources

• Discover why prayer must be our top priority and how it can transform every area of your life. Watch the message “Prayer Is The Priority” and be inspired to connect deeply with God today!

• Feeling the need for someone to pray with you? Don’t carry your burdens alone. Submit a Prayer Request today, and we’ll connect you with our prayer team who can stand with you in faith.