Today’s reading: James 5:13-20

The last few weeks God has been impressing on my heart and showing me, more than ever before, my need to pray more fervently and powerfully. Just last week, my husband purchased a book called “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson. I had no idea what the book was about so I asked him about it. He told me it had something to do with prayer and that he was planning on reading it once he finished the book he was currently reading. I didn’t give it much thought but two days later, a woman from my Bible study group told me she was reading this same book and asked me to join her in a 40 day prayer challenge. I was intrigued, agreed to pray with her and came home and picked up the book and started reading it. What I read in one sitting, completely changed my perspective on prayer. I was convicted and elated at the same time by Mark Batterson’s challenge to pray about my biggest dreams and greatest fears. After reading the first few chapters, I knew I had to start praying more boldly, more focused and more often.

All that to say, I smiled as I turned to the final verses of James today where James lets us know about the power of prayer and then urges us to take hold of that power as we pray. These words in verse 16 spoke volumes to me. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

What’s your perspective on, and approach to, prayer? How often do you talk with God? Do you pray with the expectation that God can and will respond to your prayers? Will you join me in praying more boldly, more focused and more often? Tami

P.S. If you’d like to give your prayer life a boost, I highly recommend these two books by Mark Batterson: “The Circle Maker” and “Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge.” I’m only a few chapters and days in, but they have already changed my life and I know more change for good is on the way.

Source: Tami’s Blog