we need to pray

James 5:13-18  NLT

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

For the last several years I have said this almost every Sunday and more … STOP AND PRAY.  When someone asks you to pray or when you know you should pray, stop then and pray.

Over the last few days there have many instances that have caught my attention and led to knowing that I need to pray.  Sometimes it was for me or for wisdom.  Sometimes it has been for others.  Some is for unseen.  Others were very evident.

Prayer is important.  Prayer changes things.  Prayer changes us.  Prayer is the way that we stay connected to God.  Prayer is also a way that we connect with others.

We limit God when we don’t pray.  We unlock possibilities when we pray.  As the verses I began with state we who follow God believe in prayer.  We have experienced the realities and the move of God through prayer, and in the middle of our prayers God has changed us.

I believe that when we take time to pray that things will happen.  It is not the magic thing to do or a get out of jail free card.  It is perspective.  It is faith.  It is a direct line to God that isn’t disconnected until we stop praying.

Trust God.  Pray often.  Let God work.  Stop and pray!