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.
James 5:16
Although emphasis often seems to be placed on the the latter half of this verse, it all starts with doing what James calls us to do at the beginning. “Confess your faults” not just to God, but to each other.
When you take a step back and give this verse a bit of thought you realize that without sharing our faults (our struggles) we actually aren’t able to truly pray for each other. How can we pray if we don’t know what someone is struggling with? If we don’t know their needs?
True healing and powerful prayer only come from
- Displaying openness,
- Exposing our vulnerability and
- Confession.
So, we must be willing to share
- What we are struggling with,
- That we can’t do it alone, and
- That we need prayer.
Let us seek to build true, genuine friendships with those of faith that we might be there for each other so that we each might effectually approach our all-loving heavenly father (who is always in control).
May we foster these relationships with vulnerability and sincerity that our active prayer, by God’s abundant grace might bring healing.
Amen. May God give us the courage to be weak. Thank you for this, Seth.
Very important guidance, Seth. We have to be willing to remove our “masks of perfection” and be vulnerable. Being open with others about our struggles can help those who are facing similar trials, as well as give us support in our own healing. Thanks!