Daily Reading: James 5
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5.16)
Devotional Thought: Have you ever anointed someone with oil for healing, or seen it done? Have you wondered where the practice came from? It came from James 5 where we find James’ instructions that the elders' prayers for healing the sick are to be accompanied with anointing with oil.
In addition to connecting healing and anointing, James also made two other interesting connections in verse 16:
Confession. "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." Here James connected healing with confession of sin. There is a psychological component in this. When we carry guilt and shame our bodies are less able to heal themselves. Also, overcoming illness is greatly enhanced by having healthy and helpful relationships. When we love and are loved, we heal quicker! In addition to the practical reason for this connection between healing and confession, I believe that there is also a spiritual component. Ridding myself of the burden of sin – through confession – I am freeing my whole being to be a part of the healing process.
Community. When I am praying for you – pray for each other – then I am more apt to find healing myself – you may be healed. My prayers for you contribute to my own healing! First of all, prayer itself is a health-promoting activity. Beyond that, when I am praying for you, God takes note of my generous spirit and my outward focus, and in his grace he translates that into healing for me! Think about it: God loves to bestow gifts on his children and he also delights when his children love one another. When you pray for me, you give God the opportunity to unleash his power in your life!
Make these healing connections in your life!
Prayer: Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief... Your Word gives instructions for healing prayers. Help me, to set aside skepticism and doubt and fear so that I can make the faith connections and see myself and others healed. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 50:1-6
1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.
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