JamesShembull

The overarching theme of this passage is emphasizing the power of prayer. If we could major on anything here, let that be it. Trouble? Pray. Happy? Praise. Sick? Call in the elders and leaders and pray.

It builds our faith when we pray.

The word happy in the Greek is synonymous with cheerful, and cheerful comes from the same root word as courage, which makes sense because if you've ever cheered on your team when they are down in the bottom of the ninth, it always takes an element of courage and faith. Because if they let you down, will you have the ability to continue cheering them on despite their loss? Despite your loss? But Jesus himself reminds us to take courage in the middle of our fears. Matt. 14:27

The passage finishes with a comparison between ourselves and the prophet Elijah, which could kind of feel like apples to oranges because Elijah was a BOSS. Surely we can’t live up to him right? But the prayer of a righteous person doesn't make the perfect person, it makes the person right before God through Christ. And that occurs when we accept Jesus. There is no room for timid prayers when we recognize that. And even when we can't find the words for our prayers, the Bible tells us in Romans 8:26 that the Holy Spirit turns our wordless sighs and groans into prayers for us! Which takes the pressure off us and puts a faith filled expectation on God.

Prayer points:

• Ask yourself am I just saying my prayers, or am I praying my prayers.
• Pray and ask God to remind you of His character.