Happy New Year. Here's to new beginnings and a fresh start! Do you approach the New Year as a chance for positive change and personal growth? Maybe you're like me and choose a word for the year to focus on. Or you bravely make a New Years resolution? Perhaps one or more of the goals on your list are; exercise more, lose weight, learn a new hobby, save more money, spend less money, quit smoking, read more, or get organized. Those are all great resolutions. Another one that we often hear in the church world is wanting to; read the Bible more often, attend church more regularly, or get more involved. And who knows, maybe that’s why you are here today. If so, you’ve no doubt been encouraged this entire week and were reminded to be praying more, praying boldly, and praying with great expectation.
Prayer . . . DO IT. Prayer is powerful. Tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a person living right. Check out 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 person is powerful and effective.”
We see here the importance and power of getting before God with a spiritual leader or fellow Christ follower and admitting your sin, and praying, praying together and for one another. Why? We are confessing our sins to each other for the purpose of praying for each other; for healing and restoration. We are not sending “good vibes” or “positive thoughts” and we are not confessing our sins to each other because we have some sort of power to forgive sins. We are not confessing sins as if the other person or pastor is able to grant freedom from sin and there is not one of us who is a mediator between God and us.
Google AI indicates that the failure rate for New Year's resolutions is estimated to be around 80%, with most people losing motivation and giving up within a few weeks and the biggest contributing factor is lack of accountability. It’s the same with our walk with God. Friends, this is a community effort and the worst thing we can do is allow sin to remain private and secret. Consider how many have stumbled or fallen away because they will not bring people in with them to help them in their journey of faith. Hey, if you’re not in a community, or not in a growth group, the time is now. Do it today, don’t delay.
I am not going to pretend that I am free of sin. Quite the contrary, I am a sinner and often find myself in deep and habitual sin. I welcome people to pray with and for me, particularly about my sins and my need for spiritual strength. Let’s resolve to prioritize our dependence on the almighty God and pray . . . pray for one another.
Prayer . . . DO IT. Prayer is powerful. Tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a person living right. Check out 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 person is powerful and effective.”
We see here the importance and power of getting before God with a spiritual leader or fellow Christ follower and admitting your sin, and praying, praying together and for one another. Why? We are confessing our sins to each other for the purpose of praying for each other; for healing and restoration. We are not sending “good vibes” or “positive thoughts” and we are not confessing our sins to each other because we have some sort of power to forgive sins. We are not confessing sins as if the other person or pastor is able to grant freedom from sin and there is not one of us who is a mediator between God and us.
Google AI indicates that the failure rate for New Year's resolutions is estimated to be around 80%, with most people losing motivation and giving up within a few weeks and the biggest contributing factor is lack of accountability. It’s the same with our walk with God. Friends, this is a community effort and the worst thing we can do is allow sin to remain private and secret. Consider how many have stumbled or fallen away because they will not bring people in with them to help them in their journey of faith. Hey, if you’re not in a community, or not in a growth group, the time is now. Do it today, don’t delay.
I am not going to pretend that I am free of sin. Quite the contrary, I am a sinner and often find myself in deep and habitual sin. I welcome people to pray with and for me, particularly about my sins and my need for spiritual strength. Let’s resolve to prioritize our dependence on the almighty God and pray . . . pray for one another.