Pray, Sing, Pray, Believe

James 5:13-15 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Prayer is where we find comfort and relief when we are suffering. When we are experiencing good times we are to pray, give thanks, and sing songs that praise God. The Bible tells us that we are to be anxious for nothing, bring our concerns to God in prayer, and He will give us the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). We are to rejoice and give thanks, always, even in the midst of suffering. When we are sick, note that we are to CALL the church leaders. Far too often Christians assume that the pastor or elders will magically know when we are sick; then we get offended when they fail to show up to pray for, and with, us. We are instructed to take that initiative. Oil was often used medicinally in that region. There is nothing wrong with seeking medical help during times of sickness, as long as our primary trust is in God's ability and choice to heal us. Our prayers are to be prayers grounded in faith. We are to not only believe that God can heal, but trust that He has a valid reason for those times He chooses death as a means of healing. We often overlook the fact that the greatest healing we can experience here on earth is to be summoned home to be with Jesus; where there is no more pain or suffering. One important factor in finding relief from sickness is the fact that some illnesses come from sin. Jesus often said, when He healed someone, "Your sins have been forgiven." There have been instances when Christians suffered from sickness for which doctors could not explain or treat; and healing only came from repentance and true confession of sins. The bottom line is that the life of the born again follower of Jesus should consist of praying, singing, praying some more, and doing it all while being grounded in faith. Only then will we enjoy the peace, joy, and tranquility that will help us endure during times of suffering; so...pray, sing, pray, believe.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).