Fervent prayers of a righteous man

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  James 5:!6 KJV (King James Version)

“Therefore confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”  James 5:16 NIV (New International Version)

I grew up about 100 years ago in a good old fashioned Southern Baptist Church.  It was pretty formal, you wore “Sunday clothes” like suits for the men and dresses for women.  You did not see anyone in shorts or t-shirts.  I wore both shorts and a t-shirt to church this week and did not feel underdressed. 

We also only used one version of the bible – the King James Version, the KJV.  Jesus spoke Aramaic.  He also read the Hebrew scrolls and He would have had to speak at least a little Greek because He had a conversation with Pontius Pilate before His crucifixion.  Maybe He spoke supernaturally to him, but He did not speak in King James English.

Today there are many versions, I use the New International Version, the NIV.  The King James Version was written in the 1600’s and was translated from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.  Some believe the King James Version to be the only inspired, preserved word of God in English.  You can read two versions of the same verse above to see how they sound different but are the same. 

The phrase “Fervent prayer of a righteous man” has been living in my head for a few weeks.  When I tried to find the verse with that phrase in my version, it wasn’t there.  The words “effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much” have been replaced with “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”  Neither version guarantees success in every endeavor.  Neither hints at problem free living, that does not exist.  Both versions tell me to be sincerely and consistently in prayer.  

No matter which version you read, you will find that God wants hearts.  Behavior may change due to a change in heart, but behavior alone does not rise to the level of saving us.  Only grace does that.  We cannot be fervent about every single issue we encounter, that would be exhausting.  But neither can we be passive or neutral in our love for others.  That sounds like lukewarm and you can read how God feels about lukewarm in Revelation 3:15 “So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth”.  That’s the NIV.  The King James is even better “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”  That paints a picture. 

We know many people struggling with various things from financial pressure to marital conflict to health concerns to physical afflictions.  We struggle with various things.  Everyone does. 

Many years ago I started writing prayer requests in a notebook.  I did that because my prayers had become a long list of people and issues.  If I was running short on time it left little time for me to stop and listen – to the creator of the universe.  That seems backwards.

It occurred to me in the last few weeks that I have become a little lazy with those written prayer concerns.  I think it is good to have quiet time.  I think it is good to listen more than I talk in prayer.  But, Gods plan included people, like you and I.  I do not believe God needs me in order for Him to accomplish anything, but that does not mean He does not want me in some capacity while He accomplishes some things.  I think He wants me to be “fervent” and “sincere” and “consistent” in my reliance on Him.  Am I? 

I think He places people in my life for me to be “effective” in praying for. 

I think He puts me in someone else’s life for them to be “effective” in praying for me.

Challenge:  Maybe God uses many versions of the text to appeal to many different people.  I think the list in my prayer journal can still be effective in reminding me to pray about a person or a situation.  But I think that can also put an able hearted believer into an almost neutral gear.  I don’t want to be neutral.  I want to be fervent.  What do you care enough about to be fervent?