Today's Scripture
A Burden Lifted James 5:13-16
5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
RJ's Devotion
What Does the Passage Say?
V. 5-8 Jesus continues to answer the disciple’s request, asking him to teach them how to pray. Jesus shares a story of a friend, who will respond to difficult requests.
V. 9-10 Ask God, and it will be received.
V. 11-13 God is a good father, who will respond to the request of God’s people.
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
Do we present our requests to God clearly?
Maybe, we don’t even attempt to approach our Lord, thinking the request I have is petty.
Maybe, we think that we can take care of it, by ourselves.
When things get tensed up, we might hesitate to approach God, not feeling that God will not answer my prayer, since the distance.
The main point of this passage is to come close to God, in prayer.
Present it first, and seek God’s ways.
Sometimes it might not be what I’ve thought, and sometimes God will present something unexpected.
Bottom line is that we won’t see anything happening if we don’t approach God in prayer.
Prayer is certainly not a magic formula to get my ways, but an awesome opportunity to commune with God, and see how God works in our lives.
Prayer
Lord, we come to you in prayer. Help us to see how you are alive in our lives. Help us to testify your greatness to the world. In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN.
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