Session Six: Day Four- Something We Can Do

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
James 5:13

I don't know about you guys, but in my life, there have been multiple times where I life circumstances were so overwhelming that I actually thought that there was nothing else that I could do.  I said out loud,  "By this time next year things will be different.  If I can just make it through the next twelve months."  Essentially I was saying there is nothing else I can pray, no other action I can take no other thing I can do to survive what I was going through.

In verses 13-14 James talks about three conditions and the prescriptions for them.  They are:

1. In trouble - then pray
2. Happy- then sing songs of praise
3. Sick- then call the elders and have them pray and anoint with oil

Even when we desperately feel there is nothing else we can do, we can pray with and for one another.  The prayers of my beloved friends is what carried me through my darkest days and sometimes my own prayer was a simple, "Please God...."

Name a few reasons why we can't be healthy believers if we disassociate all of our good feelings or merriment from God.
Because God gives us the ability to be happy.  It isn't something that He takes away from us.  He wants us to rejoice in the good things, no matter how simple or profound they are.  Joy lifts our spirit and allows us to hold on to the hope of good things to come.  


Complete the following:

Is anyone cheerful? He should sing songs of praise.

Can you think of any reason for this particular prescription for Be the glad hearted?
It's important to spend time with God in prayer when things are hard, but equally important to spend time with Him when things are good.  It's the give and take of the relationship.