Pray for Each Other — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 224 / 253

Healing

Pray for Each Other

James 5:16

James 5:16 comes near the end of the letter of James, in his closing words about prayer for the suffering and the sick, where he points to Elijah as an example.

Lord, You did not make us to carry our burdens alone. Give me the humility to be honest with a trusted friend about my sins and struggles, and the love to listen when they are honest with me. Today I lift up my friends who are sick or hurting. Heal us, Lord, in body and soul, as You will. Make me faithful in praying for others. Amen.

James 5:16 comes near the end of the letter of James, in his closing words about prayer for the suffering and the sick, where he points to Elijah as an example.

The Scripture

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.”

— James 5:16

Prayer points from James 5:16

  1. Thank God for the friends who pray for you
  2. Pray by name for a friend who is sick or hurting
  3. Ask Him for the courage to be honest with someone you trust
  4. Ask Him to make you a faithful friend in prayer
  5. Pray for healing of body and soul, as He wills
  6. Thank Him that He hears ordinary people like Elijah

About this verse

James ends his letter with prayer for every situation: the suffering should pray, the cheerful should sing praises, the sick should call the elders. Verse 16 opens this to the whole church: “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James puts confession, prayer and healing side by side; he has just spoken of sickness and forgiveness together. Then he says, “The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail,” and points to Elijah, “a man just like us,” who prayed that it would not rain, and later prayed again for rain. The power belongs to God, and Elijah was an ordinary person. Praying for one another is how Christians carry each other’s burdens, and being honest with a trusted friend is part of it. This prayer is for anyone praying for a friend, a prayer group or a church family, especially those who are sick or struggling.

When to pray this prayer

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