A Daily Walk through James: Day 10

Effectual Fervent Prayer…Availeth Much (5:13-20)

As we come to the end of this 10 day series through the book of James, I want to encourage you to pick a book of the Bible and do a study like the one we’ve just done. (It can even be the Book of James using this as a preliminary guide.)

James ends talking about prayer. Prayer is a subject in which many Christians lack. Before we even get into this short devotion, I’d like to invite you to listen to a couple messages that have been preach on the subject of Prayer recently at my church by myself and Pastor Geckler.

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-235655264/requests-granted

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-235655264/4-steps-to-availing-prayer

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-235655264/availing-prayer

Prayer is a very useful and necessary tool in the Christian’s toolbox, yet many don’t use it to it’s fullest potential – and many more even don’t even use it to the slightest of it’s potential.

I’m afraid that if a Christian’s life were graded on his prayer life, many would fail the test. Notice what God’s Word says: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”(emphasis added). My questions to you are simple: is your prayer life availing? Do have fervency in your prayers? And are you living a “righteous” life that gets God’s attention?

Let me leave you with a small outline that I heard to help you think about the prayer life we should have.

1) The Intentions of Prayer

– pray for an answer

2) The Intensity of Prayer

– pray with assertion

3) The Integrity of Prayer

– pray with authority

4) The Incentive of Prayer

– wait for the answer

The different facets of this prayer life can be found weaved throughout Scripture – and history. From men like Jabez and Elijah to Paul and Peter to George Müller and David Livingston, prayer has been of vital importance. Don’t let the torch of prayer slip from this generation.

Hold the importance of prayer highly in your life as you “contend for the faith…delivered to the saints.”

-S.G.