James 5:16 NIRV;  So confess your sins to one another. Pray for one another so that you might be healed. The prayer of a godly person is powerful. Things happen because of it.

I believe the most powerful thing happens when we humbly confess our faults to others. It makes others able to relate to us. If we appear to be perfect, we make people feel they can never attain the status of a ‘good’ Christian, when in reality, we are merely sinners who have been saved by grace, bathed in love, covered by the blood, forgiven and walking daily on the journey toward becoming like our Father. We are simply hidden in Christ.

I remember the first time I went to a marriage retreat and heard others tell things they were going through in their marriage. The first thought that crossed my mind was, “I’m not alone! Others are dealing with the same things I am!” Remember, the trick of any enemy is to alienate the weak in order to overpower and defeat them. It’s what the devil does to us, making us feel we are the only ones experiencing these things when in reality, everyone is, just no one talks about it.

The second and most important part of this passage is that we pray for one another. Notice it doesn’t say, pray for yourself. No, in praying for each other, it automatically causes a great principle to happen; inner healing for us. So when I open up to others about problems I am having or have had, it allows them to feel they can open and share with you so that you can pray for them and they and yourself can experience healing. Wow. God sure does know how to do things, doesn’t He!

Father, help me to be that person that others feel comfortable sharing their hurts and sorrows with. Forgive me for not being sensitive at times, for rushing through life focused on me and mine. You created me for others, just as Jesus was focused on others, may I also deny myself, take up my cross and follow you, others focused. Wherever there is sickness, may healing flow through me. Wherever there is hate, may love overpower it. Wherever hopelessness is found, may hope well up and overflow. It’s in your precious name I pray, Amen.