The Right Time to Pray

Rev. Debbie Cato

Psalm 86 and James 5:13-20

Peace Presbyterian Church

September 14, 2014

The Right Time to Pray

We’ve spent the last month studying the Book of James and this is our fifth and final week - the end of our study of James. When we started, I introduced James by saying that his primary concern is the shape of the Christian life. Based on who God is, and therefore who His Son, Jesus Christ is, James says we must live holy lives and so his book – all five chapters, is about what this holy living looks like. James assumes that we have faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and he asks the question, so what? What does this mean for our life? For James, the faith that counts is the faith that is active in a person's life; a faith that’s alive. James insists that true faith is active or obvious in our life. True faith can be seen in how we live; how we act; how we behave. According to James, faith that is not active is not faith at all.

First, James warned us not to be deceived by who we think we are. We don’t always live as the people we are in God because there is a lack of connection between hearing and doing; between who we are and what we do. James warned us that we must not just be hearers of the word; we must be doers of the word.

In chapter Two, James expanded this idea of hearing and doing, insisting that “faith alone” is not adequate without the “deeds of faith”. Faith is more than just believing. Faith is a response to God out of obedience and love. Our faith should be visible by its fruit – the way that we live, the things that we do and say; by our attitudes and our behaviors. James says that our faith ought to be who we are; not just something that we believe.  It's not just head knowledge. It's heart knowledge.

Chapter Three taught us to tame our tongue. Easy to say but much harder to do. James reminds us that our words can be used to tear down or to build up. Words – or the misuse of words are the cause of conflict. Words are the cause of disputes. They are the cause of hurt and pain and brokenness. As beloved children of God, we must relate to one another as people created in the image of God. We are called to be humble and gentle, pure and peaceable; yielding to one another, full of mercy and good fruits, willing to hold our tongues rather than use our words to hurt. We should listen more than talk. These are the marks of those that are wise and mature in faith.

Last Sunday, we looked at James’ Fourth Chapter where we learned that true wisdom comes from above; true wisdom comes from God. James says that we must admit that we really don’t have ultimate power or authority over ourselves. God does. And so if we are to live holy lives; if we are to have true wisdom, we must submit ourselves to God. We must draw near to God so that He will draw near to us. We must be willing to pray, “Your will be done. Not mine, but yours.” And mean it.

And now James ends his letter with perhaps his most important teaching on holy living. The key thing that pulls everything else together. He’s been telling us what he thinks the most important traits of holy living are; the most important evidence of a living faith in Jesus Christ.

Being doers; not just hearers of the word.

   A faith that’s visible; a faith that’s who we are, not just what we believe.

       Using words to heal, rather than using words to hurt.

          Submitting to God.

James final teaching on holy living is about prayer. Prayer is powerful – the most powerful tool we have. Think about it. We have direct access to God himself – the creator and ruler of the universe! Prayer is our way of talking and listening to God. It is through prayer that we combine the pieces of holy living that James has been talking about – using our words in the right way and the wisdom found in seeking a relationship with God. It’s how we draw near to our Abba Father.

James asks us a rhetorical question. When is the right time to pray? When is the right time to pray? When do you pray?

James provides examples:

   Are you suffering? Pray.

       Are you happy? Pray.

          Are you physically ill? Pray.

               Have you sinned? Pray.

                   Do you have a need? Pray.

James says we are to pray for ourselves and we are to pray for others. We are to pray individually and we are to pray as the Body of Christ. Sounds to me like there isn’t anything we shouldn’t pray for or anytime we shouldn’t pray! When is the right time to pray? Maybe the better question would be – Is there a time we shouldn’t be praying?!

There’s an old formula for prayers calls ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. As the old formula goes, we open our prayers with adoration; praising God for who God is. Then we admit our sins and ask God to forgive us. After we’ve admitted we are sinners and fall short, we thank God for the ways he has blessed us and met our needs. And then, only then do we ask God for what we need or for the needs of others – called supplication. Sounds like what James is talking about doesn’t it?!

We praise God first because we were created to praise God – to worship him. We get into the habit of praising God because of the things he has done for us, but we should be praising God just because of who he is. We should praise him because He is holy and just; ruler over all creation. It is a test of faith when we can still adore or thank God in the midst of suffering and illness; when we can still see God’s blessings in the midst of crises and difficult times. There are many scriptural examples of those, strong in faith who were able to praise God in difficult times; Job, Jonah, Hannah, Mary, and Jesus, just to name a few.

It is often in our brokenness that we can hear most clearly God’s reply to our prayers. When we are too broken to speak our prayers, it is often through remembered hymns and spiritual songs of praise that we are able to continue to have conversations with God. Or even a simple, “Help me, Lord.” He knows. He knows.

But it isn’t only ourselves that we pray. We pray for others that we know who are in need and those whose needs are known to us in the wider world. Mary is always so good about reminding us to pray for those who don’t have; who are vulnerable; who may not have someone to pray for them. That is the kind of heart God wants. This allows us to see the image of God expressed in others, to share in their suffering, and to add our voice to God’s hearing for the good of the world.

The church as a praying community engages in all these types of prayers. We sing together, minister to the sick, and confess to one another. Our prayers as a community shape and allow us to become more closely the true Body of Christ. In community prayer, we have the opportunity to both listen for and be God’s voice in the world. Through prayer, the body of Christ is empowered to carry out the mission of Christ.

Prayer changes relationships, prayer changes our hearts, and prayer changes lives. It is the way that we can communicate directly to the living God. It is the way to true wisdom which comes from above. It is the way to holy living, so it’s no wonder that James ends his letter with a teaching on the right time to pray. Pray when you are suffering; pray when you are happy; pray when you are physically ill; pray when you have sinned; pray when you have a need. For just as Paul said in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, “Rejoice always and pray without ceasing.”

Many of you probably recognize the name, Corrie ten Boom. Corrie was a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and was imprisoned for it. Corrie is quoted as saying, “Is prayer your steering wheel, or is it your spare tire?” Is prayer your steering wheel or is it your spare tire? Do you use prayer to guide you every where you go or do you only use it when you are in trouble?

Friends, we find ourselves in a time that is right for prayer. It’s a time to praise God because He is sovereign over the universe and He is still in control. It is time to thank God for the blessings He pours down on us each and every day.

This is a good time to focus on your prayer life. Spend time alone with God – talking and listening. Ask for wisdom from above. Spend time as a family or as friends, praying together; praying for one another; praying for the church. It is only through prayer that you will find peace and clarity and comfort.

It is through prayer that you will draw near to God and God will draw near to you. God is in the midst of your pain and your struggles. He is in the midst of your joy and celebrations. Invite him into your thoughts and into your hearts. Ask Him to give you His heart and His mind. Now is the right time to pray. Not my will, but Yours, Lord.

May His Kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.