Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 272

September 29;     James 5:16;      222/260(IV);      ‘The Power of Prayer’

James 5:16 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.

There is nothing in the Word of God concerning confessing our sins to another human being to be forgiven of sins.  We confess our sins to the Lord and He is faithful to forgive us.  As you mature in the things of the Lord, you will develop good spiritual friends that you trust and who are diligent in their walk with the Lord.  A good friend in the Lord is someone you can talk honestly with and share challenges you may be facing, without there being a judgment of you on their part.  After sharing with that person that you trust, praying with that person, knowing they know your circumstances, brings healing be it physical, mental or emotional.  We have never been called to judge another Christian.  We are called to help them get through some tough situations.  If that person we pray for is serious about the things of God, they will get victory over that challenge with the help of the prayer of that friend.  Serious, Bible based prayer, prayed by Christians who know that they are righteous brings incredible power of the Lord on the scene.  Prayer brings needs to the Lord, knowing that He understands and is committed to help us through whatever we are going through.  You cannot hook your faith up with all Christians, but the Lord will bring someone with like precious faith so that you have a prayer partner and help each other.  Fellow believers who know the power of prayer will stand with you and you with them.  As you pray together, you get stronger individually, making your prayers dynamic in how they work.