"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
James 5:16-18
I like the idea of confessing your faults at the beginning of this selection. It's something that we avoid most of the time, for fear of looking weak (or fear of being weak), and it is hard to be vulnerable with others in that way. It probably teaches us some good lessons in humility though, and helps us remember that we aren't perfect or better than each other. We all need help from God.
Which brings us to the main point of the selection: prayer. Our prayers can accomplish a lot if they are sincere, and in tune with God's will. We hear the story of Elias, and I think the idea here is that even though we do have those faults we are asked to confess... it doesn't make us weak. In fact, our humility probably makes us stronger because we aren't justifying or lying to ourselves or others about who we are. And despite our faults, if we are trying to do the right things, God hears and helps us, and we can be effective in helping each other.
Today, let's confess our faults, and pray for each other, that we may be healed. Let's remember Elias' example, and that even with our weaknesses and faults, God will sustain and support us as we choose righteousness.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
James 5:16-18
I like the idea of confessing your faults at the beginning of this selection. It's something that we avoid most of the time, for fear of looking weak (or fear of being weak), and it is hard to be vulnerable with others in that way. It probably teaches us some good lessons in humility though, and helps us remember that we aren't perfect or better than each other. We all need help from God.
Which brings us to the main point of the selection: prayer. Our prayers can accomplish a lot if they are sincere, and in tune with God's will. We hear the story of Elias, and I think the idea here is that even though we do have those faults we are asked to confess... it doesn't make us weak. In fact, our humility probably makes us stronger because we aren't justifying or lying to ourselves or others about who we are. And despite our faults, if we are trying to do the right things, God hears and helps us, and we can be effective in helping each other.
Today, let's confess our faults, and pray for each other, that we may be healed. Let's remember Elias' example, and that even with our weaknesses and faults, God will sustain and support us as we choose righteousness.
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