For Reading and Meditation:      Psalm 22:1-11We continue looking at the attitude of the psalmist, who does not hesitate to tell the truth about himself. As we saw, he admits that his feet had well-nigh slipped and his faith had almost gone. I find the psalmist's honesty both stimulating and refreshing, especially when compared to the tendency of many in today's Church to pretend that things are not as they are. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said in one of his sermons: "I know of nothing in the spiritual life more discouraging than to meet the kind of person who seems to give the impression that he or she is always walking on the mountain top." I agree. You see, it is far more important to be honest than to appear to be the sort of person who is never thrown by problems. If you are not thrown, then fine; but if you are then admit it. But can't openness be a form of exhibitionism? Yes, it can. Some people may confess to failure as a means of drawing attention to themselves. But I do not believe that this was the psalmist's motive, for quite clearly he wrote the psalm to glorify not himself but God. The pathway to spiritual growth begins when we realistically and honestly face up to the struggles that are going on inside us. If we are so concerned about developing or preserving pleasant feelings that we ignore the negative feelings within us or pretend that they are non-existent, then we end up demeaning ourselves. An honest look may involve a struggle, but there is more hope in that for growth than there is in pretence or denial. O God, teach me to be unafraid to look at anything - myself included. Make me strong enough in You not to need the defences of pretence and denial. You are on the side of honesty; I am on its side too. Help me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>James 5:1-16</li><li>Proverbs 28:13</li><li>Acts 12:5</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What are we to do with our faults?</li><li>How are we to respond to those who share their struggles?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (v. 1) 

As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications-and the more like our prayer is to Christ's, the sweeter it will be; thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness, will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest oblation that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice. Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvellous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren. When thou hast the King's ear, speak to him for the suffering members of his body. When thou art favoured to draw very near to his throne, and the King saith to thee, "Ask, and I will give thee what thou wilt," let thy petitions be, not for thyself alone, but for the many who need his aid. If thou hast grace at all, and art not an intercessor, that grace must be small as a grain of mustard seed. Thou hast just enough grace to float thy soul clear from the quicksand, but thou hast no deep floods of grace, or else thou wouldst carry in thy joyous bark a weighty cargo of the wants of others, and thou wouldst bring back from thy Lord, for them, rich blessings which but for thee they might not have obtained:- "Oh, let my hands forget their skill, My tongue be silent, cold, and still, This bounding heart forget to beat, If I forget the mercy-seat!"

This timeless classic from Charles Spurgeon will help to both start and end your day with wonderful insight into God's Word.

Charles Spurgeon's Morning & Evening

"Pray one for another." - James 5:16

Evening Devotional

A verse like this raises an interesting question. If we have not because we ask not, what great things are we missing in life simply because we do not pray for them?A similar question arises from James 5:16, ""The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." If this righteous man doesn't pray, then does it not follow that little is accomplished through him?The trouble with most of us is that we do not pray enough, or when we do pray, we ask for so little. We are what C.T. Studd called "nibblers of the possible instead of grabbers of the impossible." Our prayers are timid and unimaginative when they should be bold and daring.We should be honoring God by praying for great things. In John Newton's words,Thou art coming to a King,Large petitions with thee bring;For His grace and power are such,None can ever ask too much,When we do this, we not only honor God; we enrich ourselves spiritually. He loves to open heaven's treasures to us, but today's verse suggest that He only does it in answer to prayer.It seems to me that this verse answers a question that we often hear. The question is this: does prayer actually move God to do things that He would not have done otherwise, or does it merely bring us into harmony with what He would have done anyway? The answer seems clear: God does things in answer to prayer that He would not have done otherwise.Our imaginations can run riot in two directions as we ponder this. First, we can think of the tremendous achievements that have come as a direct result of prayer. Borrowing the words of Hebrews 11:33-34, we remember those who "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."But we can also think of what we ourselves might have accomplished for Christ if we had only asked. We can think of the many exceedingly great and precious promises in the Word which we have failed to claim. We have been weak when we might have been powerful. We have touched a few lives for God when we might have touched thousands or even millions. We have asked for acres when we might have asked for continents. We have been spiritual paupers when we might have been plutocrats. We do not have because we do not ask.

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"Ye have not, because ye ask not." (James 4:2)

We are not to take the word righteous here in an impossible sense. "In many things we offend all," says James; and in the very verse we quote from, he says, " Confess your fault one to another." Otherwise understood, the promise would check prayer, instead of exciting it. The righteous man is the true Christian; one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, and in whose life appears the fruit of the Spirit. But the expression is doubtless intended to discourage the man who, while he gives himself to prayer, regards iniquity in his heart. The Greek consists of five words. One of these we translate " of a righteous man." Another, " the effectual fervent." The word so rendered, means literally " inwrought," and seems to refer to the energetic operation of the Spirit upon the heart. Our word " fervent" is a very expressive word, and does not much lag behind the original. " Fervent prayer of the righteous can much." " We ask, and receive not." It is not surprising. The promise is not to prayer, but to true prayer, fervent prayer, prayer with the whole heart in it; with concentration of desire, singleness of aim, warmth of affection, strength of purpose, absolute grasp of the promise, and invincible perseverance. Consider Abraham, Jacob, Elijah. Your prayers are not fervent. You pray, and the response from a throne of grace is, " The fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much." The records of that throne will furnish a satisfactory account of the fortunes of every prayer. " Can much." The Bible generally disparages human ability. It pours contempt upon the might of princes. It some times laughs to scorn the great armies and proud navies of the nations. Yet it points out a way by which man may clothe himself with strength; with "much" strength. How much? This modest word stretches into infinity, and discloses omnipotence within it. God giveth power to his witnesses, his fervent petitioners, to shut heaven, to smite the earth, to turn waters to blood. - (Revelation 10:6.) Through Christ strengthening me, I can do all things.

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

' The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16. 

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be 
healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)










There are many ways in our Christian life where 
we have to get adjusted to the will of the Lord. The will of the Lord is not 
always an easy thing for our flesh; and so very often, we have to have a real 
battle to get adjusted to the will of the Lord on some particular matter; and 
prayer is the time in which that adjustment has to be done. It is just possible 
that some of us are having a battle over the will of God on 
something. Well, this is the time to get through with that issue. Our prayer 
times give us the great opportunity of getting right into line with the will of 
God on all matters.... 
True prayer is the prayer of confession and humiliation! 
True prayer is the time of absolute committal and surrender and submission 
to the Lord! True prayer is the time for getting right into line with the 
will of God on all matters! Now these three things, we could call negative 
things. Of course they are not negative when we have to face them, they are very 
positive matters. But when we come to the fourth thing, we move over a bit to 
another side; and I am sure that this first time of prayer in the case of Paul 
was a time of deep worship. What does worship come out from? What is it that 
leads us to worship? What is the true nature and spirit of worship? Is it not a 
deep unspeakable gratitude for the grace of God? We only worship in the measure 
in which we appreciate the grace of God.... You remember that a favorite way to 
Paul of opening his letters was with three words: "Grace, mercy, and peace, be 
unto you." That was the foundation of everything for Paul. Wonderful grace, 
grace that could never be explained; boundless mercy; and peace with God. That 
was surely the consciousness of this man during his prayer. It was the prayer of 
deep worship for the grace of God, and that must have a place in all true 
prayer.

This devotional contains short daily portions from a selection of Mr. Austin-Sparks' messages. In his own words, “Perhaps this is just like a window opened into heaven. If you get the right window you can see quite a lot. You can see great things and you can see far things. But the best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else, and how superior is the dispensation into which we have come, and how superior are all the resources at our disposal to all that ever was before!” Open Windows messages have been selected and compiled by Austin-Sparks.Net from the works of T. Austin-Sparks. In some cases they appear in abridged form. The introductory verse and its associated Bible version have been selected by the editor and did not always appear within the original message.

Open Windows

"That They May All Be One, Even As We Are One" - Meeting 41

 Worshipful Prayer 

Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. § Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours … I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word. § Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 Pray for one another, that you may be healed. 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? § Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. § Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. § [Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. § The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

 I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause. 

[You] have made us kings and priests to our God. § The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, “Seek Me in vain.” § Their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven. § The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. § Pray for one another. . . . The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Come, Lord Jesus! § Do not delay, O my God. § Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.

Evening Daily Light

 You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent. 

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him … And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up … Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. [Pray] always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. § Always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

 Brethren, pray for us. 

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Therefore confess your sins<cr>1</cr> to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.<cr>2</cr> The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.<cr>3</cr>

James 5:16

 16 Therefore confess your sins   to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.   The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 Therefore confess your sins   to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.   The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  

Bible Verse of the Day

April 28, 2023

James 5:16 NIV

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