Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Healing and Wholeness
James 5:13-18
Vs. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
In today’s society, almost everyone we talk to are suffering from one form of aliment or another.  Families having marital problems, youths worrying about their future, parents worried about their children, and elders worried about being lonely.  We may be suffering physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.  The one thing that anyone who has ever suffered can attest to is that beyond the pain which is often unbearable there is something even worse, the feeling that we are alone in our suffering.  In our culture we have the tendency to keep secrets from relatives and friends mainly because of stigma attached to suffering. It is seen as a weakness. The thing is even if suffering and illness occurs within a family, each person in the family is affected in different ways, and often one believes they are the only ones suffering.  Suffering and pain rarely occurs in a vacuum even though it feels that way.  If our sufferings and pain is shared with a wise person the load becomes lighter.
James tells us prayer is the answer to also lighten the load of suffering.  He tells us to pray unceasingly. One of the greatest comforts of being part of a family of believers is the strength we can glean from each other as we share with each other and pray for each other.   Prayer has the power to strengthen the body and calm the soul.  When faced with those who are suffering, we as the Body of Christ are called to gather the elders of our church, anoint with oil and pray in faith.  It is a call that many of us have failed to follow. Healing of any suffering should be left in the hands of the Lord, but each one of us is called to pray for those suffering around us.
 PRAYER
Lord grant me the eyes to see those suffering around me, ears to listen as you would, and a heart to pray for their needs. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.”  - Ulysses  S. Grant
Sunitha Abraham, St. John's MTC, NY
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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