HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE?
Tuesday – January 20, 2026
Video link: https://youtu.be/yGsmoM-9HnA
Greetings dear saints of God and others and welcome to our ongoing study of the Bible Book of James. Yesterday we paused to recognize the contribution of Martin Luther King Jr. in the maturation of this nation. Now to our text for today.
James 1:2-5 (KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Last week we struggled a bit with the idea of having joy when we found ourselves surrounded by adversity or enticement. This was immediately followed by the idea that patience, on our part, would be required, another idea not heartily embraced. Then we discovered that this was part of our maturation process in Christ Jesus and the end result would be that we would be whole wanting nothing. There is an old saying “no pain no gain” which may be applicable here. Last week I pointed out that all too frequently we knowingly walk into temptation that we know better than to do in the first. If we play with it too long deception and deep darkness takes root. Let’s look at what James has to say about temptation just a few verses later in this same chapter of the Book of James.
James 1:13-16 (KJV)
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Did you notice that the devil isn’t mentioned, other people are not mentioned, and God is mentioned only to make it clear that He is not the source either. For the Christian both the evil powers and God have a role. Their role is for the Holy Spirit and perhaps angels to warn us and the demons to tell it is okay. This might be another example of us being our own worst enemy.
This happens easily with those with an unrenewed mind, who remain carnal and are not spending quality time with the Lord daily. I think it was Smith Wigglesworth who was asked once how long he prayed for his ministry was marked by remarkable miracles including the raising of the dead. His reply was that he did not pray long but he didn’t go very long without praying. In other words, he spoke to God many times every day.
Just a brief word about prayer. There are several kinds of prayers but in general prayer is simply talking with God. That talking acknowledges who He is and our submission to Him. It includes thanksgiving (for what He has done whether we have received it yet or not) and includes praise which is declaring who He is which releases Him to be that in our lives like healer. It is not a begging session. Consider the following Scripture as we return to temptation and lust.
2 Peter 1:2-4 (KJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
We have reviewed this passage many times and will continue to do so until we go home or He comes and gets us. Knowledge is essential to success in the natural and no less so in the Kingdom of God. As we gain knowledge, believe it, water it (meditate repetitively) those words become planted in our spirit, displacing the junk of the world, and bringing a harvest. The Apostle Peter goes on to say that through this knowledge we find we have been given and can receive “all things that pertain unto life and godliness”. It doesn’t say just barely what we need but anything and everything that pertains to life and a godly life. The Word goes on to say that we are then partakers of divine nature. We already have a divine nature and have already been given everything, but when we receive His promises, we become partakers. If we have everything for this life and godliness there is no longer a temptation, no longer a place for lust and the corruption associated.
TAKE HOME:
- We are tempted, enticed when we are drawn away by our own lusts. This is the man/woman who is carnal and ignorant of what is theirs in Christ Jesus.
- Prayer in general is talking to God, acknowledging who He is and our place under Him, giving of thanks and praise.
- It is only through knowledge that one becomes a partaker of the divine nature in common with our Father. All good things are ours, we do have to go to the worlds methods to obtain them.
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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