Prayer and Praise

Throughout our lives, we will all experience both suffering and joy. We'll have times of great grief and times of overwhelming happiness. Sometimes, these experiences will happen in separate seasons. But at other times, they will merge at the same time.

In either case, James expected Christians to come to God. If someone was suffering, prayer was the call to action. If someone was cheerful, praise was the clear next step.

This might seem obvious, but when suffering clouds our thinking, we can sometimes forget to prioritize prayer. And when things are going well and life is good at the moment, it’s easy to just enjoy the season and not stop to praise God. But every season of life is an opportunity to put into practice what James wrote about… 

When we are suffering, let us pray. When those around us are suffering, let us pray. When we are feeling blessed or cheerful, let us thank God. When others are happy, let us praise God and celebrate with them.

In every circumstance ...

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, ...