Praying with Confidence for One Another

God tells us many things about effective prayers. He encourages us to join together in a bond of prayer (Matt. 18:19-20; James 5:14-16) We must ask according to His will (I John 5:14-15). We must ask in Jesus' name (John 14:13-14). We must ask in faith (Matt. 21:22). We must ASK (Matt. 7:7; James 4:2)!

We can see many examples of what the Lord does in a church where believers bond together in prayer for the same thing, applying the principles mentioned above (Acts 2:42-47; 4:23-35; 6:1-8; 12:5-17). This is the type of unity that Jesus asked the Heavenly Father to give us in John 17. It is the same type of unity that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 12 & 13.

We can pray for one another by name the same prayer that Paul prayed for the members of the church at Colossae. It is a prayer we know is in accordance with God's will for our lives. This is a prayer we can pray in faith. This is a prayer God will answer:

Lord, May _____ be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that he/she will walk in a manner worthy of You, to please You in all respects. May _____ bear fruit in every good work and may he/she increase in the knowledge of You. Lord, strengthen him/her with all power, according to Your glorious might, that _____ might attain steadfastness and patience. May _____ give thanks to You, our Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:9-12)

Fervent Prayer

My prayer life was weak and feeble, it had become a dull routine.
My concern was only half-hearted, and therefore, the results were lean.
And then during a moment of good intention, I asked God to burden me
with the names of those around me with troubles that I couldn't see.
My eyes were slowly opened to needs that only God could meet;
my heart began to ache for others, and my prayer life became more complete.
I realized more of my own shortcomings, and my list of concerns grew longer.
I found more time to talk with my Lord, and I felt my faith grow stronger.
Prayers of praise and thanksgiving began to balance the prayers of requests,
and every time I called upon God, I felt that my heart had been blessed.
My concerns were no longer "burdens" -- they were opportunities to put a privilege to use --
The privilege of bringing a problem to God and seeing what joy He produced.
My Lord has taken my feeble prayer life and shown me that I have so much to learn.
I just pray that God will continue to strengthen me and deepen my concern.

"Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sings psalms.
Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayers of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:13-16

What Should We Be and Do?

"Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:6

This chapter in Isaiah has meant a lot to me for a long time. To me, the verses answer the question that every Christian might ask himself or herself today: Lord, what should I be and do?

The beginning of the chapter paints a picture of God's responding to His people who are confused about their condition. The messenger is told to "cry loudly" and "not hold back." It is a bold message, spoken passionately to people who are equally both sincere and fruitless. They seek God "day by day" and delight to know His ways. "They delight in the nearness of God." And yet they ask why they fast and God doesn't see, and they humble themselves and God doesn't notice. They ask what's wrong.

The Lord's response is extensive, and verse six, above, is a part of it.

I find myself asking what are the bonds, bands, yoke, and oppression of people around us today. Is it poverty? Some form of addiction? Is it depression? Guilt? Rejection? Illiteracy? Loneliness? What are we to loosen, free, and break?

The people God spoke to were faithful in going through the motions of worship, and they were sincere in their desire to please God, but these things had not led them into the ministry God desired for them. It is a common problem found throughout the family of God's people. James, too, tells us that "Faith, if it has no works, is dead." As we begin this new year, please join me in asking, "Lord, what would you have me be and do? He wants us to love Him, and THAT kind of love relationship leads to faith in action!