April 25 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 115—James 5:17–18

¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Devotional:

Consider the example of Elijah. "He prayed fervently." Literally, "in prayer he prayed." The point is not how fervently or how frequently Elijah prayed. The point is that he was a mere mortal just like you and me, and he prayed! The point is that prayer is available to each who sincerely comes to God through Christ. Your prayers might be weak, but your God is powerful. He does mighty things through prayer. The church that patiently and expectantly waits for the Lord to come will be a church that is marked by prayer.

Our Lord Jesus reminds us of the importance of our praying with and for each other, "Apart from me you can do nothing," (John 15:5). Our Lord gives great promises of the power of our praying with and for each other, "…if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them," (Matt. 18:19–20).

Our Lord paints his vision for your congregation here in James 5:13–18—Christians praising God joyfully, Christians confessing their sins openly, Christians praying for each other lovingly, the congregation together experiencing the power of the Lord. This is the exciting power that we open our lives to by corporate prayer. Is your involvement making your church more like that?

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.