July 10, 2012

James 5:16b  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

What a difference a translation can make.  Several of the translations I checked placed adjectives before "prayer".  As you can see, the NIV does not.  Here are some of the adjectives other translations use:
"earnest prayer"- New Living Translation (2007)
"effective prayer"- New American Standard Bible (1996)
"effectual fervent prayer"- King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
"continual prayer"- Douay-Rheims Bible
"working supplication"- Young's Literal Translation

While there may be some translation difference in how the prayer is described, there is almost 100% agreement among translations about the person who is praying.  Of the eighteen translations I examined, sixteen of those used the term "righteous" to describe the person whose prayers are "powerful and effective".    "Just" or "have God's approval" were the other two descriptions of an effective pray-er.

It would seem to me that the individual's relationship with God is more important than the quality of the prayer.  However, one cannot be accomplished without the other.  Before a person can grow closer to God, he must enter into earnest prayer.  Earnest prayer will naturally lead to a closer relationship to God.  When we grow closer to God, we will spend more time in prayer.  When we spend more time in prayer, we move closer to God.  When we move closer to God, we will spend more time in prayer.  When we spend more time in prayer. . .  Well, you get the picture.

So what comes first, the righteous egg or the praying chicken?  Righteousness is not something that can be accomplished apart from God.  Therefore, to move toward righteousness, we must spend time alone with God in conversation, meditation and Bible study.  Powerful and effective prayers are only the result of righteousness.  If we desire to see a more powerful prayer life, personal righteous is required.

One closing thought:  Blackaby points out (and it is a VERY important point to make) that "God's standard of righteousness is different from ours, for He looks beyond our actions, even beyond our thoughts, directly to our hearts."  We will continue to sin after our salvation experience, even after years of Christian living.  Perfection is not to be attained this side of heaven.  But God examines our heart to determine our righteousness.  Do we desire to please Him?  Are are we grieved when we confess our sin?  Do we strive to further His kingdom here on earth?  The litmus test for righteousness is the condition of our hearts.