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Written by Bill Rudge for “Bill Rudge Ministries” @  https://billrudgeministries.wordpress.com/

Original post @ https://billrudgeministries.wordpress.com/2024/08/02/the-prayer-of-a-righteous-man-or-woman/

The Prayer of a Righteous Man or Woman

August 2, 2024~ brm7

BJ Rudge, Ph.D.

After calling his readers to pray in times of trouble and sickness, and to confess their sins one to another, the apostle James asserts that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). To illustrate, James refers to the prophet Elijah as a person who had a powerful and effective prayer life. He tells us that Elijah’s prayers both began and ended a three-and-a-half year drought on the nation of Israel (see 1 Kings 17 and 18).

James also reminds us that Elijah was a man with a nature just like us (James 5:17). According to Donald W. Burdick (Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary), “He [Elijah] had no superhuman powers; he was only a human being and nothing more. However, when he prayed ‘that it would not rain … it did not rain’ (cf. 1 Ki 17:1-18:42-45)…so James assures his readers that such answers to prayer are within the reach of any believer.”

Assuming that we can have an effective prayer life like the prophet Elijah, the question is, “How?” Some people would suggest we do things such as recite a verse or a word repetitiously, sit in silence to achieve an altered state of consciousness, walk a prayer circle or employ other techniques and methods to experience God. However, prayer is not some “magical incantation” or “manipulative tool” we use to control God or conjure phenomena. As Jesus Himself taught, “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). Instead, prayer is communicating with God through means by which He has revealed in His word.

Prayer is not looking inward but upward! Additional insight is provided by Bill Rudge: “As exercise is good for the body, so prayer is good for the soul. While centering directs you inward, prayer directs you upward – to the only One who can truly help.”

Posted in Blog, Victorious Living, apostle James, Elijah, Prayer, righteous man or woman

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P.S. (from bruce)  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=ea85460ec5208a83&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1112US1112&q=image+Jam+5:16,&udm=2&source=univ&fir=2SM4MmUeTaLIrM%252C45s22s66MPoqAM%252C_%253BGGufhD449nhOrM%252CWXtSUTYF717TcM%252C_%253BWCcwZIT4qwVGvM%252CRz7zsIq4UiptHM%252C_%253Bm6dvZQaPQL6z8M%252CBzh3U0TL66LeAM%252C_%253BTvfzcl7zITfDQM%252CYIbLwuBq7a6ngM%252C_%253BVAuvyZYpj6DjSM%252CDca4uBWStuQXCM%252C_%253BeRm6TsbwMls2_M%252CmVwjfPbsUyEe7M%252C_%253BSb7RhUwt-IYtkM%252C5PJDBmk2QhSN1M%252C_%253BWZEutc_IOJSBeM%252CbeP6LnTMYtGA0M%252C_%253BYLL19pBJdYdxiM%252CyAJODEU9wr8AjM%252C_%253Bv0BD6MCjUOFt6M%252CX1O9iH7RjMkRwM%252C_%253BaOl5PpcDHMmbHM%252CEpjpNI_OE7Fm0M%252C_%253BfDS8ctCFUEpBiM%252C4cgsf6Is4HGO6M%252C_%253BHREpk5gsU0z-4M%252CsTg7olJ4VpWPdM%252C_%253BELrwpUVaCU-tCM%252CDca4uBWStuQXCM%252C_%253BNL4NX6RbC3uXwM%252CGXSahm3pzUQiXM%252C_%253BmBxYr0lopWEtuM%252Cqq2L5L19g-Ie1M%252C_%253BOhM10Yf9ZQDsPM%252Cpn3BiaM8dxCy2M%252C_%253Bydyg5eZqQcXPlM%252CVsc_f2gXPJ08MM%252C_%253B8uTmOeKeCC7_bM%252CfspygEdrhsrM6M%252C_%253Bio-AdxNQ9uruQM%252C03pzNAQOS1fuFM%252C_%253BcfgkdiFaMrdHYM%252C7zDSpW6rzWqfVM%252C_%253B-pITBclYNhQX2M%252CBzh3U0TL66LeAM%252C_%253BURWUFHRkDcy9qM%252CQlmIFykchrRk5M%252C_%253BRIBRg2DLgV31lM%252Cu3vFlw7QEZJgrM%252C_%253B_PLfq1hv1rWsgM%252CBK9vokoPzdHt0M%252C_%253BiSsyDcx7ZPYSqM%252CDca4uBWStuQXCM%252C_%253BaNHKiY3UFq04IM%252C9he-LNEc2cpB7M%252C_%253BAQVMFTVawsO7iM%252Cjhznblz9wmX26M%252C_%253BqAGUnK1NFRqFyM%252CiIKbfHMzr0jOhM%252C_%253BtjSqdu5kZJaXsM%252C5ZtUs1INWru4nM%252C_%253BaYN5kvXtGgf–M%252CUD2BdOJVLzUdKM%252C_%253Bxy_W0nFdih_rvM%252CtPDF-mf556LwUM%252C_%253B3DK2v3lmGU0LpM%252Cn7JZHtEl_tHoWM%252C_%253BSj-zHmJdVnHMDM%252CRz7zsIq4UiptHM%252C_%253BbbDBjA0QSpXquM%252CDca4uBWStuQXCM%252C_%253BocF49eEhVTRsIM%252CTe1fXqzArpgR6M%252C_%253BzhAhHVsUy2Z-fM%252CDca4uBWStuQXCM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kS2RNfMij2EniXh-eg1_mJXHUxwuA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEirXD6b-IAxUlkYkEHdEDGPwQ7Al6BAgdEAw&biw=1303&bih=910&dpr=1#vhid=GGufhD449nhOrM&vssid=mosaic