Effectual, Fervent Prayer Avails Much

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Today's Passage: James 5: 13-20
Memory Verse: James 5: 16

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a lot of music that's supposed to be passing for "Christian" is straight depressing.  It seems that many of the songs are designed to keep us defeated when we are already struggling to get victory in the physical realm.  In a 30-minute segment of music on a radio station called "praise", I could not believe how situational the songs were-- not focusing on God, His kingdom and righteousness at all, but on how bad and sad everything I'm going through was.

People of God, we were meant to be overcomers, not barely being able to make it at all.  What and who we surround ourselves with makes the difference between living victorious or defeated lives.  In 1st John 4:1, we are reminded to test the spirits to make sure they are from God.  We cannot allow just anything to be deposited into our spirits and expect to walk in victory.

So here's where the true test comes in: if you take a look at the people around you, the music you listen to, and even the elders in the church you attend, you have to be certain that everything being spoken into your life DOES bring you life and not death.  God has made provision for everything we may go through by giving us the Holy Spirit.  But if we're not doing things exactly the way God prescribes, we won't have the victory He made available.

Today, as you go about your day, remember that prayer is the most important weapon you could wield against the enemy.  Individual and corporate prayer brings us smack dab in the middle of God's will.  Whether we are praying alone or with other saints, our goal should be to see God's kingdom come and His will done in our lives.  And we have God's assurance that He WILL answer.  The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous never fails in warfare -- except when not used effectively and fervently.

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding us to pray when things aren't lining up in our lives.  I take this opportunity now to lift up my brothers and sisters to You. May they bring victory rather than defeat to this earth.  And may all our lives reflect that You have made us victorious for life, no matter what the challenges.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.