James 5:13-20.        

James is taking a poll toward the end of his letter. Think of him as the New Testament version of George Gallup. He asks three questions: Is any one of you in trouble? Is any one of you happy? Is any one of you sick?

The response to two of the three questions, those in trouble and sick, is prayer. The happy are to sing a “song of praise,” which can also be considered a prayer. Whether in problematic or joyful times, our response is to pray. At all times, pray.

Even non-believers will default to prayer when sick or in trouble. The prayers that are powerful and effective, however, aren’t the ones we pray when we need to. The powerful and effective prayers come from the righteous. When the righteous pray, God responds.

Take a moment now and ask God to bring to mind names of those you can in be prayer for and jot them in the sidebar of today’s devotional. Refer back to this page over the next days and weeks while you pray. Let us pray and keep on praying. There are sick, troubled, and happy people who need us to be righteous and to keep on praying! Righteous prayers work!

Author: Rob Prince