In our daily devotional “persistence breaks resistance”, we explore the power of persistent prayer & the importance of righteousness in overcoming any form of resistance. The devotion is based on James 5:16.
» Friday, 20th January 2023 | I Stand In The Gap Daily Devotional | Persistence Breaks Resistance
Yesterday’s daily devotional theme was “God’s protection for my family“ and today’s is about “persistence breaks resistance”.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16
Our anchor verse of James 5:16 is chosen because it speaks to our theme of “persistence breaks resistance”. Through persistent prayer, the believer can break down the barriers and obstacles that stand in the way of our relationship with our God, and our ability to live according to His will.
With persistent prayer, we can overcome the resistance we encounter in our daily lives, such as doubts, temptations, fears, and other forms of spiritual opposition.
Themes found in James 5:16
- Confession: We are encouraged to confess our sins to one another, an important aspect of repentance and forgiveness.
- Intercession: We are encouraged to stand in the gap, and pray for one another, where we lift up the needs of others to God.
- Healing: By confessing and interceeding, we may be healed. This healing could be emotional, physical, or spiritual healing.
- Righteousness: The verse emphasizes that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much“. This highlights the importance of righteousness in our prayers.
- Power of prayer: The verse emphasizes the power of prayer and its ability to accomplish much. This power is accentuated when the prayer is fervent and offered by a righteous person.
- Persistence: Our verse encourages persistence in prayer.
- Resistance: The verse teaches how persistent prayer can help us overcome the resistance we encounter in our daily lives.
Background to persistence breaks resistance:
James as a leader of the early Christian church wrote to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations”, which refers to the Jewish Christians who were scattered throughout the Roman Empire.
The whole book provides advice on how to live a Christian life, emphasizes the importance of faith and works, and teaches the demonstration of true faith, which is by good works, whilst addressing issues such as wisdom, trials and temptations, and the dangers of favoritism and partiality.
In James 5:16, James encourages his readers to seek patience and persevere in their faith during times of trial, confess their sins to one another, and pray for one another. Our anchor verse is a conclusion to that section and hammers on the power of prayer and the importance of righteousness in our prayers.
Similar verses
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
Matthew 7:7 emphasizes the power of prayer and the benefits of persistence in asking, seeking, and knocking. It teaches that if we ask God for something with faith and persistence, He will give it to us.
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 3:22
This verse emphasizes that when we keep God’s commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight, we can expect to receive answers to our prayers. It also teaches that our righteousness and obedience to God are important elements in the effectiveness of our prayers.
Reflection:
As Christians, we are encouraged to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. Confession and intercession are essential aspects of Christian fellowship and help us to maintain the right relationship with God and with each other.
This verse, among many other themes, also encourages us to be persistent in our prayers and to keep praying even when it seems that God isn’t answering.
In all of this, we shouldn’t lose sight of the importance of righteousness in our relationship with God, for righteousness is a very important aspect of our faith, if not the only ingredient, which is seen as evidence of our faith.
Simply put, when we are righteous, our prayers will be powerful, effective, and responded to.
Dear believer, there’s power in persistence in anything we set out to do. By persisting, we surely will overcome resistance.
Let’s Pray:
Our Father, our Father,
As we begin this day, we come to you in fervent prayer, asking for your guidance and strength. We know that through persistent prayer, we can break down the barriers, the mountains, and any obstacles that stand in the way of our relationship with you and our ability to live according to your stated will.
We confess our sins to you and to one another, and we pray for each other, that we may be wholly healed. We ask for the power of your Holy Spirit to work in our lives, that we may be made righteous and holy before you, as you are righteous and holy.
We pray for the strength to resist any form of temptation and the divine wisdom to discern your will for our lives. We pray for the power to overcome the resistance we encounter in our daily lives, such as rejections, doubts, abuse, fears, and other forms of spiritual opposition, especially those orchestrated by the evil one.
Father, we ask that you would grant us the power of your Holy Spirit, so that we may be effective and fervent in our prayers. We pray that you would hear our cries and answer our petitions.
We thank you for the biblical promise that the effective, and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Help us to be persistent in our prayers so that every resistance may be broken in Jesus’ name. We trust in your faithfulness to hear and answer our prayers.
In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.
