James wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 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.
We are told to pray for one another as well as ourselves. Prayer is communion with FATHER just like we would have with an earthly parent except Our Heavenly Father is more patient, compassionate, and full of Love than any earthly parent. The one qualifier in the above verse is that we be righteous. A righteous man keeps the Divine Commandments and none are more important than the Commandment of Love.
FATHER is not reluctant to answer our prayers but will only answer them according to righteousness. We should be okay with that since our goal is to be righteous and walk accordingly. Wisdom writes in Proverbs chapter 2:
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
As we pursue wisdom and righteousness then we begin to pray in like manner. No longer are we disappointed in the way our prayers are answered because we realize that FATHER knows best and will answer us according to our best interest. This provides us with understanding when James wrote in chapter 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
FATHER answered all of Jesus’ prayers and thus HIS Will was done through Jesus on earth. With Jesus being our example, shouldn’t we pursue the same path of righteousness and in the same manner as Jesus? Every one of our steps should be motivated by Agape Love. Every word we speak should promote life, health, and healing.
FATHER has all the solutions to mankind’s problems and HE is fully accessible to answer our prayers. It is our responsibility to ask with the right heart and mind. As we do, we should exercise our faith and expect our prayers to be answered. Let us be fully led by THE SPIRIT and minister life in both prayer and deed. As we spend quality time with HIM each day we will know how we ought to pray on behalf of others as well as ourselves.