James 5:13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

Yesterday I went to visit one of our parishioners whose health has been deteriorating for some time. Part of her struggle is that she feels useless. It’s true that her capacities have been compromised as a result of her health challenges, but she’s certainly not “useless” to God. Or to her church. And so I asked if she would be willing to be a prayer warrior for our church. I was delighted when she agreed.

“The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

My dear friend is not perfect anymore than I am, but she has been made “righteous” according to the grace of God given to her through Jesus Christ. As such I believe she will be a powerful asset to our ministry, bringing down strongholds and advocating for God’s kingdom to be unleashed on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, let it be so. Amen.