Tonight we went to a dinner and short prayer seminar for local prayer leaders and prayer team members. One of the speakers discussed this verse: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:17He then spoke about being righteous. Usually when we hear that word, we think of someone who is a "super Christian", or someone we can never be like. He told us what righteous actually means - in right relationship. Not perfect, not religious, but in a relationship with God. And really, that's what prayer is about. It's not saying the right words, it's not being brave enough to pray out loud, it's just talking to God. I don't know about you, but I am certainly not anywhere near perfect nor am I any great model Christian. Isn't it amazing that God wants to have a realtionship with us everyday people and loves to hear from us? Isn't it even more amazing that God says when we talk to him, it is "powerful and effective?"
The speaker left us with this quote:
"When man works, man works. When man prays, God works."
I really like that quote!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great quote. Sounded like a good meeting. I am so totally not perfect and I think that's why I'm always so amazed at God's grace and love and answers to my prayers when I am so not the bees knees.
ReplyDeleteLove the quote. I'll have to include that in my journal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping on tonight to share this with us...
Amazing is the word.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mari! It's always nice to remember her just wants to hear from us, we don't have to say just the right thing!
ReplyDeleteI love that bible verse and I love that quote! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat quote is a great one to leave us all with ! I read this post and I see just one more example of God's grace. It IS so amazing !
ReplyDeleteI loved the quote so much, I immediately stole it and put it on my sidebar :) It's something everyone should hear. I wish I could have heard the speaker.
ReplyDeleteI have to share this with you as it is new and has been stuck in my head...
ReplyDeleteA while back, my oldest was about to get into something naughty, from the other room I said softly, "remember God is watching you" and left it at that.
Later that night she came up to me and questioned this. So we had a long discussion about how God can see everyone and everything. Then she asked me how I knew what she was doing. My reply..."because God told me." Now I know this is not totally true, I mean I didn't have a conversation at that naughty moment with God and he said "watch out for that oldest one, she's gonna be in trouble" but I wanted her to know that He is there, He is watching and even in those times that I am not there to watch over her, she needs to do the right thing (I'm praying this will carry on to the teen years) so anyways, it has been awhile since then and just last night she asked me, "Mom, how do you hear God when he talks to you?"
"In my heart"
"How?"
"I listen, I pray, and I hear him"
"But I don't hear him mom"
"listen harder and ask him to talk to you, sometimes he tells us things and we are too busy to hear him."
Few more questions and we are done...
Later that night as she is saying her prayers...
"Dear God, my mom used an ear thing to clean my ears, I hope I can hear you better now."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it was so hearfelt and sweet. If only it was that easy to hear God.
Anyways, I read your post and it reminded me of this and I had to share. Sorry it's so long.
Great explaination. Growning up in the church I always struggled with not being as spiritual as others.
ReplyDeleteBut its not about who is better than who. Its a personal relationship with God. Talking to Him. Knowing Him. Keeping your heart open and honest with Him. Knowing you are a sinner and letting God change your heart.
Last year was a difficult year for me with a personal issue. But it was also a wonderful year because I my eyes were opened and I really learned to give it all to God
Yes it is amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteSmiles!
It takes a life time to learn that wonderful quote. I learn it in one area, then I don't recognize it in another. It seems that I keep learning the same thing over and over when in reality, it is just a new area to which I must apply the same principle.
ReplyDeleteAbout the righteousness of us. . . someone told me that we are all standing in a pit. Every once in a while, one of us jumps higher than the other, but we all eventually come back down to the ground! Meaning that we are all still sinners even though we are saved. When we get to thinking that we are higher than another Christian, we have already hit the bottom.
Thank you for sharing your evening with us. I am surprised that you shoveled out in order to go to the dinner! I am glad that you got out and thank you for this post! It is a great post!
What a great quote- sounds like it was a great meeting.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mari!
ReplyDeleteI really needed to hear that today. This post ministered to me.
Very good points. I remember being taught also that we are under Christ's righteousness - when God looks at us, he sees us through Jesus so we're 100% righteous.
ReplyDeleteGood ideas - thanks!
nice thought ;) Thanks
ReplyDeleteThat is one of my favorite verses and I quote it often to remind myself of the power of our prayers. Sometimes I just don't feel like praying, but then I'm reminded that my prayers may change the course of history or someones life for all of eternity. That's a huge resposibiliy, but also a huge opportunity to sit at the feet of our Lord and know He hears our every word. I long to be more of a prayer warrior. I know God knows the desires of my heart.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Mari...you have challenged me to press on!
awesome quote!
ReplyDeleteVery impressive quote, if only we could all remember it & use it daily. sounds like a good meeting inspite of the weather..
ReplyDeleteLove that quote :)
ReplyDeleteYour words shot right to the heart Mari. Thank you for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts...
What a great lesson for all of us who deal with feeling unworth because we never meet what we feel defines righteous. A relationship is what we desire, and it's all up to us...and it's so simple. Great post and great quote.
ReplyDeleteMari,
ReplyDeleteGod is truly amazing and this is a great post. I certainly enjoy it and the quote is awesome.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting on my black history post. I think we all need to be aware of our history and we also need to recognize those who went before us and achieved so many positive goals.
Blessings for a great weekend.
Mary
Oh yes we are that work in progress, and He loves us soooo much, thanks Mari. your awesome:)
ReplyDeleteWow, how powerful is that? Thanks for sharing, you've given me something to chew on today.
ReplyDeleteMari,
ReplyDeleteJust love that quote. God is really doing a work with me and prayer.
Blessings, Joanne