Saturday 3 Jun 2023

June 3: James 5:12-20

Key Verse: James 5:17
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

Devotion:
Prayer is the most powerful thing we have against all woes and circumstance! How we listen after we pray will shape our relationship with God. It is no good asking for something if you are not going to wait for an answer to see how it will be answered! We have so many examples of prayer in our bibles you would think it would be on every person’s mind to pray first; sadly it is not so in our world.

Prayer comes in many forms and is not just the image some see of a person on their knees begging for mercy. Prayer is your way of talking to and listening to God – it’s definitely a two way protocol just as is any discussion or request in life. When you ask a friend for something you don’t walk away immediately and assume they are going to do whatever you asked of them; you will wait for some sort of response so you can know what they are going to do from your request!

The same goes for your prayers with God. It is no good shouting out a request and running off in the other direction. I would be offended if someone did that to me! Another thing we do in our lives is stand and wait until we think people are going to listen before we ask. God is always listening and will always take on board what you ask for. He will then answer your prayers in the way He knows is best for you – which may not be what you are expecting… Hence the need to wait for a response.

Does this mean God is going to talk back to me? Well, He may not talk to you verbally but He is trying to get through to you all the time. When we do not sit patiently and wait for an answer He will try to get through to us through other people who are listening or through things He can do with and around us.

Points to Ponder:
How do you ask God for things?

Are you prepared to accept what He answers?