Learning to communicate

James 5:17-18 "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."

This is an incredible story! A great man of God, Elijah, prays for it not to rain and God answers his prayers! He doesn't keep it from raining for a day (not that impressive), He doesn't keep it from raining for a month (a little more impressive), He doesn't even keep it from raining for a year (ridiculously impressive), but He keeps it from raining for 3 years and 6 months!!!!

Now I know that we read that and we say well that is a real great Old Testament story but God could never use me like that. Well that is a lie from the Devil himself! Of course God can use you and me like that! It's not the man, it's the God the man serves!!

I love that the first part of verse 17 says "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours", this is simply saying Elijah wasn't some special person that God can use, it's saying that he was just like us! God can use us as well.

Why was Elijah so effective? Because of what verse 16 says "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." I think, many of us feel that we cannot be effective in our prayers, but that is just because we need to learn how to communicate!

You see Elijah prayed EFFECTIVELY because he prayed the Word of God! When Elijah prayed for it to stop raining, he did so because the nation was turning to a false god named Baal. He prayed this prayer so the nation would turn back to God!

He prayed FERVENTLY because when He asked God for the rain to come back after 3 1/2 years, he went to God 7 times before God showed him a cloud the size of a mans fist!

He prayed RIGHTEOUSLY because He was walking with God!

We too can have a very effective prayer life if we follow Elijah's example by praying EFFECTIVELY (by praying God's Word), by praying FERVENTLY (continually going back to God) and by praying RIGHTEOUSLY (living a life that is honoring to God)! So let's hit our knees and start praying!

There's a God"app" for that!

James 5:13-14 "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 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."

I love these verses, because it shows that no matter what we are going through there is a God"app" for that! Here, the Word tells us what to do if we are suffering, cheerful and sick. It isn't something really complicated, its so simple! What do you do if you are suffering? You PRAY! Talk to God about your suffering, ask Him to give you the strength to make it through it.

There's also a God"app" for being cheerful! He says if you are cheerful, sing psalms! Psalms are songs written specifically to or for God.

You want to know what to do when you are sick, well there's a God"app" for that too! He says to come to the elders of the church and let them anoint you with oil and pray for a healing! This doesn't mean that you will be healed, but it sure does mean that you can be healed!

I really enjoy when we see that God is interested in us on multiple levels! He cares about the BIG things in our lives, but He is also very interested in the small aspects of our lives! May we respond to His interest in us, by being VERY interested in HIM!