Praying in Faith James 5:13-18 Part 13

Read James 5:13-18

Prayer is vitally important to our faith life and James wants to emphasize that no matter what the circumstances, we ought to pray. Prayer is the appropriate response to everything. James challenges our understanding of what it means to live by faith; we are called to be active. We must become a praying person, a praying people, and praying congregations. Whether in sickness or health, good times or bad, in all circumstances we must go to God in prayer. He is our faithful heavenly Father; we must have a God-centered perspective, not putting ourselves first, but having a God-centered trust. We must also recognize that always, and in all circumstances, God knows best. 

When you have a best friend or spouse you want to share your whole life with them and tell them all about it. Our relationship to God should be so much closer than any other relationship so we should want to bring everything to Him. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer, let your requests be made known to God.” Prayer is how we fellowship and communicate with the living God. It is the voice of our faith. Look at how frequently Jesus prayed. He lived in constant fellowship with God. Relationships are unhealthy when there is no active communication.

Thus far, James has been giving the message that faith should be in every part of our lives; something we live, not simply confess. James is expanding on what he wrote in chapter 1:6 where he said, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” We must not doubt when we pray. Faith acknowledges that we live all our lives in the presence of the living Christ. We believe in a living God who establishes a relationship with us. In Christ we are reconciled which means that our relationship with God has been mended and made whole; He has made us His children, and a life of faith lives in the light of this. We must be transformed to be more and more like Christ.

When we are in the valleys of life it is easy to see how we live in a broken world. If we look around, we can see many with illnesses, broken families, addictions and so much more. James wants us to bring it all before God, recognizing, in faith, that God does not abandon us in the hard times. God is with us in all the messiness of life and has a tender, loving, merciful compassion for His children. We cannot make it on our own; what an amazing blessing we have in knowing He will never abandon us.

What should we pray for? We learned in James 4:3 that there are right and wrong things to pray for. James wrote, “You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions.” We must be sincere in our faith so that our prayers will be prayed with God-centered desires. If we look to Jesus, we can see what and how we ought to pray. Jesus asked God to remove the hardships He was facing when He knew the cross was coming, so we know its ok to ask for this, however, He did so with the right attitude. Like Christ, we must ultimately trust in God’s will for our lives. As Jesus prayed, not for His own will, but for God’s good and perfect will to be done. It is in the framework of God’s revelation to us in His word that we must pray, asking for the things He has promised. We can pray with absolute certainty that if we ask for wisdom, or to be made holy, or for Him to help us be thankful and joyful, He will certainly grant our prayers. We can also pray these things for others. In our hardships we can pray for wisdom and pray that God will build us up and strengthen our faith in times of trials.

James does not leave it with simply praying in the hard times. It is easier to pray in our suffering than when we are happy. God wants us to pray in the good times as well – it is not by our own doing that we have good things and good times. As we learned earlier in chapter 5, self-reliance was at the heart of James’ warning to the rich oppressors. In prayer we must acknowledge that our seasons of joy are God’s doing. This takes away any pride or boasting that we might have, thinking that we accomplished things. James tells us to sing songs of praise when we are happy. Singing is a form of communication and prayer – it is the over-flow of our hearts, and this is so important for our faith life. We are called to pray in the hills and in the valleys and therefore, our prayers ought to be a mixture of cries for help and thankful expressions of gratitude. John Calvin once said, “There is no time in which God does not invite us to Himself.” Even when it is hard to pray, we must continue to do so. Jesus is with us, beside us, and is our help. If you’re worried you can’t find the words, it’s ok. God knows your heart and wants all our prayers, especially the difficult ones. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”. The Lord delights in our prayers! Just as parents love when their child shares their life with them, so too, God loves when we share our whole lives with Him. In Matthew 7:11 Jesus said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him”. So, bring all things to your heavenly Father. He hears you and wants to give you good things.

The next few verses are highly debated about. There are many different thoughts on what they mean, however, if we look at them in the light of Christian living we can see a clear message. The communion of saints is so important for our faith life. James is calling us to share our burdens and pray for each other. When we pray with sincerity of heart, we can be sure God hears. Hebrews 13:17 tells us that our elders are keeping watch over our souls. Prayer is not just an individual thing; it is also communal. We do not walk this world alone. God has given us leaders in the church, and we need to go to them in our times of need. We all sin, we all have low times in our lives. There are times when our faith is deeply challenged. Prolonged illnesses or deep pain can challenge the strength of our faith. When we are really sick, be it physically, emotionally or spiritually, we can call our elders to come pray with and for us. We must share our struggles with the elders so they can do this, as they are called to. This is for the well-being of our faith and the strengthening of our souls. God does not redeem us to live in isolation but as a community. We are to be part, not only of the universal church, but also of a local one. There is a priority to have meaningful relationships within the body of Christ. There is also a priority to have biblical eldership under God’s authority, to serve God’s people.

In James 5:17-18 James tells us that Elijah “was a man just like us”. If we look at his life, we can see he had a good relationship with God. He faithfully carried out the ministry God had set for him, despite the challenges, rejections and hardships. He went through ups and downs but always talked to God. The reason his prayers seem so powerful is because he prayed for things God willed. When we pray, we too must pray for the things God wills, and, like Jesus, pray that ultimately God’s will be done. Elijah was not magic, or powerful in and of himself, rather, God used him to carry out His plan. When we pray, we can ask God to use us as He wills, but then we must also be ready and willing to be used by God.

We must have a deep-seated trust that God can do anything. We can bring all things to Him in prayer, but ultimately, we must trust that His plan for us is good. God will equip, strengthen and guide us, but He wants us to ask Him for these things. Whether we are in the valleys or the hills we can trust that He will be with us, and that He is for us. As the communion of saints, we ought to pray for one another. God gives us the elders in the church so we can call on them for help in time of need, even if it’s only to pray. We are a family in Christ and so, in love, should pray for one another. Our relationship with God is so vitally important for our lives. Without Him we are nothing and therefore, we ought to seek Him with our heart, soul and mind. Get to know God’s word and bring all things to Him in prayer, for it is only by His grace that we are saved.

1. How must we communicate and cultivate our relationship with God, our heavenly Father?

2. What are some of the things the Bible tells us to pray for? Where can you find them in the Bible?

3. When should we call on the elders to come pray with us?

4. Look up Matthew 6:9-13. What does Jesus say we ought to pray for?

5. Find passages in the New Testament where Jesus prayed. What can we learn from His prayers?