1 Peter 2v24-25
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Christ set the example on the cross taking His life of purity and righteousness as a sacrifice for all and we must look to live that same way. In the way He suffered we too will have to endure but in the end His power and glory will prevail through eternal life with the Father. By His wounds we are healed forever.

James 5v15-16
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 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.

Prayer especially intercessory prayer is found powerful in the righteous, in those who deeply abide in the Lord. So let’s get rid of any part of us that is holding our relationship back with God, let’s deal with our junk, giving it to the Lord in true faith believing Him for all His truth to transform our lives; so that we can see and know the true power of God in and through our prayers.

James 5v17-18
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Psalm 37v23-24
The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.

In EVERY DETAIL of our lives the Lord finds delight. He is with us through all things big or small, failure or success, He sees us through as long as we trust in Him. Lets give up not just the big things in prayer but all and let Him transform every part of our lives because He knows us that intimately. What a mighty and trusting hand that we have holding us every moment of every day.

Psalm 139v13-14
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

James 3v8-11
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

Our words can be deadly and often times defeat our testimony to the lost. We must pay close attention to the things we say taming our tongue, encouraging instead of scolding, praying instead hating. Let our words be filtered by the Spirit to plant seeds of faith and to water those in need; growing all things closer to the Father.

James 3v2
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

James 1v14-15
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Our desires can easily consume us and if we do not turn them over to God giving Him control we can easily fall into the trap of leaning on our own flesh (often emotions), misleading ourselves and in turn failing miserably. Let’s check our desires today, recognizing those that are of the Lord backed by the truth in His word and those that can lead to temptation, giving both up to Him in faith and prayer to deliver His greater will to our life.

James 1v16-18
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1v5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. BUT let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Our prayers are rendered useless if we ask with out faith in the power of our God. Lets evaluate our prayer life today and ask ourselves; are we truly believing God to come through with our requests? Are we continuing to worry about what we just asked God to do? Or are we trusting and finding peace in the strength of who He is? James states it plainly in verse seven, we can’t expect for our prayers to be answered if our faith is unstable. The Lord gives GENEROUSLY to those who ask in faith, so let us pray boldly and in confidence of the God who created the universe.