A Word from James: Earnestly

by Marilynn Chadwick

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly... (James 5:17 NIV)

Elijah prayed earnestly. The phrase "prayed earnestly” comes from two words meaning "to pray" and "prayer." Elijah "prayed with prayer." This unusual expression indicates intensity. Elijah prayed hard. He got results. When Elijah prayed, things happened.

Elijah prayed that God would give a wake-up call to the unfaithful, Baal-worshiping children of Israel by withholding rain from their land. God answered Elijah's prayer and it didn't rain for three and a half years! Then, he had a show-down with four hundred demonized prophets of Baal in what has been called the “Super Bowl of faith.” Afterwards, Elijah prayed that God would restore rain to the land, and it began to pour!

The stories of Elijah's prayer exploits are some of my favorites—he’s become one of my mentors in prayer. James reminds us that Elijah was ordinary. But his prayers were anything but. “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:17).

What were the “Elijah factors” that gave super-power to his prayers? For starters, whenever Elijah heard the “word of the Lord," he obeyed. Even if that meant hiding in a brook and receiving his food from ravens (1 Kings 17:2-6).

What’s more, he had great courage to stand alone against the prophets of Baal and the wayward Israelites (1 Kings 18:20-40). And when Elijah fell into despair after hearing of Queen Jezebel's murderous threats, he sought the Lord (1 Kings 19).

When Elijah broke, he knew where to run. He ran to God.

In short, Elijah was a powerful man of prayer because he heard and obeyed the voice of the Lord. This kind of intimacy with God is available to each of us. Elijah was human just like us. But he prayed earnestly. Will we?

Lord, forgive my limp and shallow prayers. Sometimes I pray like I don't expect an answer and wouldn't recognize one if it hit me between the eyes. Your Word has jolted me into an audacious prayer life. Help me to watch and listen for your voice. Elijah prayed big and bold. I commit today to listen to your Word like Elijah did. Make me quick to obey your voice…no matter what obstacles I may face!

A Word from James: Work

by Marilynn Chadwick

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)

I work hard at prayer because I believe prayer works. Or rather I should say God works in response to prayer. The tension between how God's sovereign will and my prayer work together is a mystery. But James is clear. Prayer is to be our first response for all of life's situations. Prayer is about a relationship with God. But it’s also productive—it accomplishes something. I’ll say it again. Prayer works.

Just how does prayer work? What are the conditions for power-filled prayers? James gives us some tips. He talks in the previous verse about how the "prayer of faith" will heal the sick person (James 5:15). But in verse 16, he raises the bar. It's the prayer of faith offered by the "righteous" that works best.

I especially like the Amplified version: “The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]" (James 5:16 AMP).

If we glance over this verse too quickly, we can get weighed down by thinking we have to be "good enough" to earn answers to our prayers. However, nothing could be further from the truth. James would encourage us to be well-grounded in the biblical concept of "righteousness." What we could never do for ourselves, Jesus did for us through the cross. We're saved “by grace through faith,” a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).

The Greek word translated "prayer" in this verse, deesis, is different from the previous word James used for prayer. It describes urgent prayer and can mean "to be impoverished."

James is talking about desperate prayer—more like begging. When you pray in this way, you are coming "needy" to God. A beggar. A sinner, saved by grace. But you’re wearing Christ's robe of righteousness, so you can approach God with bold faith that he can do anything!

The result? James tells us this kind of prayer is “powerful and effective.” It’s prayer on steroids. Power-prayer! Moreover, the word in this verse translated "effective," energeo, is where we get the word energy. It means to "set in motion; to cause something to happen."

This kind of prayer is not only desperate, it’s active. It gets results. In short, it works. James wants to shake us free from lazy prayers and low expectations. Old "camel knees" knew the extraordinary power available through prayer. He wants us to know this power, too!

A Word from James: Sick

by Marilynn Chadwick

Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name. (James 5:14 AMPC)

Sick. Worn out. Weighed down by sin? James prescribes prayer for life's troubles. Funny how our hearts turn to God when we're desperate. The most often-prayed prayer to reach heaven is probably, "Help!"

When my children were little, I remember feeling especially close to them when they were sick. In much the same way, I wonder if God feels near to us when we're in distress. James encourages us to cry out to God during our times of sickness. We’re also to ask the spiritual leaders to pray for our healing. The leaders are instructed to pray over the sick person, but they are also to anoint him or her with oil. The use of oil in this context is not strictly spiritual. The word translated "anoint" can also indicate a medicinal purpose. In other words, when someone is sick, prayer and medicine work together in the healing process.

I have a doctor friend who sees his role as part of the church's call to minister to the sick. I like the Amplified version's description of what happens to the sick person as a result of the church’s prayer: “And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15 AMPC).

I'm acquainted with a group of strong believers in India who plant churches in remote villages where medical care is scant. Grave illnesses often threaten the lives of villagers. If a doctor can be found—a rarity in itself—the medical treatments often fail. Villagers cry out to any number of countless Indian gods, to no avail.

Finally, in desperation, villagers often call upon one of these church planters, to pray for their dying loved ones. Time and time again God has miraculously healed the sick in response to prayer. The result? Entire villages have put their trust in Jesus Christ, the “one true God who heals!”

But notice the second part of James 5:15. Tucked in, almost as an afterthought, James reminds us that if the person being prayed for has sinned, he will not only be healed, but also forgiven. Indian believers are amazed when they realize the one true God who heals the sick also forgives their sins. What a joy for those long held captive by generations of fear! And what joy for us to be reminded today that we can come to God in prayer—trusting his Son to save us, heal us, and set us free from our sins. Prayer is powerful stuff!

Lord, when I am sick or burdened, don't let me struggle alone. Remind me to ask others to pray for me, to lift my arms when I am weak, and to intercede for forgiveness when I sin. Help me to realize the connection we share as members of the body of Christ. Together, let us experience even greater power in our prayers!