“Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises” (James 5:13).

The Lord has called for us to learn how to care for one another.  Yes, the Lord sent salvation for  you, but He also placed you in a fellowship for His sake.  If there is a need, then pray.  If there is something to rejoice over, then rejoice.  We are put together as a family, a social unit.  The world seeks to tear us apart, but the Lord will bring us together.  Seek the way of the Lord now and always.

Lord, help me to understand that when one part of the body hurts, we all hurt.  Guide me to know that in the truth of what You have revealed we do need to care for one another.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may learn how to do these things and live into the life to which You have called me.  Help me to be sensitive to my neighbor’s needs and seek to be united with them as I am with You.

Lord Jesus, You called together Your disciples and taught them to look to You and care for one another.  You demonstrated Your care by healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, opening the ears of the deaf, and feeding the hungry.  Lead me by Your example to care for those whom You give me to care for.  Lead me in order that I would now and forever live toward the goal that faith in You has given me.  Amen.

“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment” (James 5:12).

Is it a sin to make a pledge or a vow?  There are many over the ages who have argued from this verse that it is.  But look at the intent of the whole passage and what you see is submission to the Lord and His ways rather than thinking that you, in yourself, have power or authority.  You cannot change a thing; so be honest and truthful and if another requires certain words to hear the pledge, then give it to them.

Lord, You have struck me to the heart.  Am I honest with You and with others?  Do I think I have power or authority?  Guide me into right thinking so that I would now and forever be guided by the truth You have revealed.  Help to not get caught up in word games, but to live according to Your Word.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of righteousness and bring my steps into line with Your will.

Lord Jesus, You said that we are to let our yes be yes and our no be no.  We cannot change a single hair on our head.  Guide me, Lord, to live in the truth that You alone are the Lord and that I can do nothing to change anything.  Lead me in the way of righteousness, for You alone know what is needed.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see through the fog of this age and live into the truth You have revealed.  Amen.

“As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful” (James 5:10-11).

Why is it we have an idea in our minds that there was some idyllic time when everyone loved the Lord?  The prophets were always hated for telling the truth.  We have been called into the life which comes through faith and Jesus promised that it would be hard.  Do not think yourself exempt from suffering but live in the goodness and mercy the Lord gives you in the face of a hostile world.

Lord, You have said that suffering is a part of what we experience in this life.  Help me to understand that this is what sin has caused.  Lead me through all my suffering to know that in You is the only hope there is and that those who cling to a false hope become angry when they hear the truth.  Help me to live in the true hope and speak the truth always.  Your Word is truth, and I am thankful for those who have spoken it that I may hear and obey it.

Lord Jesus, they killed You because of what You said.  Let me not take lightly these things, nor set them aside, but live into the reality that You are the Lord of all.  Guide me through all suffering for Your name’s sake so that I may stand firm and live in the true hope of Your salvation and not in false hope or for the demands of this world.  You know the way, for You are the way.  Lead me, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.  Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door” (James 5:8-9).

How old are you?  How much longer will you live on this earth?  A few more decades?  A little less?  What is that in comparison with eternity.  You have been given the gift of grace through Christ and called to live with Him forever.  Come then and live into this life which is coming to an end much quicker than most imagine.  Whether Jesus returns in our lifetime or at the end of this life, it is not for us to know. But the Lord said , “be ready.”

Lord, help me to put an eternal perspective on things.  I, too often, think in ways that do not help me see what You are teaching me.  Guide my eyes to see and my ears to hear in order that I would now and always be guided by You in the life You give.  Help me to participate in these things knowing that You are always near me.  Let me not be found at rest when there are things that need to be done and which I am able to do.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Not only here, but forever.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Lead me according to the Father’s will to be about His business knowing that my time here is short.  Let me look to You always for all encouragement and direction.  Amen.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains” (James 5:7).

The question of why is important for us to ask.  Why am I here?  Many have fallen asleep and are in the trap of living as if this life is all there is.  You have been called to be conformed to the image of Christ.  How are you doing?  It will take all of this life and perhaps more to accomplish all that needs to be done.  What is the crop you are hoping for from the seeds that have been sown?

Lord, You have called me through faith and by grace to walk the narrow path.  You have called for me to follow You.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I would walk humbly in the path You have set before me.  Let me not waver, nor fall asleep, but live into the life You intend and for which You died on the cross.  Help me pick up my own cross and follow You as You accomplish my salvation.

Lord Jesus, I too have fallen asleep and lived as though this life was all that mattered.  Guide me today in those ways which will help me live according to Your goodness and mercy and will shape me to be more like You.  In all that happens to me, Lord, may I always be found walking the narrow path that You have set before me.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.  You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you” (James 5:5).

Have you sought the good life?  Are you living for yourself?  These are legitimate questions we need to ask ourselves.  Is my generosity something that hampers my ability to do things I would rather do?  Does my giving preclude spending money on myself?  It is not that you give to gain, but that keeping things for yourself may harm you spiritually.  Think on these things and ask the hard questions.

Lord, I am selfish.  I do want to live the good life.  Help me Lord to see beyond myself and care for others.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of living as You have designed it to be lived.  You know where I fall short and where I think of myself first.  Guide me out of this way of thinking so that I may be conformed to the image of Christ.  Through all these things, teach me to be faithful.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the example You have given us all.  You had nothing in this world, kept nothing, and left nothing from this world.  But for our salvation, You had everything and gave it away.  You who needed nothing became nothing for the sake of us who think we have everything but have nothing.  Lead me Lord in the way You know I need to go and help me follow You always.  Amen. 

“Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth” (James 5:4).

Do we cheat?  Do not answer that question so quickly.  We all like our cheap goods, produced by labor somewhere else.  We like to have the better deal.  Sin is sloppy and many are unaware how we participate in transactions at the expense of others.  Be that as it may, be as fair as you can be.  Know that the Lord holds you accountable for what you do and do not.

Lord, raise my awareness so that I see how things truly are.  When possible, lead me away from doing things that come at the expense of others.  Guide me in Your goodness to not only know these things, but to be gracious and generous to those who are walked on by others.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life and teach me to be conscientious and caring of the welfare of others.

Lord Jesus, You did not come to be served, but to serve.  In Your example, help me to understand that in You I am called to also serve my neighbor.  Help me to be an encouragement to others by being fair, aware, and caring.  Guide me by Your example and teach my heart to be sensitive to every situation.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may now and always be guided by You.  Amen.

“Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” (James 5:3)

Yes, gold and silver corrode.  Things in this world are temporary, even the things we think permanent.  There will be a new heaven and a new earth.  Thus, the Lord has spoken.  Do not fall into the trap of thinking that anything other than the Lord is forever.  He made all things and only in Him is there a forever.  Come then and live the life which is forever and do not cling to what is temporary.

Lord, teach me to enjoy the things You have given me to use on this earth, but to know that only You are permanent.  Teach me to be a good steward, for that is an approved character, but my property, that which I tend and care for is only temporary.  Lead me, Lord, in the way You want me to go and then help me go in that direction.  In and through all things, guide me in the upward way of being Your disciple.

Lord Jesus, You call all disciples the same way by saying, “Come and follow me.”  Lead me in the way of life and help me to become aware of what You are doing.  In You is all hope and an eternal future.  Guide me into that future and help me to cling to You.  You are my Rock and Salvation.  In You is all hope.  You know what I need, Lord.  Thank You for lifting me up into Your never-failing love.  Amen.

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten” (James 5:1-2).

It is no sin to have things, but if your things have you, then watch out.  This was the warning that Jesus gave.  Too many are wrapped up in their possessions and do not think about the reality of the offer the Lord is giving them to lift up their souls to be with Him eternally.  Do not fall into the trap of thinking these things do not matter.  They are essential for eternal life and the reality of the direction you are heading.

Lord, help me to understand that on the one hand it does not matter, but on the other it is critical about how much I have and cling to.  It is critical if I let the things I have become what I worship.  Teach me to be rich in You and grow in the likeness of Christ.  Help me to invest in higher things which cannot be taken away, nor rust, and cannot be destroyed.  Help me turn my life over to You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to rescue us from all the traps of this world.  I own nothing and I own everything.  Both are true when I am in You.  Regardless of what the world says I have, help me to see that these are just things, but You are Truth itself.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You have established so that I may walk humbly in the path You have set before me.  Guide me now and always.  Amen.

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Here is where you see that to be ignorant is a sin.  Naivety is not knowing.  Ignorance is to ignore what you have been taught and should know.  When you know something is right and you ignore it, it is a sin.  That is why the saying, “Ignorance is no excuse.”  The Lord calls for us to be diligent and aware.  The Lord asks us to seek righteousness all the days of our life.  Come then into the Lord’s presence and do as He would have you do.

Lord, You know those places where I ignore what is right.  Help me understand so that in You I may have all hope and a future.  Let me not ignore what is going on around me, but be a willing participant in living in the truth You have shown me.  Guide me into the work You have given me to do and then help me to live out my call according to Your good purposes, for in You alone is there all fulfillment.

Lord Jesus, You came to accomplish our salvation.  You did not ignore what needed to be done but did all that was needed.  Help me to live into the life to which You have called me so that I would not ignore those things around me which I see and know that I can do something  about, doing what I can in the face and fact of this evil age.  Lead me, Lord and then, by Your Spirit, help me to follow You always in and through all You give me to do.  Amen.