Friday - The Letter of James

Welcome to Daily Prayer. Today is our final day praying through the letter of James.

We're finishing our study of the letter by reflecting on the verses we've memorized in these 12

weeks.

So as we begin our time together, let's quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord.

Lord, we thank you for your precious and holy Word.

We have been strengthened and encouraged and challenged by your Word.

You've given us vision and wisdom, and we worship you.

Lord, we draw near to you and humble ourselves before you.

We need your grace.

We ask for wisdom as we finish this season and step into a new one.

Inspire us to see and act on the wisdom of your Word.

Let's listen and reflect on the 12 passages that we've sought to memorize together from James.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right." James 2:8

“faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13 

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:7-8

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." James 4:17

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near." James 5:8

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

A prayer of adoration:

Father, thank you for the things you've taught us in this study.

Every good and perfect gift comes from you.

You are the Good Shepherd and the Potter.

You are cultivating something in us.

You are doing a work through us.

And you have a crown of life waiting for us.

You have shown us the way that's pleasing to you.

Give us the grace to persevere.

You are coming again and we want to be found faithful in the end.

Thank you for the gift of your Word. We love you.

A prayer of confession and trust"

Lord, we confess that many times we have missed the mark.

We have done wrong and have failed to do what is right. And we acknowledge our weakness and sin.

Apart from grace, we can do nothing.

We confess that sometimes we've lost sight of the prize and we've given up.

But we thank you for brothers and sisters that have encouraged us when we were wandering in the dark.

We say YES to you again today.

We trust you.

We set our gaze on you.

A prayer of intercession:

Lord, deliver us from the evil one. For those in our community that are in trials and temptations,

uphold them and deliver them.

For those that are sick and suffering, we ask that you would bring healing.

Teach us to pray and sing and seek you in every season.

Energize us to walk together with patience and give us eyes to see those who are straying and

struggling.

Give us wisdom to love you and lean on you in every season.

A moment of reflection:

Lord, what is one area you have transformed or strengthened me through our study of this

letter?

A closing prayer:

Father, we humble ourselves before you and draw near as a community to receive your life and

wisdom.

Cause all that we have learned to be stored in our hearts so that we won't sin against you.

We worship you for the lamp of your Word that guides us on the path.

May all that was taught to us in this letter encourage us and be used as fuel for faithful

endurance.

We intend to be the blessed ones who receive the crown of life that you've promised to those who

love you.

May we be a community of active faith, undivided hope and wholehearted love.

Lord, we look to you for life.

In the name of Jesus,

amen.