Effective Prayer




The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b

In Christian theology, the word "righteous" has two applications. First, the believer is declared righteous by God because of the believer's faith (as Abraham was in Genesis 15:6). It is a legal standing, a positional perspective. Second, the believer is expected to live righteously—that is, live a holy life that reflects his righteous standing in God's sight. This is a practical perspective. Both perspectives—position and practice—have to be considered when it comes to prayer.

Peter tells us that "the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Peter 3:12). One must know God (have standing in His sight) in order to call out to Him, and the one who has standing must not regard sin in his heart: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear" (Psalm 66:18). But if we have confessed our sins (been cleansed of "all unrighteousness," 1 John 1:9), the "effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." We are encouraged to pray (Hebrews 4:16), but we must pray on God's terms.