September 2005

Pray

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much ... James 5:16

Well, this verse can serve as an "Answer" to one of the most common "spiritual" question which many people ask ... and that question is "Why is God not answering my prayers?".

Three adjectives play a vital role for our prayers to "avail" much,

1. Effective
2. Fervent
3. Righteous

How effective is our prayer life? Is our mode of communication with God real strong? If we read in Psalms, in many of the psalms, David jus cries out to God. He speaks in natural and simple language. Many a time we read in Psalms, King David praying "Lord punish the wicked ... Bless your servant" etc., Simple prayers with Childlike faith !!! For our Prayer to be effective, we don't need high-flown language or great eloquence. All that the Lord requires of us is to pray to Him with a true heart with total trust in Him, believing that He will surely do what we ask Him to. Sometimes when go to God with a heavy heart, we are left speechless, and our hearts jus groan in grief. Even at times like these, the Spirit of God knows what's in our hearts and the Holy Spirit can articulate even our heart's groaning into sensible prayers before God. So my friend, we need to jus pray with all our heart and soul. A prayer that's simple, with childlike faith believing that the Lord WILL do what we're asking for, is indeed an effective prayer.

We need to be fervent, never giving up in what we ask God for. Sometimes God may not give what we ask Him, immediately, because He knows the right time when we should have the thing we're asking Him for. Sometimes the Waiting Period seems to be too long. But we should not be discouraged thinking that God has forgotten us. The God whom we serve is ever-faithful. He always desires to give us His Best and Choicest blessings. But when God takes His time, cheer up my friend. There's a reason why God delays some things in our lives and He knows best why. All we need is to be fervent in our prayers, keep pressing on to what He promised. And when the day comes when our good Lord really gives that thing we asked Him for, at that moment, if you look around your circumstances you will know for sure that God's time IS INDEED the right time.

Last, but the most important adjective in this verse is "Righteous". Who is a Righteous person? By Deuteronomy 6 and Luke 1 we understand that the person who walks in the Lord, blameless in His sight, obedient to all His commandments is a Righteous person. Let's pause for a moment and see if we fall in this category. Yes, we're in this world that has a mixture of good and evil ... but our good Lord, knowing that we cannot be 100% righteous before Him gave His only Son to die on the cross for you and for me, so that the sin-cleansing blood of Jesus can save us from all unrighteousness and present us before God the Father, blameless !!!

My friend, let me encourage you today to revisit your prayer life. Prayer can move mountains, prayer can stop your doubt, prayer can calm your raging heart of unbelief. I mean what I say, I've been there, I have prayed fervently for many things and have seen with mine own eyes God answering my prayers for seemingly impossible situations. And this is the reason why I can boldly tell you that Prayer DOES move mountains.

Remember, the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person can do great wonders !!!

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.

Have a blessed day!!!

Your friend,
Eshcol