The Relationship Playbook: Week 5 - Saturday

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16

When I moved to Albuquerque in July, I had to start shopping at a brand-new grocery store. I quickly learned that there is no Kroger or Publix (yes, shopping really is a pleasure at Publix) to go to for my groceries. So, now I shop at Albertson's, which works great. The problem with a new grocery store is that it is organized very differently from what you are accustomed to. I walked into Albertson's for the first time, looked around, and realized I had no idea where anything was. I remember trying to find granola, walking around the entire store looking to no avail. Finally, I decided I will just ask for help. So, I finally asked an Albertson's employee to point me in the direction of the granola, and he took me right to it. I thought about all of the time I had spent trying to find the granola and how I just should have asked for help at the beginning. I do not know what it is about human nature and why we struggle to ask for help. Maybe it's our pride. Sometimes, we just need to ask for help. This is especially true in our marriages. Sometimes, when our marriages are sick and in trouble, we just need to ask for help.

James 5 is a reminder to go to God in prayer, asking for help and provision for our needs. "Is anyone of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you" (James 5:13-14). Friends, re-read those verses one more time. Based on what you read, is there any time we should not pray? The answer is no. In other words, we should always be praying to God. Then, James tells us to "confess [our] sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results" (verse 16). In other words, we are to talk about our shortcomings with each other and pray for each other to receive healing. There is a great promise that goes along with this command: "the prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." My friend, when we pray, we are promised that our prayers are powerful and will have good results.

Notice something profound about what James has to say: Instead of just confessing your sins to God, he adds that we are to confess them to one another. Instead of just praying alone, he is encouraging the people in the church to get help from each other In that same way, if you are struggling or need prayer for something going on, we want to encourage you to ask for it. In the same way that I had to ask for help in Albertsons, maybe it is time for you to get the help you need, both from God and our church.

Moving Toward Action

Your challenge today is simple: ask for help in your relationships, especially in your marriage. Spend time in prayer, especially with your spouse if they are willing. Ask God to work in your marriage. Ask Him to help you both stay firmly committed to Him and to each other. Ask God for help, specifically in the rocky places of your marriage, and believe that He is capable of helping you have a stronger, healthy marriage.

If your marriage needs extra help right now, don't be afraid to reach out to others. As a church, we offer great programs designed to help strengthen your marriage. If you and your spouse need extra help, sign up for one of these programs today.

https://www.sagebrush.church/marriage/

Going Deeper

Read James 5:13-18 (NLT)