Biblical Teaching on Prayer
James 5:13
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
Pondering Point
Right up there with the Apostle Paul’s call to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), this verse clues us into the notion that everything is a reason to pray. Even if you yourself are not in trouble as of now, who doesn’t know someone in trouble? They could use a prayer or two – and not just benefitting from a prayer about them but experiencing a prayer with them. Ask God for a spirit that can gently approach and pray with such trouble-hearted people.
From a vastly different perspective comes the question “is anyone happy?” The call to pray here is to “let them sing songs of praise.” Do you know someone who sings about God’s goodness even over small or simple blessings? I know a few. Such activity is usually indicative of a heart attuned to God. I like having such a heart – AND this Bible verse shows that God likes you having such a heart.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are familiar with suffering. If my heart is going to become one familiar with suffering – whether my own or others – teach me how to:
o pray about it
o pray in it and
o pray through it.
And enable my heart to be familiar not just with happiness but with songs of praise over happiness. Bless my heart to constantly communicate with You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Prayer Thoughts
Chapter 38
Success
“What is success?” I don’t remember having a very clear answer for her. At that same time Coach John Wooden of UCLA became famous during the 1960’s and early 1970’s. He designed what was called the Pyramid of Success. Basically, it was a moral guideline by which he thought everyone was to live. Along with it he had a definition of success that he penned way back in 1934:
“Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-
satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the
best that you are capable of becoming.”
From this beginning Bob Smith’s definition evolved over the next thirty years: In Hong Kong I included “in the time and the place God has called me.” In Nigeria, I tacked on “to God’s glory.” At the Calcutta airport after my fourth service learning trip, I added the word “servant” to the definition. Later in Indonesia, while teaching a leadership course at the university, I added the word “leader.” This resulted:
“Success is the peace of mind knowing I did my best to be the
best servant leader I could possibly be, in the time and the
place God called me, to His glory.”
Got his book? Read pages 199-202 in Keep Me and Keep All, Smith.
Also check out Pastor Bob’s answer to Prayer Question #13 on page 253: “What do you do if your heart isn't in prayer?"