Why pray? Why share with others?

 Why pray? Why share with others? Well, according to the writers of scripture, prayer changes things and people! James tells us it heals the sick, forgives sin, and restores friendships. Prayer can also change things of nature and cause God to do things He wants to do in our lives. You see, our sin can keep God from working. Yet our confession and fervent prayers can also make a way for God to bless us with His plans for our good and the good of others (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 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. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:13-18)

Not praying, not confessing leads to doom and failure, sickness and even mental strain. Yet being in the will of God, with a clean heart before Him, gains mercy. (Proverbs 28:13). God and His Word sheds light upon our actions and thoughts. It brings to light our deeds. It shows us right from wrong and allows us the chance to come clean with God and others through prayer and confession. This puts God's plans into action! (John 3:19-21)

Are we praying . . .  not just at specified times but all day? After all. many religious folks pray at certain times of the day! If we are in true relationships, with God and fellow believers, then our conversations need to be often and always! If we ant things and people (even ourselves!) to change, then we must pray more and share more!

After all, if we expect to be living eternally with God and His people, shouldn't we know them a bit better?