WEDNESDAY August 12, 2026
Prayer for the Sick
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
James 5:13-15
James instructed those who were suffering to pray. The word suffering or afflicted was not a word confined to bodily illnesses; it also referred to anyone who was suffering any type of hardship. James wanted to make sure people understood that many Christians were suffering terrible hardships because of the rich who had oppressed them.
The Apostle told those in good spirits, those who were cheerful, to sing to the Lord. Christians who were sick were instructed to call for the elders of the church. They would anoint them with anointing oil on the forehead and, by faith, pray for them in the name of the Lord. Oil was used because it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Everything the apostles did were in order and according to the Scriptures. It is important to understand that healing was according to God’s sovereign will (1 John 5:14).
James’ words should cause us to think about all the different situations we are facing in our individual lives. What can we do when we or someone in our family becomes sick? We can ask the church elders to anoint our heads with oil and pray. What must we do when we suffer tragedy, the loss of a child, our home burns down, or we are laid off from work? We need to pray. Prayer is very powerful––it will help us through the difficult days.
King David often called out to the Lord because of his many afflictions and sufferings. The psalms are full of his prayers. Read them and take comfort because it shows how God is there when we need Him. He answers prayer: The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17).
The man who kneels to God can stand up to anything.
~Louis H. Evans~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
