40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 2

I was contemplating lately exactly how far along my wife is with our baby. She answered my question without my asking. She was going through her baby bump app on her phone and it told her she is exactly 20 weeks along. So half way..... HALF WAY! Seriously? I don't really think it has hit me that she is halfway through the pregnancy. I mean, it seems like just yesterday she was waking me up at 6am to tell me she was pregnant. I don't quite think I am ready. But is anyone ever, really? However lately I have noticed that I have been praying more. Maybe it's because I realize many things are out of my hands or maybe because I just want to talk to God more, either way, I seem to be having more conversations with my Lord. So I find myself praying to God to prepare me, but more importantly, to protect my wife through all of this. I can only imagine the discomfort she is going through. I pray for her all the time. I am praying for our new family.

Manu

Day 2

Scripture

James 5: 13-18

-          Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Wisdom

-          James 5:13-18 can be a very difficult passage to understand. There are a number of questions that arise as you read through the passage. However, the main point of the passage is very clear. James is emphasizing the importance of prayer; he mentions it in every verse. As we make our way through this passage we will see 1) the importance of individual prayer, 2) the importance of community prayer, and finally 3) we see the effectiveness of prayer.

Apply

-          Do you believe in the power of prayer?

-          Do you take the time in every situation in your life to pray?

-          Do you have a regular conversation with God? Talk to Him like He is just a friend!

-          Do you pray only when times are tough or do you pray to give Him praise as well?

Prayer

-          In prayer, just talk to God as if He were a friend sitting across from you. Praise Him for the gifts and privileges He has given you. Ask Him to help you in your daily walk. Pray that He gives you strength and guidance especially in this season of Lent.