Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
James 5:16 NLT
Oh, I can hear some of you now - "I'm not telling anybody my sins. It'd be all over Facebook or Tweeted all over the place."
As a society, we seem to be consumed with presenting the best image; always attempting to show the good side; trying to hide or camouflage the less-than-perfect side of ourselves, our business, our 'whatevers'. That's not always a good thing.
Do we want people to like the illusion we present or the real us? We want to be loved as we are. How many times have we heard someone plaint, "I want them to like ME! ME! Not what I do for them, not what I look like, not my money...etc."
So, what deepens a relationship? Getting real with each other. Letting someone close enough to see the "warts" (the areas we strive to overcome) or the wrinkles; letting someone close enough to love you in spite of those warts and wrinkles, because according to 1st Peter 4, love covers a multitude of sin. And it's in exposing those painful places that love can then be poured out and we are healed.
You'll notice our text is all one verse. The second sentence expounds on the first to more clearly define what is meant. It's a Share, Prayer, Care verse. That does NOT mean share it all over Facebook or Instagram or to anyone who will listen! Use wisdom!
Who are we supposed to confess to? Someone who has an earnest prayer life, and not only that, but one who also walks in righteousness. In such an environment, there is an assurance of perfect love that casts out fear of exposure.
Prayer:
Father,
We cry out for wisdom!! Help us to see it is the earnest prayer of a righteous person that has great power and produces wonderful results. Bring Your righteousness into our lives so that we may also pour out to others in need. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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