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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: James 5:13-18

The Prayer of Faith

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

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Daily Devotional: Confess, Forgive, Repeat

And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:12

Before I fall asleep, I routinely reflect on my day: Who did I encounter? How did we interact? Where was my focus? What was accomplished? In what ways did I reflect God’s character? Where did I miss the mark? Was there anyone I offended or that offended me? I don’t usually go through these types of questions rigorously, but I’ve grown fond of a daily review. You may be familiar with the ancient spiritual practice of Daily Examen as well.

Having looked behind, then I look ahead. I visualize what tomorrow may bring from one moment to the next. I anticipate the experiences and emotions that might occur. I ask God to go before me and to be there with me when I arrive. I wonder if my interactions with people will honor God and them more than the day before. I’ve discovered that preparing my heart and recalibrating my posture helps me walk more closely with Jesus throughout the day.

Why do I share this? Because when Jesus’ disciples begged to be taught how to pray, they were told to ask for daily bread (Matthew 6:11). You’d think that receiving physical and spiritual nourishment from God would be enough. But Christ adds another layer to this in verse 12. On top of asking for bread daily, we are instructed to confess what we owe to God and forgive what others owe to us. Confess, forgive, repeat. Daily. It’s as important as asking our heavenly Father to meet our basic needs.

Like washing our hands or brushing our teeth, confession and forgiveness are vital rhythms to build into our routine. When we practice asking our heavenly Father to forgive our sins each day, the discipline of confession cleanses our conscience and realigns us spiritually. And when we practice daily forgiving those who’ve wronged us, we’re reminded of God’s forgiveness of us and empowered to repair relationships before the damage is devastating. Confess, forgive, repeat. Jesus’ daily direction is simple to follow, as difficult as it may be to do every day.

Today, as we dig deeper into the Lord’s Prayer, reflect on where you’ve sinned and how you’ve been sinned against. Bring this to God. Regularly practicing the spiritual discipline of confession and forgiveness promises to be good for your soul.

Next Steps

Take a moment and speak Matthew 6:12 out loud to God in prayer: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” How does saying these words make you feel inside? What does the Holy Spirit surface in your mind and heart? Ask God to point out where you need to take a step today to confess or forgive or both.