James 5:15
Says “The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.” will raise them up.” Thomas Brooks, a 19th century puritan preacher commenting on the power of prayer, notes that, “Cold prayers are as arrows without heads, as swords without edges, as birds without wings; they pierce not, they cut not, they fly not up to heaven. Cold prayers always freeze before they reach heaven. To become more effective in our praying, we should heed these words of Bishop Hall: ‘It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be; nor even the theology of our prayers, how good the doctrine may be—which God cares for.” What is most crucial in considering how our prayer life can be a catalyst that moves the hand of God is summed up by James’ words in chapter 5 verse 16, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” It may be better stated in the King James, “Fervency of spirit is that which availed much.” Friends, go to God in prayer with the assurance that He is able and willing to answer. Pray specifically and leave the results in God’s hands. Stay close to Jesus. – Pastor Bryce