“The other day,” Stan commented one morning, “I was talking with a neighbor about what James wrote in his letter about effective prayer.”
“You mean where he wrote that the effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “My neighbor was telling me about how, for a long time, he had been frustrated in thinking that his prayer life was not effective because he couldn’t see that his prayers were accomplishing anything, let alone ‘much’.”
“So he thought what James wrote was kind of an empty promise?”
“Not so much that,” Stan replied, “but more in the sense that he must not be praying in an effective way — or maybe he wasn’t righteous enough for his prayers to be effective.”
“I can see that,” I responded. “I’ve thought the same thing myself. Did anything change with your neighbor and his view of this?”
“Big time!” Stan said.
“In what way?”
“He said that one day he was praying about praying,” Stan replied, “asking God to show him how his prayers could be more effective and accomplish much.”
“Praying about praying,” I commented. “Sounds like a good approach! Ask the One who knows everything about prayers and praying.”
“Exactly,” Stan said. “And my neighbor said he was led to what seems to be the perfect model for effective praying that will accomplish much.”
“The perfect model?” I replied. “Where was he led?”
“To Jesus’ prayer in the garden before going to the cross,” Stan said, “where He prayed to the Father, ‘Your will, not mine’.”
“And then,” he continued, “Jesus went on to accomplish everything that needed to be accomplished on the cross, and He could cry out, ‘It is finished’.”
“You’re right,” I said. “Jesus did accomplish what He was here to do, provide salvation and redemption for the lost world. He prayed for the Father’s will to be done in and through Him. Maybe that is a good model of an effective prayer that can accomplish much.”
“Maybe?” Stan asked.
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Bible verses to consider:
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10.
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Matthew 26:39.
When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” John 19:30.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of prayer so that I can come before you and know you in an ever-deepening way. I confess that too often my prayers are self-focused in that I want only my will, not yours, to be done. Please forgive me and please help me in following every step of your lead so my prayers are only in accordance with your will, regardless of what that will may be. Help me in knowing that having your will accomplished in and through me is the most effective prayer possible! Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted the “much” that Jesus accomplished on the cross in the sense that you have life eternally with God? If no, why? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, what is your view of what James wrote about effective prayer accomplishing much? Have you ever thought that your prayers are not accomplishing anything, let alone much? Do you agree that Jesus’ prayer in the garden is a good example of an effective prayer that accomplished much? If you sense the need for change in any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
I’m so much touched touched and happy to be in his salvation