You Should Pray
August 2
You Should Pray
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. James 5:13
Notice the response to the question posed in James 5:13 – you. God instructs us to pray during difficult times or rejoice when we are happy. Notice it does not say you go around asking everyone else to pray for you. It says you should pray. I am not saying you should not ask for prayer, there is nothing wrong with having other people pray for you. But there is something wrong with expecting others to pray, while you never pray.
You too must play a role in seeking God for direction and wisdom to handle whatever it is that you are going through. By praying, we do not mean begging God for help. God loves you, and always desires to assist you.
Discuss your situation with the Lord. Lay it out in detail. Tell Him of your worries and fears. Often just telling Him honestly about the situation will cause you to realize what should be done. Pour out your soul to the Lord, but also wait in His presence with thanks and praise. Let your heart and mind get quiet. Let God’s peace overcome your turmoil and worry.
God tells us that if we will draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. This is why you should pray. You need God’s help. He has the wisdom and knowledge to get you out of the trouble you face.
What is needed is not twisting God’s arm to get Him to help. Usually a part of the answer is God getting us quiet enough for long enough so He can speak to our hearts and show us what needs to be done.
Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I seek Your face today. When I don’t know which way to go, I ask that You would speak to me and guide me in the right direction. I do not want to go anywhere without you, Lord, because being in your presence is the best place for me. Protect me from harm and direct my steps. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.