About prayer and praying, Part 5 of 5

James 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. (NIV)

Everyone needs to pray and be prayed for. Those of us who do pray need to remember those for whom no one is likely to pray…like the mugger, thief, dealer, addict, rapist, and murderer. It is those who we despise the most who need our prayer attention the most. In prayer, we can and we must do the impossible of praying for the despicable who commit despicable acts. We must pray for those who no one else will pray for because God hears us, God acts upon our pleas and petitions, and in ways we may never know, God can reach down and touch the soul of those we would reject.

Certainly we have the power today to do miraculous things. Yet we are still often powerless to stop war, plague, famine, hunger, and disease. Because we are often helpless in these matters, we must pray.

In order to bring the darkness of the world to a place of light and love, we must pray.

Prayer is not an option for the person of faith. Prayer for the person of faith is mandatory. Prayer is such a necessity of life, we must pray when we do not feel like praying. We must pray when we are tired. We must pray when we are besieged. We must pray in our doubt. We must even pray when we are angry with God.