James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (Note: when confessing your sins to one another, there is no need to share every detail, lest the person with whom you are sharing would be tempted to sin).
I went to a funeral today for a young lady who had a bright future and who was a joy and light within her family. It was tragic for us to lose her, of course, but in spite of the sadness of our loss, one could feel the presence of the peace of God at her funeral. And that presence is beyond measure. It is like God wrapping His arms around us when we are in times of trouble. Before the young woman's death, her mother sensed the Lord telling her to "pray your children home". The mother felt as though something ominous was in the near future, but she didn't know what. She was obedient to pray more fervently than she normally would, and I think that helped bring God's peace to her and the family.
It reminded me of my husband John talking about his grandfather, who John felt was the most holy man he had ever met. John's grandfather would walk around the yard each evening, praying and calling out each person's name - all his children, grandchildren and others for whom he prayed. John always believed that his grandfather's prayers are what sustained him for his entire life. John followed his grandfather's example of constant and fervent prayer. Now I try to follow John's example also.
One thing that encourages me is what the scripture says: "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective". From my perspective, that is a great promise to us that our prayers are heard and that God is working on answering them. Of course we are not righteous of ourselves, but we are made righteous through our relationship to Jesus Christ.
So I would encourage you to take heed. Keep praying in the name of Jesus Christ for all those you love and scripture says even pray for your enemies. The important thing is to keep praying because your prayers are powerful and effective. Knowing that, you can rest in knowing that God is at work to answer your prayers. God bless all of you.
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