Prayer Avails Much

 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)

Tuesday, Second Week of Easter

We offer to You, O God, our Father, our hosannas and our alleluias for Your everlasting love, and we thank you that You have permitted us to behold Your glory in the face of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  We thank you for all His great work, for His ministry on earth, and for his intercession for us, and the promise that we shall at last sit upon the throne of His glory, redeemed by His grace.. Amen

Dear friends,

Martin Luther wrote the following concerning effectual prayer.  It may be encouraging to you in your own prayer ministry at home:

“No man can conceive the power of prayer except one who has tried it and learned by experience.  But it is a great thing that a man faced with a dire calamity may forthwith call upon the Lord.  This I know.  Whenever I have prayed earnestly about a matter which has concerned me very deeply, it has been richly answered and I have received more than I have asked.  Sometimes God has been slow in bringing, but He has always brought.  Lo, what a great thing is the fervent prayer of a true Christian!  How it avails with God that a poor man should speak with His High Majesty in heaven and not be afraid of Him, but know that God smiles graciously on him for the sake of Jesus Christ His beloved Son, our Lord and Savior!  The heart and conscience need not turn back and run away.  It need not be in doubt because of its unworthiness, and need not be afraid, but may believe with complete certainty that our prayers are always answered when we pray believing in Christ.

Therefore, dear Christians, pray in your hearts, and at times with words, for (by the will of God) prayer upholds the world.  Without it the world would be very different.  At home I am not so brave and cheerful though I am not content that it should be so, but in the Church with the multitude, prayer comes straight from the heart and prevails.” (Martin Luther, Table Talk)

Praying for you,
Pastor Langdon Reinke

P.S.   Hope you and your family are healthy and safe.  We are in this together.  We have help available if there are needs.  Please let us know.

Have something to share?

Do you have a thought, a devotion, a scripture, or prayer to share? Send it to me at pastor@beautifulsaviorspokane.org.  I look forward to sharing what God puts on your heart.

A quote from C.S. Lewis:  “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

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