Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 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. James 5:14-16
We know that prayer is essential and that it changes things, so as we pray for our community, which includes family, friends, neighbors, and church, we do so with an understanding that change is certainly possible.
As a mother, I pray for my children and grandchildren every day and although what I have prayed over their lives has not yet manifested, I still believe the Lord answers prayer, and He will do so in His own timing and in His own way.
Praying for the community can take place during family gatherings, church services, or it could be a structured meeting of Christians who have organized to pray together. Communal prayer helps us to connect with each other as well as God and help to strengthen that community.
Romans 12:4–5 says that we are better together than we are alone, but, if we are truthful, it can sometimes be hard to commit to community, especially if we’re guarded from past experiences or hurts or if we just prefer privacy. Even so, community is God’s desire for us—and it’s a sign of a mature faith.
I leave you with these words “Let’s be powerful together”
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for the communities who are called to serve you, who are proclaiming the Good News to all who will hear. For those who minister across the country or at home, send us out to be a light to those in the darkness. Send us out to speak life, to extend grace and mercy. Open the doors of our homes and Your church so that they are filled with the broken and the hurting. Allow people to find forgiveness and comfort there in the presence of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen
