"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of The Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:13-16 (NIV)
James, the half brother of Jesus who became a pillar in the early Church and was known as "James, the Just", told the people that there was power in prayer. He said that they should pray for themselves, and they should pray for one another. He also said that prayer can lead to the sick and the sinful being healed. He told them that the prayers of the righteous, the believers, are powerful and effective.
As believers we know that when we pray, we are talking to The Lord God. We have been told and encouraged to pray, and to pray often. (Matthew 6:6, Luke 18:1, and 1 Thessalonians 5:17) We also should pray for one another. (James 5:16) We know that God hears and answers our prayers. (Proverbs 15:29 and Isaiah 65:24) At times, we suffer and do without because we do not ask God for what we want. We have not, because we ask not. (John 16:24) If we sincerely ask for something, in the name of Jesus, which will glorify The Lord God, He will give it to us. (John 14:13-14) If we truly delight in Him, in His Word, and in His way, He will give us the desires of our hearts. (Psalms 37:4) The sincere fervent prayers of the righteous are powerful and they are effective.
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