Earnest Prayer

November 23

Daily Bible Reading: James 5

Verse of the Day: James 5:16 – 18 – “Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

How often do we put the heroes of the faith upon pedestals and feel that they are closer to God because they are so much more righteous than we are. Moses, David, Elijah, Paul, they were all remarkable men, however, they were exactly that – men. This verse reminds us of the power of the prayers of Elijah, but it first establishes that he was just like we are. 

So, what made the difference? His earnest (fervent) approach to prayer. Do we earnestly bring our petitions to God?

Prayer: Father, today I bring to You my earnest prayer for­­­____________________. Amen.