Hopeful Prayer is Powerful

Today’s reading: James 5:13-16

I have altered my approach to prayer in recent months. Whereas I once would often begin my prayers with “God, please …”, I now start with  “God, I know that you …”

My prayers are no longer appeals for God to do something that is in my best interest. Rather, I spend my prayer time assuring God, and myself, that I know He is my best interest.

I also spend a lot of prayer time simply saying thank you to God. I often even thank him, in advance, for solutions to problems that are still troubling me.

Today’s reading does not specifically recommend the approach that I have adopted; one of its beauties is that it does not prescribe a particular method for prayer. It simply calls for us to pray.

But I find my style of prayer to be in keeping with many other scriptures that urge us to put all of our trust in the Lord.

I also find that my style helps make sense of one of the curiosities of today’s reading: this business about anointing the sick with oil after prayer. (Verse 15)

If a prayer over a sick person takes a hopeful tone — if it is an assurance to God that we men know He will do what is best — then applying oil becomes a beautiful reminder of that prayer.  When the one(s) who have prayed have left the ailing person’s side, he can return to them (and God, and the prayer) in spirit at any time by simply feeling the oil on his body.

Thanks be to God for the power of prayer. May I always use that power wisely.