Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

THE ROCKING CHAIR A woman, who reared a large family and ran a boarding house at the same time, was asked how she remained so composed. "Well," she said, "you know that big rocking chair in my room? Every afternoon, no matter how busy I am, I go up there to rock awhile and empty out my brain." While this is good therapy, there comes a time when we need to do more than empty out our brains; we need to empty our soul. This is why James closed his important letter with a strong admonition to pray. Prayer is far more than pouring out our woes. We do not speak to the air when we make our petitions. There is One Who listens and is touched by our infirmities. Therefore, to keep a healthy spiritual life, we must consider prayer our privilege and responsibility. James 5:16 tells us to pray if we are afflicted, to seek prayer from our brothers and sisters in the Lord for our illnesses and problems. James also reminds us that Elijah was a man of prayer who suffered the same frustration we do. What marked him as a great man of God was his practice of prayer. Indeed, the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Today, may we be ones who pray. Only then will we accomplish great things for the Kingdom.