APR 29

James 5:14-18
Memorise James 5:16
“…pray one for another…”

The best gift anyone can give to another is to pray for him or her. We live in a sinful world where bad things happen to people and people are continually tempted to sin. Praying for another person not only helps that person find God in the midst of trouble, but also helps us recognize the blessings that God gives us daily. It leads to spiritual growth as we learn to love and care for one another.

Praying for one another is known as intercessory prayer. The Bible is full of godly men that God raised to intercede for His people. Abraham interceded for Lot when he knew that God would rain fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses interceded for the people when God’s wrath was upon them, for making and worshipping the golden calf.

We are clearly commanded to love one another as disciples of Jesus. In John 13:34, Jesus Himself commands us, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”. The noble expression of love is to pray for our brethren, especially those who are poor, the sick, the lonely, for those who have fallen away, the aged, the young, parents, children, and for many, many others.

How wonderful it is that God has given us the blessed ministry and privilege of praying not only for ourselves, but also for others. Spend some time every day praying for the needs of others. Some of your friends have burdens that are heavy to bear. Others might be in a spiritual battle. Others are still outside the kingdom of God and thus destined for hell. Will you seek God to help them ease their burdens? Remember, in your time of need, others had prayed for you too.

Thought: Prayer is the most powerful thing we can do.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to spend time with Thee in prayer for the needs of others beside myself.