Daily Power #113

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Sometimes people wonder why their prayers seem ineffective. They pray faithfully believing that God will hear their prayers and move on their behalf. But nothing seems to happen. One thing some of us fail to consider is that the way we live matters. How we act and the motives behind our behavior matter to God, and they matter when we pray.

While we all have the same access to God, we may not see the same results from our prayers. The Bible indicates that the way you live impacts the power of your prayers. Notice in today’s verse, it doesn’t say “the prayer of an unrighteous person” or “an okay person.” It doesn’t say “the prayer of a casual churchgoer” or “the prayer of someone who likes Jesus.”

Need more evidence? Consider Proverbs 15:29: “The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Now, we’re never going to be perfect. The good news is that our righteousness comes from accepting Jesus as our Savior. But in these verses, the emphasis is on living righteously, which means following God, obeying his commands, and relying on his Word.

If you’re struggling in your prayer life, I encourage you to think back over your past week. How are you living? Do others see Jesus through your attitude and actions? Or do they only see you?

Power Lift

Today I want to live for you, God, and I want my actions to reflect this desire. Help me to live in a way that others will see Christ through all that I say and do.