We possess direct access to a personal relationship with the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-sufficient God of the universe. However, modern believers often relegate prayer to mere perfunctory gestures amidst the busyness of life.

Our comfortable lives, bent towards independence and self-sufficiency blind us to the vital need for regular connection with God.

James closes his epistle with a call to prayer that is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.

Here’s are four promises of prayer from the book of James:

The Prayer of Faith | James 5:13-18

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick?

Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

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.

1. Prayer is the Right Response to All Circumstances

James begins by encouraging us to pray in all situations: “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise” (James 5:13). This calls us to recognize that prayer isn’t just a tool for crises but a means of continuous communication with God.

2. Prayer Creates Community

When someone is sick, James advises calling the church elders to pray and anoint the person with oil. As with so many spiritual practices, Jesus emphasizes the importance of community. When we pray with and for one another, we become more attuned to each other’s needs and struggles. Being vulnerable together helps us experience authentic community as Jesus intended. And when life gets too heavy, the prayers of others will sustain us.

3. Confession and Intercession Are a Gift (not a burden)

James also urges believers to confess their sins to one another and pray for each other so that they may be healed (James 5:16). What a gift to have unhindered access to the freedom of experiencing God’s grace. Tim Keller once said, “Prayer is the way to experience a powerful confidence that God is handling our lives well, that our bad things will turn out for good, our good things cannot be taken from us, and the best things are yet to come.”

4. Prayer Can Lead to Extraordinary Outcomes

James references Elijah to illustrate the effectiveness of earnest prayer. Despite being human, Elijah’s prayers controlled even the rain (James 5:17-18). This should encourage us to pray boldly and expectantly, trusting that God hears and responds to our prayers.

Put it into Practice.

Here are a few prompts to make the most of your prayer time this week:

• Praise God for his character and creation

• Confess the ways that you’ve fallen short and ask for forgiveness

• Ask God for wisdom and discernment

• Pray for your enemies (Matt. 5:44)

Praying alongside you!