THE PARISH CHURCH FOR LYTHAM

Last Updated 19/05/2008 22:34:05

Text James 5: 13-20 – The importance of prayer

James in his letter writes about the importance of prayer.  He shows that prayer at a time of joy is just as important as prayer at times of suffering.  He encourages actual songs of praise as a way of giving thanks for the times of joy.   So we have here two forms of individual prayer.  The first when we are in trouble and the second when something good has happened.  James goes on to talk about the times when a person is ill and suffering. They should send for others and allow them to pray for them. 

I have a little saying that I am sure I have told you before and it is that ‘when you are weak lean on others but when you are strong allow others to lean on you.’  We should pray for others and we should allow other to pray for us. In the story of the Samaritan woman and Jesus, Jesus allows the Samaritan woman to minister to him in his need, just as he ministers to her.  We should allow others to minister to us.  Prayer is one way this ministry can happen.

In some ways we would be foolish to risk not praying for others when it is quite clear in this passage that prayer is not only answered but that the sick are healed and sins are forgiven.

But pray and praying is not always easy and perhaps it is right that it isn’t.  we need to be sincere about the things we pray for otherwise we wouldn’t spend much time and effort in our prayer asking for it.  And if God gave us what we asked for straight away I suspect our prayers would become meaningless and short.

One of the most difficult prayers is to give thanks in times of great suffering.  For we always see the suffering first and can feel deserted by God or unfairly treated but to be able to stop and reflect during such a time and seek out God’s presence and even the joy in the midst of the suffering is a very challenging way to pray.  An example would be in a natural disaster where there is great devastation but every so often you hear of a person surviving against all the odd; a time truly to give thanks.

I heard it said somewhere that God makes us suffer in order to give us something new.  Well I am sure that God doesn’t make us suffer but I am sure that after times of disappointment God is abundant with his blessings.  I found this card when I visited Salmesbury Hall last week.  It simply says

God will never leave you empty.

If something is taken away, he will replace it with something better.

If he denies your request in a certain area, it is because he wishes to give you what is best. 

If he asks you to put something down, it is so you can pick up something greater. 

God is not a robber, but the bestower of every good and perfect gift.

Sometimes when life hurts we need to cling onto that hope.

So prayer should be and must be the most important part of our spiritual life and when we have achieved that we need also to make it the most important part of our non-spiritual life.  At work or at home.  When we have achieved both of these hopefully they will merge together so that no part of our life is untouched by prayer.

We will happily come to God at each part of the day and share it with him.  That well known author, Andrew Clitherow, in his book ‘Into your hands’ suggests that clergy start their working day with two hours of prayer, bible study, and meditation.  He says, ‘That for a priest, prayer should always comes first. When it does, it is remarkable how much more straightforward the other tasks become.’

I would have to agree with him on that and that’s not just because he is sat here but I work on that principle of praying for the day ahead.  When I look at my diary some weeks I wonder how I am going to fit everything in let alone some quality prayer time but by ensuring that prayer time happens everything else falls into place.

I don’t know what he would recommended as a suitable time for the laity to spend in prayer and I often wonder if I am going to have to go without sleep to achieve everything but just like you can’t do without sleep to function properly you also can’t do without pray.  Try bringing your diary before God this week and see if it makes a difference.

Amen