MORE POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE

Prayer is a privileged communication with God made possible by Christ Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) So, when a person is a believer in Christ, that relationship with Jesus should eliminate any hesitancies from addressing Father God directly and confidently. Paul says to the Jews about this frankness,  "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) This is a wonderful honor, however, what James says about prayer and the praying person is what I desire to reveal to you today.

James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Because of all that Christ has done for me, I desire to be powerful and effective in my prayer life. The element that precedes having a Christian's prayer "powerful and effective" is being found "righteous". The original Greek word for "righteous" here is dikaios (dik-ah-yos), meaning fair, just, right and reasonable in character or act; by implication innocent or holy.  Yes, a person who is in right-standing with Father God because he/she trusts in Christ's Redemption will have a powerful and effective prayer life. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." However, even moreso will Christians be powerful and effective when they have their life in order, according to The Word of God, when they are communing with God in prayer. Jesus speaks to this in John 15:1-8 when He talks about abiding in Himself as The Vine. 

For prayer to be powerful and effective, it is not enough to just rely on our salvation or our right-standing with God through Christ Jesus. We must continually work out our challenges and struggles, So That our character and prayer life can be perfected. God says through James that He desires our prayers to be more than a wish list; more than a passing five minute whim every day; more than a repetitive mantra. So, make it a point to recognize where your everything comes from, especially your Righteousness. Both your right standing with God and your everyday judgments of what is reasonable, fair and right all come from God. Then as you are walking steadfast in both, your prayers and mine will become More Powerful And Effective.