EARNEST & RIGHTEOUS

Today's reading: James 4-5

"...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." James 5:16 NLT

Powerful prayers that provide wonderful results? Yes, sign me up!

Isn't that what we all want--prayers that are answered, answers that are life changing and lives that are changed in ways that honor the Lord.

But it takes earnest praying and righteousness.

If, like me you think you know what those are but could use a refresher, read on...

Earnest-resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction about.

Being earnest is being desperate, being determined, being willing to do what's necessary to get what you need.

Too often we are lazy pray-ers. We want, sure we want, but we don't want badly enough to dig in and pray hard, pray long, pray intently and pray Scripture.

Righteous-being morally upright and in good standing with God, which involves God's perfect character and His standard for human conduct.

Friends, I will admit I prefer to be right rather than righteous. Wrong attitude to have! Righteous is living in a godly way, an intensely godly way--because you walk so closely with God.

We tend to be pray-ers that want to receive our entire laundry list of desires, but never pause long enough to check our desires against His character, His plans, His purpose or His glory. We want because we want, not because we want to be made more like Him with every prayer.

Earnest and righteous pray-ers are rare treasures. They aren't scattered liberally throughout our churches, but when you see one you know it! God's desire is that there be more James 5:16 prayer warriors than there are--won't you strive to be one?

Are the prayers you're praying worth the extra effort?