James 5:16

James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.



Confess and pray. We are instructed to go to our brothers and sisters in the Lord if we need prayer. When we pray for each other we know that there is power. Instead of just our own faith, there is the unified faith of multiple people directed toward the same thing. 

We find in the Word that where two or three are gathered the Lord is also there. Before we can join together in unity, though, we must clear the air between us. If you have wronged your brother or sister you must first go to them and confess and ask for forgiveness, then you can pray.

In order to achieve unity of the faith we must make sure there are no feelings of anger or hurt between us. Make things right and then pray.

Next we are told that the “prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” How do we become righteous? Well that is easy, because we don’t do anything. In fact, there is nothing that we could do to be righteous, except believe. Righteousness comes from what Christ did for us. He did the work; He took the sin; He makes us righteous and holy. All we do is receive it. We must believe in Him and what He did and receive the forgiveness that He has for us.

So confess your sins and receive forgiveness by faith. Once you do that you will be righteous before God. Now that you can stand before God in righteousness you know that your prayers will be heard and answered.