The Book of JamesSample

Today's Devotional:

Prayer changes things. Have you ever heard that phrase before? Well, however you would answer that question, James believes the sentiment of that statement to be true. Prayer does change things. All throughout the Scriptures, we see prayer interwoven into the fabric of the people of God. From Abraham to Moses, from David to Jeremiah, from Jesus to His brother James—the writer of this book. We were designed and created to commune and speak with God. This is prayer. And prayer has power. But what does it have power to do?

According to James, prayer has the power to move the hand of God toward what His heart already desires for us. James references the Old Testament prophet Elijah from 1 & 2 Kings, who prayed to God and saw his prayer answered. Prayer changed his life. Do you know that activating your prayer life could change yours?

More often than not, the power of prayer is manifested the clearest in its ability to change us from the inside out. Our circumstances might not always change, but our perspective can. Think about the question and instruction James leads with in this passage. He says, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray.” Why is prayer his resolution? Could it be that the power of prayer is activated by our faith in the One in whom we are praying to? If prayer is talking with God, then faith is a necessary part of the equation. So what are you walking through as you read this? Do you have hardships? What might they be? Are they financial? Are they relational? Are they physical? Are they emotional? It’s time to lean into the power of prayer and believe that God wants you to talk with Him about it, so He can talk to you about it. The good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between.

If God can do something somewhere, He can do that something anywhere. If He moved in Elijah’s life, He can move in your life. But we must follow the instruction of James and the example of Elijah and actually do it. So what’s keeping you from communing with God today? Turn down the noise of the radio or the playlist on your work commute and talk to God. Take a step. Invite God in all the way. Faith-filled prayer has the power to unlock healing, forgiveness, and breakthrough in your life and the lives of those around us. So let it start with you, today!

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Today's devotional was written by Pastor Tyler Gay.

Questions:

1. What do you think God is trying to teach you in this passage?
2. What areas of your life do you need to commit to prayer?
3. In what ways can you make more space for prayer in your day-to-day?

Prayer:

God, thank you for hearing me when I pray. Help me to be more aware of your presence in my life. I ask that you would open my spiritual ears and remove any blockages in my life that hinder my relationship with you. Speak to me today and do all you want in and through my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.