Being

DEVOTION
JAMES
BEING
James 5:16-18
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
NIV
I think it may not be such a good thing to stand before the entire of body of Christ and fess up to all my wrong doing. Although I have no problem at all with telling the whole of the body I am not a perfect man and that I still struggle with sin. I do not believe a numeration of those acts or responses which qualify as sin is in the best interest of me or the rest of the body. I truly believe this means to another, one member, a true brother in the Lord. I am not sure if the rest of scripture declares this, but I believe men should not confess to women and women should not confess sins to men. Yet, that process of confessing sin to another is by far the best remedy for the illness within. It does bring a healing beyond anything else. Now as to the powerful and effective prayer of a righteous man. I wonder how anyone can be righteous enough to qualify. If Elijah was just like me, then the truly qualification must have been his belief in God. Abraham was considered righteous because he believed God. So because I believe God, because I believe and have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I am righteous, because Jesus is my righteousness. Therefore my prayers are powerful and effective. When I ask God for something, not for my own personal gain or glory, but for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, it will be powerful and effective. This example of Elijah shows how his prayer was for the glory of God, not for himself. I surely want God to have all the glory for all he has done for me, in me and through me. I am but a man who still struggles with my humanity, imperfect, flawed, with sin. There is no reason for any glory in that, but God is perfect, without flaw and sin. All my prayers should be based on bringing him glory. Lord what do you want me to do? Lord how can I serve you best? Lord where can I be best used for your kingdom? Lord how can I accomplish your will? Lord give me the wisdom, the power, the strength, the words to be the man you desire me to be, so your glory may shine through me. Empower me to be the salt, the light and the mirror reflecting you in my being.