Dec 3 - Day 337. Pray Against Problems. James 5.13

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” (James 5:13)

Welcome to another daily prayer. Prayer works. Raise your voice to tackle challenges and uplift your spirit with songs of praise. Prayer will make an impact in your life. If anyone among you is experiencing hardship or suffering, let them turn to prayer for solace and strength. Conversely, if anyone is in a state of joy or happiness, let them express their gratitude and celebrate by singing psalms, uplifting their spirit and those around them.

Transcript

Good morning, everyone! welcome you to another episode of our EBC’s Prayer Podcast. Today, is December 3, the 337th day of the year, a day full of potential and opportunity.

I am your host, Dr. Victoria Haddad, the First Lady and Prayer Leader at the Elyon Bible Church Apostolic in Salem, NJ. It’s a privilege to come together in prayer with all of you.

Today, our scripture will be taken from James 5:13, and it reads: “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” 

The Lord wants us to engage in sincere communication with Him, whether we face challenges or experience joy. It serves as a reminder of the importance of prayer in times of both struggle and celebration.

So, today, let’s dive into our prayer and explore how we can apply these words to our lives.

Let’s pray

Dear Heavenly Father, our Gracious God and Redeemer,

Lord, we come before you another day with our hearts humbled, grateful, and overflowing with reverence for who you are. 

Thank you for the precious gift of prayer and the opportunity to communicate to you directly, lifting our praises, our burdens, our fears, and our joys before you and before the throne of grace. 

Thank you, Lord, for reminding us that through your blood, the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, and our Redeemer, we have access to the throne of grace. And no matter where we are, no matter what we face, we can rest assured that you are hearing and answering our prayers, for you laid down your life for each and every one of us, so we can live.

Lord, you are reminding us that if any among us is afflicted, we can pray; and if any is merry, we can sing psalms. Father, thank you for the powerful call to action. You see, everyone among us, those who are facing affliction, and you see everyone who is facing hardship. Help us to turn to you in prayer because you are our strength and our guidance. 

Lord, you see those who are rejoicing and experiencing joy and happiness help us express gratitude and celebration through the uplifting memories, songs, and melodies of the psalms praising you in all ways that we can. 

Father, here we are before you. we come with both afflictions and joys. Both with conflicts and joys. You see all of us. You know us by name, and you know what we are all going through. Some of us carry heavy burdens; some are worrying about families, some are worrying about health, some are worrying about finances, and some are worrying about the decisions we must make in order to improve our lives. Some of us feel weighed down by discouragement, weighed down by grief, or weighed down by fear of the unknown. But thanks be to God, our Lord, because while in the midst of difficulties, while we are not seeing the things of God like we should, you are reminding us that we need to rejoice and celebrate the answered prayers, celebrate the victories, and celebrate the blessings that you are pouring into our lives. 

Lord, you see that some are not doing well. Today, we are lifting them in prayer. Those who are doing well, today, we are celebrating and rejoicing with you because you are a good God.

Father, whether we come burdened or rejoicing, help us to celebrate, because you alone are the God who knows everything, the One who formed us from our mother’s womb, and the one who holds us in the palm of his hands.

Father, today, help us to always praise you, for you are faithful. You are the God who hears, the God who delivers, and the God who has the power to restore us. When the storms of life rage around us, you are the anchor that holds us fast. You are the Comforter who draws near and the giver of every good gift. 

Lord, life is not without its challenges. You know the struggles that weigh on every heart, the conflicts in homes, and the challenges in workplaces. Father, please send deliverance. Give us peace when things are not right, peace where there is turmoil, strength where there is weakness, and light where there is darkness. For you are near to brokenhearted and teaching us to cast all our cares upon you, because you care for us.

Lord, you see those who are rejoicing and see your power in our lives, help us to always thank you and not to take your goodness for granted. Help us to lift your praise and celebrate you, let our hearts overflow with songs of praise and with worship because of who you are. 

Father, we want to live as people of gratitude, praising you not only in the good times but also in the valleys, trusting that you are working all things for our good and for your glory.

Father, help us to keep our eyes on you. When the road seems long and the journey feels difficult, give us the grace to press on and the grace to trust you. For your strength is made perfect in our weakness, and when we are weak, you make us strong. Teach us to lean on your promises and trust in your timing, even when we do not understand the final results.

Lord, fill our hearts with hope. The world around us is filled with uncertainty, but you are a God of assurance. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You never change. You never fail. And your promises are always true. 

Father, help us to be faithful. Strengthen us to walk in obedience, even when it is not easy. Guard our hearts against discouragement and against doubt. Fill us with courage to stand firm in our faith, to be a light in this world, and to reflect the love of Christ to everyone we encounter. Let our lives be testimonies of your goodness and of your grace.

Lord, remember those who are sick in their bodies, those who are sick in their minds, and in their spirits. You are Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer. Please pour out healing and restoration upon those who are struggling. Touch our bodies, bring relief from pain, and grant us peace in our minds. Comfort those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Surround us with your presence and remind us of the hope we have in you, that one day there will be no more tears, one day there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, but eternal joy in your presence, for you are a wonderful Savior.

Father, remember the one who feels hopeless, remind them that you are the God of restoration. You are the God who can take what is broken and make it whole and the God who brings beauty from ashes and joy from mourning.

Father, protect our families, protect our homes, and protect our communities. Keep us safe from harm, from evil, and from the systems of the enemy. Place your hedge of protection around us and give us discernment to walk in wisdom. Lord, guide our steps and lead us in the way everlasting.

Father, as we close this time of prayer, we are surrendering fully to you. Help us to praise you and thank you for who you are. Thank you for listening to our prayer. Thank you for answering our prayer. Thank you for being a God who loves us with an everlasting love. Thank you for leaving and renewing our faith. Thank you for strengthening our spirits as we go through this day. and thank you for the peace that you are showering upon us. The peace that can give us the strength to keep holding on.

In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray…Amen.

Everyone. Keep on praying, keep on trusting God. Have a great day, and by God’s grace, we will pray again tomorrow. Bye-bye.