9th. June. 2021. Daily Devotion.
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you ill? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 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. 16 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. James 5:13-15
One of the benefits of prayer is the stability it provides in the midst of the vacillating circumstances of life. James exhorts us to turn to the Lord not only during times of sorrow, but also during times of success. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises” (Jas. 5:13). When we experience emptiness, distress, and affliction we should cast all our anxieties upon God, knowing that He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). When we experience joyfulness and cheer, James tells us to channel part of our exuberance in the form of thanksgiving and praise to God. The verb translated “let him sing praises” is also used in Romans 15:9 (“I will sing to Thy name”), 1 Corinthians 14:15 (“I shall sing with the spirit”), and Ephesians 5:19 (“singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord”). Music enhances individual and corporate worship because of the way it prepares the heart and helps us express our emotions to the Lord.
Sickness is another circumstance that calls for prayer. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (Jas. 5:14). The word translated “sick” in this verse speaks of the weak condition caused by an illness. In verse 15, James uses a different word that means “to grow weary.” The person in mind is weakened and weary due to a sickness, but there is no indication that he is at death’s door. James tells us that during times of serious illness, it is good to ask representatives of the church to come and pray for the restoration of the one who is sick. The “elders of the church” are spiritual leaders who have a close walk with the Lord, and the act of anointing with oil symbolizes the healing effects of prayer and enhances faith, especially since it is done in the name of the Lord. It is not the oil but the Lord who does the healing. K. Boa
Lord, imprint the power of prayer on my heart. Amen.
Prayer for the Morning
You are ushering in another day, untouched and freshly new, So here I come to ask You God if You’ll renew me too? Forgive the many errors, that I made yesterday, And let me try again dear God, to walk closer in Thy way. But Father, I am well aware, I can’t make it on my own. Take my hand and hold it tight, for I can’t walk alone. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of Hope, Sustainer of all life, We give You thanks for the Coronavirus vaccines, for the skill and wisdom of scientists, NHS staff and Key Workers. By the power of Your Spirit, may we overflow with hope and joy as we see our friends, families and neighbours protected. God of Justice, Protector of the vulnerable, may we be your well-washed hands and willing feet. Move us to give and act, to challenge the injustices that anger You. May we seek to protect all Your children, particularly those for whom the vaccine is out of reach. With hope and trust we pray, Amen. Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Dedication
All through this day, O Lord, by the power of your quickening Spirit, let me touch the lives of others for good, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I speak, or the life I live. Amen.
