James 5:13—Pray. Sing.
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. James 5:13
No matter your shape or condition, go to God. Whether you’re hitting rock bottom or are happy as a clam, make it your practice to look to the Lord—for help or to praise.
Is anyone among you suffering?
Are you suffering? Be honest about it—many times Christians don’t like to admit when their circumstances are too much for them. As a result, they neglect finding the help they need by pretending nothing’s wrong. However, God is intimately acquainted with your stress, pain, anxiety, frustration, shame, and fear. He not only knows all about it but also understands how it grew to be so enormous. He knows more about it than you do yourself—and He knows how to bring the studyskillszone.co.uk cenforce ohne rezept kaufen osterreich remedy and http://www.lebillet.ch/kamagra-turkei-bestellen/ solution into your situation. Why live with the knots in your stomach, the sleepless nights, the crying jags, or the fits of frustrated rage any longer? Are you suffering? You must pray.
Then he must pray.
When you’re facing incredible frustration, agonizing stress, or unbearable heartache, the last thing you should do is “not bother God”. Bother Him! He knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30); He knows when you sit down or rise up; He scrutinizes your path and your lying down, and He’s intimately acquainted with all your ways. Even before you say a word, He knows what you’re going to say (Psalm 139:2-4). He knows more about you than the NSA (they may read your emails, but they can’t read your heart—that ability belongs to Him alone!), and He loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). He’s on your side, and He has all the answers—along with the power and desire to bring those answers to you.
Is anyone cheerful?
Much of what is written in the Bible concerning our day-to-day lives is to equip you to stand fast in the Lord during troubles and tests of all kinds. However, you’re not always in the middle of an intense trial, and this little phrase in James’ letter acknowledges that fact. Do you feel great? Are things going well? Have you just experienced one of God’s blessings? Is it hard to wipe that smile off your face? Then there’s an app for that—a “James app”:
He is to sing praises.
Sing. Sing to the Lord. Sing praises to Him. Make singing to Him a practice every time something wonderful, sweet, kind, or merely pleasant happens to you. Give Him the cialis costs thefourthmoment.com glory—He is so worthy of it. You don’t have a decent singing voice? Join the club! Sing to Him anyway. Sing songs that you know and songs you make up—sing about the specific blessing He’s given you. It may sound funny to others, but you’re not singing for them—it’s to the Lord on High that you lift up your voice.
Moses spoke to a people on the verge of entering into great blessing. He said, “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:10, emphasis added). Singing to the Lord is a tremendous way to bless Him.
Moses went on to explain why it is so imperative to prioritize blessing God. He said, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God…otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them…and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the diflucan interakcje.org land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (see Deuteronomy 8:11-14).
You bless the Lord so you don’t forget all that He has done for you. You sing praises to Him so that you don’t take His kindness for granted. And there’s something about singing to Him—your heavenly audience of One—that is deeply personal, vulnerable, and intimate. What a way to draw close to Him! What a way to minister your love and appreciation to His heart!
Are you suffering? Then pray. Are you cheerful? Sing praises. Your God is with you in tight places, and He’s the Architect of your breakthrough and blessings, as well. He never fails.
Dorothy
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8a
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. John 6:37