Struggling in Prayer

Sep11

Many people struggle with being a “good” prayer warrior. We feel that we need to carry the conversation instead of being still. We strive to say the right words, many times throwing out those “religious” words or quoting scripture. God already knows the scripture, after all He wrote them. He already knows what we are going to say before we pray.

Do we put too much emphasis on the “what we pray” instead of Who we are praying to? Sometimes just being in His presence is enough. God just wants our attention, our devotion, our focus, not because He needs it but because we need it. God already knows the outcome of all His Creation. Prayer just opens our eyes to see results and participate in what He is accomplishing. Our focus is Him. Prayer opens our eyes to see what He is doing.

🌹“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalms 46:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.46.10.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Love Covers . . .

Sep10

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.19-20.NASB1995

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/gal.6.1.NASB1995

“If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Matthew 18:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.18.15.NASB1995

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.8.NASB1995

🌹Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
Proverbs 10:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.10.12.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

P.S. Thank you to all who have taken this journey with me through the book of James. I barely touched the surface of the deepness of this book. I learned a lot and hope you did too.
Sincerely, Sharon

The Power of Earnest Prayer

Sep9

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
James 5:17-18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.17-18.NASB1995

In 1 Kings 17:1-7 Elijah says there will be no rain.

In Luke 4:25 Jesus affirms that Elijah prayed and there was no rain for three years and six months.

In 1 Kings 18:41-46 Elijah prays and the rain returned.

“And the earth produced its fruit”.

The power of prayer and the fruit of prayer.

Prayer is powerful. It changes lives. . . It changes us. . . It changes others.
Who are you earnestly praying for? Do you believe that you will see the fruit of your prayers?

🌹First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, . . . This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1ti.2.1-4.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Prayer Offered in Faith -2

Sep8

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
James 5:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.16.NASB2995

Confession of our sins to one another is not for condemnation but for healing by the power of faithful prayer for one another.

Jesus paid the price for our benefit, to be healed from the power of sin and to live in righteousness.

🌹and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.24.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Shout to The Lord!

Sep5

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.
All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah.
Psalms 66:1-4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.66.1-4.NASB1995

🌹How awesome are Your works, O God!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Prayer Offered in Faith -1

Sep4

Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders (Gr. ekklesia – called out one) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
James 5:14-15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.14-15.NASB1995

Anointing with oil was common in the Old Testament and a continued custom in Jesus’ day, as we can read in Mark 6. Jesus sends His disciples out by two and they were anointing many sick people and healing them.

The emphasis in this passage of James is the power of prayer offered in faith. The prayer of faith will save. The Lord will lift them up and forget their sin. I can’t help but think the source of sin is the sickness.

By faithful believing prayer the sick are healed, brought to salvation. The salvation that begins with prayer and extends into eternity.

Thank God for the power of prayer that saves lives. Who are you praying for?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹
https://indasharonjesus.org

Prayer & Praise

Sep3

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
James 5:13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.13.NASB1995

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
Psalms 50:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.50.15.NASB1995

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
Psalms 63:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.63.5.NASB1995

🌹What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
1 Corinthians 14:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.14.15.NASB1995

Amen!!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Trustworthy?

Sep2

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
James 5:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.12.NASB1995

Can we be trusted to speak truth? Is our Yes, yes; our No, no?

But I (Jesus) say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
🌹But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
Matthew 5:34-37 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.34-37.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Rejoice in Persecution?!

Sep1

As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance (steadfastness) of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
James 5:10-11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.10-11.NASB1995

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.10.NASB1995

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
1 Peter 3:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.3.14.NASB1995

🌹Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.12.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Hallelujah Praise

Aug29

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
Let Israel be glad in his Maker; Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.
Psalms 149:1-3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.149.1-3.NASB1995

Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Psalms 95:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.95.6.NASB1995

Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
Psalms 47:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.47.6.NASB1995

🌹For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.
Psalms 149:4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.149.4.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org