Blessed Assurance

Is any among you afflicted?  Let him pray. ~James 5:13 (KJV)

To be afflicted is to be distressed or suffer from a negative situation that usually cannot be controlled by the person it is affecting.  Oftentimes, when we think of being afflicted, we think it would be by some type of medical condition.  But disease is just that, dis-ease.  It’s something that causes uneasiness in our lives.  What is causing troubles or heartache in your life?  What is causing dis-ease?  In the book of James, the Lord says whatever it is, the answer is to pray.  We are supposed to go to the Lord when we know we don’t have the answers or control to change ourselves, others, or our circumstances.  Old school Pentecostal’s were serious about their prayer time.  They used to do what they called “praying through”.  Praying through meant you didn’t get up off your knees until you believed you had given the situation and outcome to God and when you walked away it was in “blessed assurance” God was going to take care of you and your needs.  Blessed assurance means you are good with His timing and His ways.  It means you are able to see Gods promise coming to pass with His vision even before it is manifested.  It is looking through the eyes of faith and leaning on God in total dependence that His word is true and will not return to Him void but will prosper in your life.  Have you ever walked away from your prayer feeling that way?  If not, you might want to linger a little longer with the Lord.

Jesus often went away to pray, and He did some really miraculous things during His ministry on this earth.  We are told in John 5:19 “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (NIV)  Have you gotten away with God to find out what He is doing in the lives of those around you so you can get on board with His plans?  In Matthew 6:6 He tells us “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (ESV)  Prayer is a prerequisite to not only our victory, but to our peace as well.  Here is how to know it’s time to pray:  Are you feeling any distress?  How about dis-ease?  Then hit your prayer closet.  Get away with God and let Him set your mind at ease.  Jesus told us in Matthew 11:29 “learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” (KJV)   Many of us do not have a good understanding of what meekness actually means.  The world sees meekness as “weakness”, but meekness could be defined as “strength under pressure”.  Meekness is a humble submission to God’s divine will.  Jesus demonstrated meekness in the Garden of Gethsemane when He hit his prayer closet.  He tells His disciples in Matthew 26:36 and 39 “Sit here while I go over there and pray…Going a little farther, He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (NIV)  Don’t waste another minute struggling within yourself about something you cannot do anything about.  Go to your heavenly Father and get some relief.  Your circumstances might not change but having the ability to accept them can be just as refreshing.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ~James 5:16 (KJV)

What is causing you “dis-ease”? What are you struggling to trust in God’s timing for?

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