Thoughts for another day

May 2, 2013.

Today's verse: James 5:16b. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV – copyright ack.)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

How to pray that we’re able to move God’s hand?  That’s the question most of us have and James today has the answer in our Scripture above.  Fasting can be very effective for its tantamount to the denial of our passion – that’s, eating.  Some of us find it extremely difficult to fast, even a single meal and then there’re some who’re unable to fast because of medical conditions.  But if we can fast I recommend we do because fasting is a heavy-weight tool in our hands, to literally force God’s hand in our favor and that’s simply because God will not ignore the prayer of someone who fasts.

What’s really pleasing to God is the spirit of obedience in our hearts that is key to righteousness.  Righteousness simply means being in a right disposition with God.  When we obey God, we’re in a right nature before Him and thus abide in the inner circle of His Grace.  When we’re able to be in this inner circle, we find answers to our prayer; moreover, our prayer life is transformed to be in line with His will for we’re transfixed on His countenance and are able to elicit His will for us. 

When a righteous person sits before God, the angels of God are attentive to accept such prayer and take it before His Majesty, the God of the universe.  God Himself is very concerned with such a person’s prayer and God sends the response.  We know He has responded because we receive what we’ve asked or we receive peace in our hearts which nullifies the desires of what we wanted.   In any case, God answers and the answer is swift and perfect.  At times, God takes time in answering and we feel terribly crushed and dry.  But that’s the precise moment when we should trudge forward in faith and lay our claims to what we have asked and He, the God who rules the universe, will always send us the answer to our prayer immediately.  Believe this.