“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” ~ James 5:16

I think one of the most telling ways to find out how a person really reacts to situations in their life is to observe where they place their focus when challenge and controversy are at calm. This may sound too dramatic or even somewhat overanalyzed; however, the truths of a person’s character will often times resemble the way in which they carry out their day to day activities.

If you are frantic and anxious in handling the simplicities of life then you probably display those same characteristics when adversity comes. If you are quite controlled yet systematic in your daily vocations then you are more than likely going to respond the same way when trial and extreme circumstances are presented. I know that this is not always the case for every person in every situation; however, I make this point in order to ask, “How do you respond when multiple issues invade your life and how do you respond when there is no issue?”

James, the brother of Jesus, makes it apparent that prayer in faith is needed when the time is filled with turmoil and well as when life’s controversies are at bay. Prayer is corporate which means that we do not only pray for ourselves but we pray for our communities, our families, our government, our enemies, our bosses, our employers, our pastors, our churches, and for every segment of life that may not be possessive to us but is possessive to God. We pray for the Middle East, we pray countries in Africa; we pray for the state of the world and believe that God will bring healing, restoration, and revival to places that need to be jump started.

In prayer, we confess our sins to God, show him our vulnerability and flaws, and ask him to make us a better vessel in order to be used as an agent of his spiritual and in some cases physical healing. When we are in trouble; we should pray. When the neighbors down the street do not have enough food to eat, we should give what we can to them for their situation and then pray beside them.

Prayer is the direct line connection (better than phone or instant message) that we have to God the Father which is relational and personal. It is by prayer that we make our unselfish request known to God (Php 4:6) and he hears us and responds in like measure. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

Be sure that in everything you do, speak, perform, or even think within the life God has given you, PRAY in faith and BELIEVE.

~ Rev. E. Shon Hagwood