I noticed this lyric for the first time yesterday; it’s from one of Barlow Girl’s latest songs:

Now that’s an amazing thought. And though this song falls squarely into the intimate worship genre – not in everyone’s comfort zone, I know – I still believe these words are both true and heartfelt.

He is the God who has all things. Why does he trouble with me? It would certainly be less trouble for him to disregard my ramshackle soul, no?

Yet he wants me. And he means to have me, to glorify him and enjoy him forever. And he can do anything, and his arm is not too short to save nor is there anywhere I can hide from his presence. So I believe this is a done deal.

If he means to have you, trust me, you’re had. Done deal. He is amazing, and he loves beyond our furthest understanding and saves to the uttermost. See what kind of love the Father has given to us!

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

– 1 John 3:1a (ESV)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

– James 5:16 (ESV)

I did a little bit of research on the word translated “righteous” in James 5:16b. The word is “dikaiou” (δικαίου) and it is an adjective. I found out that it means . . . righteous.

It also is sometimes translated “just”, meaning “without prejudice or partiality”.

Digression question: have I spent a waking moment of my lifetime without prejudice or partiality?

Selah

But, bottom line, it means what it says. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

I feel like I’ve been praying with more fervency lately – but still not nearly enough as I need to. I’m not sure I’m praying well; vain repetition is my wont. Yet there are so many people, starting with my family, that come to mind and my prayers multiple times a day these days.

Prayer, frankly, is a scary thing. We don’t know what is unleashed when we pray. James 5:16 says that the prayer of a righteous person has great power. And yet tonight my mind finds itself set on earthly things and my internal motivations seem laid bare. I wonder where I stand in the righteousness spectrum; in the scarlet darkness of false righteousness or in the dazzling, clear light of Jesus. Somewhere closer to the former is my guess. And my shame.

But I am commanded to pray. The context in James 5:16 holds the promise of healing when we pray, and of resulting righteousness, and resulting power. God is so good! I believe that heaven moves at times when we pray, and that mountains are flung into the sea and that powers and principalities and people and things are bound and loosed. And so I will pray, as my day goes and I move about in this world. And may God restore and revive and hold safe these precious ones on my heart, and may we all one day see the hand of God moving and energizing our prayers; may we see the grace that was endowed on others as we lifted them up, and – humbling and blessed sight! – may we someday, when we’re home, see the prayers of those dear souls, best of friends even if unknown to us, who lifted us up to God. And may we see the resulting flood of grace that covered us.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

– James 5:16b (ESV)

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

– James 5:16b (NIV)

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

– James 5:16b (NASB)

πολὺ ἰσχÏ?ει δέησις δικαίου á¼?νεÏ?γουμένη

– James 5:16b (New Testament Greek)

I’d like to understand this verse better. I hope to study it and write on it over the next few days.

I also hope to practice it better.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

– Psalm 63 5-8 (ESV)

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food”

We here in the affluent West can’t really understand that statement, I don’t think. The thought of “fat and rich food” causes me to glance, ashamedly, at my bulging waistline.

But to David, a man accustomed to long stretches out in the wilderness who knew the feel of a taut belly, my guess is that the image here is of a famished hunger, long held off but finally sated at a board laden with good food. Only here he speaks of his soul, dining on the riches of God.

This passage speaks of safety and joy. It is the joy of a dinner with that friend of all friends – and doesn’t our laughter ring loudest then? It is the safety that is found under the wings of the most Holy, the sweet communion at the day’s end, meditating on God’s goodness as sleep overtakes us.

And it is the safety of the Father’s hand; a hand that we cling to tightly like a child. Even warriors like David understood this – surely better than we can. He had been in the wilderness, had known the feeling of being hunted; had heard the clang of his enemy’s armor, close behind, and the sound of his enemy’s horses. Yet, at the worst of times he knew the strong hand of the Father holding him, and the awesome shadow of the Father’s wings. There was safety.