10/26/26

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10 minutes ago

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James 5:16 NASB95 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

The word "therefore" in our verse leads us back to the previous verses. These reveal to us that it is good for us to seek prayer from those whom we know to be righteous by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. For them to pray for our needs, we must confess our sins to them.

We are told to confess our sins to God to have the Truth and His Word (Jesus) in us. This is found in 1 John 1:8-10, which says: If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

We are then told that we should confess our sins one to another and pray for each other through them.

To confess is more than to admit. For a man can admit, brag, and be proud of his sin, and still not have confessed. Confession shows an admittance of wrong done. Confession shows sorrow, repentance, and a desire to take no part in it again. True confession shows remorse for the sin.

Many people will admit their sin but show none of the qualities of true confession. Therefore, they suffer in their struggle to be truly right with God. It is not possible to be proud of and pleased with your disobedience to God and desire to be obedient to Him at the same time.

It is not possible to be proud of and pleased with your disobedience to God and desire to be obedient to Him at the same time.

However, true confession of your sin can bring about righteous prayer, and righteous prayer can encourage others to righteous prayer. This scripture reveals that the prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (It is effective.)

Many people refuse to share their sin in true confession with others. They will use excuses for not doing so, such as: it is none of their business, they will judge me, all I am required to do is confess my sin to God. While all of these are true, why are we so opposed to being obedient and seeking the prayers of people who have no power to condemn us to hell, and yet, if they will pray in righteousness for us, can accomplish much? Why are we so opposed to sharing our needs for forgiveness and healing?

I think the answer lies in listening to Satan, who does not want a person who is struggling to share their struggles with a struggling believer. Satan knows that when you share your struggles, your sin, and your hurt, that person realizes they are not alone in the struggles of a fallen world. As they realize this, they pray and find themselves closer to God. Who helps them overcome.

The song I now use to open and close these devotionals, if you listen to them, was written by Charles Wesley, and a couple of the verses of that song share these words.

See Thy poor afflicted child,

Patient, and resigned in pain,

Let me wander o’er the wild,

Nevermore will I complain,

Here forever let me stay,

Only give me power to pray,

Here forever let me stay,

Only give me power to pray,

Let the pangs that fill my breast

Fully all to thee be known,

Griefs that cannot be expressed

Let me tell Thee in a groan,

Haste to help me, or delay,

Only give me power to pray.

Haste to help me, or delay,

Only give me power to pray.

Satan knows that if we will confess not only to God but to each other, it will truly open up the channel of prayer, and that power to pray accomplishes much.

Heavenly Father, I pray that we would not cower into selfish loneliness, but in the shame of our failure and a desire to be held accountable, we would truly confess our sin and suffering to others. Always seeking their prayers, as we will pray for them. Father, if we do so, we will see that our greatest desire is not to be healed but instead to accomplish much for your glory. We will not rush to cry for you to relieve us of our pain or remove us from our temptations, but to give us the power to pray so we will remain in constant communication with you. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen!

Love Brother Scott