James 5:16b KJV
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Good Morning!
As Bon Jovi sings, we are living on a prayer. But what exactly does effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man mean? Simply put, the prayer of a person who is “after God’s own heart” will do wonders. Loving the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind and wanting and waiting for His will in our lives puts us in right standing with Him.
When we bow before the Lord with a humble heart that is seeking His will and not asking for worldly things, God hears us and responds. Let’s not ask amiss, but ask God for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
1 John 5:14-15 NKJV
[14] Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. [15] And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
James 4:3 NKJV
[3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Sometimes the answers to our prayers are not what we would want. It is not up to the clay to tell the potter what to make of him. We must believe that in God’s infinite wisdom and creator of all things, He will give us the answer to prayer that we need and not what we think we need. Our faith must be that of confidence in our Lord to know that we can cast our burdens on Him and He will sustain us with what is right and good. We know that all things work together for those who love God. Like a great conductor, God can orchestrate the steps of our lives to accomplish His good will for His purposes. We can live in a state of expecting the unexpected as God moves, criss-crossing our pathways with those that He would put in our lives for a reason.
Psalm 55:22 NKJV
[22] Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
As we live a life that is pleasing to God and our minds and hearts are in alignment with His will, He will give us the desires of our heart. This is not always easy in this world of instant gratification, fast food, get rich quick schemes, and violence and corruption on screens everywhere. But we can stand on God’s Word to resist temptation. The devil will flee from us and God will draw you nearer to Him. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Psalm 37:4-7 NKJV
[4] Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. [5] Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. [6] He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. [7] Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
James 4:7-8 NKJV
[7] Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Prayer is the place where the saints do battle. It is a place that we come boldly before the throne of grace and the Lord of all creation hears us. We serve a mighty and able God that is also our personal Lord and Savior. He hears us and responds as we submit our will to His will. Be confident as you go before the Lord that He hears you and He knows the good answer to your prayers.
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad