Weekly Memory Verse

It's time for this week's memory verse!! These weeks are flying by and bringing with them a lot of change in my life--some I embrace readily and quickly--some I'm sitting back and watching unfold--taking in the changes, talking with God about them, and awaiting His decision and answer to me.

In all of the changes that have been brought into my life within the recent months, I've been absent from "Blog World" quite frequently. I hope to be back soon--though I can't tell you when--whenever the opening appears in my life to allow me the time and energy.

I do want to say that I have missed all of you--your valuable input and insights--and I appreciate your prayers and thoughts more than you could ever begin to imagine.

So--here we go--last week's verse:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:36 (NASB)

As I pondered on this verse throughout this week, God showed me several places in my heart that were dark--not opened to Him yet--that I needed to confess and heal through Him. And so, I did--through prayer.

I do not believe that James, in this verse, is telling us to stand up and confess our sins to everyone in the room--say at a church service. But, we do need a close confidante--perhaps a spiritual mentor or adviser, an accountability partner, a close friend that we can trust--a fellow believer to steer us in the right direction, someone who is willing to pray for us.

I feel that some of the most important words in this verse are "pray for one another". This does not involve the pointing out of others' flaws to another person. This involves you personally praying for that person.

Suppose I see a person that I know in distress--obvious distress--either through their words or actions. I may not know the reason for their distress. But, I can intercede for them, through the power of prayer, to God--to bring them peace in their lives, to help them through this time, for God to point them in the right direction, guide and lead them.

I read once (and I can't remember where or I would give them the credit--just know this is not mine):

He who prays surrounds his house with a wall stronger than iron.

Through prayer and faith, we have power through God to change our lives, change the lives of others, and a difference can be made for ourselves and others. This is where the healing begins--the pointing out of our flaws by God--perhaps through others--and allowing Him into those dark recesses of our hearts and minds which He has not touched yet. Then, and only then can the healing and changing begin.

Only God has the power, strength and might to see us through our everyday small problems, our very large burdens, our hidden flaws that He wants us to change.

As James points out in this verse, we need to pray for one another so that we can be healed--healed of our sorrows and shames, and prayer is tapping into the incredible power of God so that all of this can occur.

I'm anxious to see what everyone else has to say about this verse. So, please link up and I'll be back later today to read and comment.

And here is the verse for next week--the 10 of hearts from the "Embracing the Word" cards:

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus....Romans 8:1 (NASB)

Beth