James 5:16b The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Prayer is the most powerful spiritual steroid in the divine pharmacy. Not all prayers are heard or answered. It is the prayer of the righteous that would be heard and answered. The righteous are in right standing with God and their sins have been washed and forgiven by the blood of Jesus. The righteous are not perfect and sin-free but they are guilt-free and have no hidden or known sin in their lives. Prayer of the righteous accomplishes much.
Our prayer closet pumps us with spiritual energy. If not, it is only a complaints booth where we lodge our grievances and come back. We will receive spiritual strength not when we talk to the Lord but when the Lord God talks back to us. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years (James 5:17). Elijah didn’t pray earnestly to promote himself as a fire breathing prophet. He prayed a prayer that would shake reform and transform the perverse and fallen nation of Israel. He prayed that the people would be struck with the reverential fear of the Lord. The Lord vouched his plan and shut the heavens from rain. He partnered with Elijah to bring fire and rain down on the same day to bring about a mighty revival in the land. Elijah’s words, actions and conduct were as if he was always on spiritual steroids. The Spirit of the LORD will carry you away to who knows where (1 Kings 18:12). The Spirit of the Lord literally and physically transported Elijah from one place to the other. Elijah was also an ordinary human like you and me but his prayers were sincere and spirit-filled and hence were powerful. He operated on a simple principle, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Elijah’s prayers were simple, sincere, succinct yet, spirit-filled.
Sincere, simple and spirit-filled prayers will give us a spiritual steroid shot:
1. Simple: Elijah’s prayer was only 63 words on Mount Carmel, the Lord heard his prayer. Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench (1 Kings 18:38). Our prayers need not be flashy and long. God understands simple child-like prayers more than superfluous flamboyant words.
2. Sincere: Sincere prayers from the heart will touch the heart of God. Prayer from a sincere heart partners with heaven.
3. Spirit-Filled: We cannot connect with God who is in Spirit with our soulish prayers and distracted minds. Talking and conveying our whims and wishes is not spirit-filled prayer. Our spirit must connect with the Spirit of God in the divine conversation to receive back a spiritual boost and spiritual steroid shot.
Spirit-filled prayers that partner with God’s plan are the best spiritual steroids that boost us spiritually.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Prayer: Father Divine, may my prayer meet with you be like divine spiritual steroid shots that boost me to run my race with vigor and power. Amen.
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