“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”
— James 5:16, The Message

God has given us the gift of prayer. As we spend time praying, God reveals His will, which informs our prayers.  He has chosen to work through our prayers, to reveal His power as we pray. Prayer is foundational to our relationships, our work, and ministry.

People are messy, and we are needy. Yet God loves us and lends us His ear and heart as we walk with Him through each moment of the day. Our prayers move Him. Nothing powerful occurs without God!

This is where our prayer relationship with Him is key. Constant connection with God keeps us centered and gives us focus on His purposes. In my own journey, I carve out time to center myself in Christ each day, to spend time listening to His voice as I meditate on His word and the promise that He is with us. Yet beyond a set aside time, as I walk or exercise, stop for lunch, or drive to work… I make these additional moments intimate times with the Father by sharing my inner thoughts and concerns with Him.

We also have friends around the world that pray with us each week. We make it our common practice to pray together for the goals and desires that we trust God’s hand is moving in. We stand amazed at what the Holy Spirit is doing with and through us.

It has been a powerful experience to receive His leading, His comfort, His direction and to see God work through His Spirit. He gives answers to the concerns pressing on my heart and in our ministry.

As we cultivate a practice of praying throughout the day, we will hear God speak and see His victorious hand guiding us.  We will see Him moved to action and experience His love, power, and guidance. It will change your life.

REFLECTION
1. Reflect on the truth that our prayers move the hand of God. In what circumstance do you need to see the power of God demonstrated?
2. Do you make it a common practice to pray regularly with others? What outcome does James teach about gathering with others for prayer?

Linda Doell and her husband, Curtis, work as regional team leaders for the justice and compassion ministry track in the Caribbean Sun Region. Their ministry is to equip local Alliance churches to transform their communities for Jesus Christ by implementing sustainable community development initiatives.

Photo credit: ericcommando89 via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA