What's the thermostat setting on your prayer life?

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick?                                              James 5:13-14    NKJV 

What is your prayer and praise life like at the moment? Is it good or not so good? Let's not forget what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, for you.'

Note verse 18 and don't misquote it. It doesn't say give thanks for suffering, loss or sickness etc. The verse tells us to give thanks whilst we are going through such times, 'For this is the will of God'. The verse quite clearly directs us to give thanks in all we do, 24/7. Did you get that?

Tony Evans comments on this: 'If you want to gauge your spiritual life, look at the thermostat setting on your prayer life'. It is true, we need to pray without ceasing. It is an essential requirement but, one in which can be sadly neglected because we are so busy, either doing God's work or working. If God tells us to pray without ceasing then, He means to pray without ceasing. He doesn't say, 'If you get the chance today, could you throw a few prayers up to Me'. No chance; He directs us to pray and without ceasing. Now, this doesn't mean that's all we do. He knows that we have things to do, such as work, but He wants us to pray and praise Him whilst we are doing these things. It is easy when you get used to it and you fit it into your daily schedule.

The word 'sick' is translated here as 'weak', therefore this can refer to any kind of weakness physical or otherwise. If someone is sick, an elder can administer healing and spiritual guidance for whatever the matter may be. However, we have the authority to lay hands on the sick and pray for them too. Don't get confused with who should do what. A pastor or elder may be better equipped to know a certain person well and minister accordingly; but this doesn't rule us out, Jesus gave us a commission, Mark 16:18 and we are obliged to do this. Obviously if we are in a church setting, we need to adhere to the leadership of the church and not try to usurp.

So, if a thermostat was set to gauge your prayer and praise life, what would it read. Are there a few adjustments to make?

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