Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises. —James 5:13 (GNT)
Having previously established the need for prayers, one might ask why there is so much emphasis on this spiritual discipline. Prayer is the first and most important step you should take in any situation for several reasons. First, prayer is a practical demonstration of your faith and trust in God. When you do not pray during times of difficulty, but instead keep yourself busy looking for help from men, you are indirectly putting your trust in human strength.
It does not always end well when you place your ultimate reliance on people because the Word of God warns us about the consequences of such a choice. Relying on the flesh instead of the Spirit creates a spiritual barrier between you and the help of the Father.
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.” —Jeremiah 17:5-6 (NKJV)
Did you see that? That is the spiritual fate of the person who refuses to pray and instead looks only to men for deliverance. We are not saying you should not take physical actions to resolve your case, but we are saying your first action must always be prayer. It is in the place of prayer that you receive the divine ideas and the wisdom for the next steps you should take.
Prayerlessness is essentially a confession of a lack of faith in God, whereas prayerfulness is a confession of your total trust in Him. The blessings of maintaining a prayerful life are enormous. When you anchor your hope in the Lord through prayer, you become like a well-watered tree that remains unaffected by the harsh conditions of the world.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. —Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV)
This is the glorious fate of the one who chooses to pray. Therefore, I admonish you to take prayer seriously and give it your full attention. The man who prays, putting all his trust in God, will surely not be abandoned or put to shame. The only question is whether you truly believe that prayer works. If you do, then start praying today and do it with absolute focus. Hallelujah!
Today’s Rhema
The man who prays putting all his trust in God will surely not be abandoned!
Confession for the Day
Every doubt on the subject of prayer is removed from me, and I receive the grace to pray and continue in prayer until I get the desired results in Jesus’ name. Amen!
