"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
James 5:16

Jesus tells us to pray for one another,  He does not tell us to try and change a person.  He also does not tell us to criticize and judge that person.  He said to pray for one another.  I have a dear friend who used to pray for me when I would go to her.  Then, one day when I went to her for prayer, she started telling me all the things I was doing wrong and how I needed to change.  She did not pray for me that day.

What about you?  When someone asks you to pray for him or her, do you confess your faults to that person and pray for each other?  That is what we are told to do in the Bible.  None of us are perfect.  We all have things in our life that we need to change.  However, only Jesus can change someone’s heart.  For someone to change his or her actions or attitudes, it takes a change of heart, and that takes the Love of Jesus.

The next time someone asks you to pray for him or her, ask that person to pray for you in the areas you have need of prayer, and then pray together for each other.  Don’t point out that person’s faults and tell him or her how to change.

September 1, 2005