The Action of the “-ing”
As a resident of Mississippi, many of may know that a hurricane was predicted to hit the coast of Louisiana and continue on a path toward Mississippi. I, along with many others prayed and commanded (in the name of Jesus) for Ida to not do any of what the news predicted it to do. Matter of fact, I had been praying all day Sunday and got on a midnight prayer call (well it was 11 p.m. for me), to join others in prayer. But I kept praying for it to just fizzle out; to be uneventful; and to dissipate.
When I woke up this morning, I could hear rain, but I also heard the voice of Holy Spirit say: The prayers of the righteous avail much.
Holy Spirit spoke to me straight from James 5:16. Righteousness is the nature of God imputed to man through Christ Jesus. Righteousness is right standing before God in Christ Jesus. It reminds me that the more I seek to be more like Jesus, the more I can stand before God righteously.
When I live righteously and let Jesus be my example of how to live my life, I can stand before God righteously in Christ Jesus. When God sees me, He sees Jesus in me.
Let’s take a look at James 5:16, and I also want us to look at verse 17 too! It’s weather-related!
16 So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen.17 Elijah was a person just like us. He prayed that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! — James 5:16 ERV
The Holy Spirit said to me: Keep on praying. Keep adding the “ing” to it all.
I immediately started to add the “ing” ending to words that I heard.
Obeying
Trusting
Believing
Giving
Praying
Worshiping
Honoring
Living (righteously)
Dreaming
Training
Writing
Speaking
Blogging
Podcasting
Serving
Encouraging
Moving
Going
Shining
Pushing
Fighting
Healing
Delivering
Fasting
Reading
Offering (Christ)
Evangelizing
Teaching
Growing
Loving
See when we add the “ing” ending to verbs (action words), it changes the function of the action. It means you keep on with it. When I look the amplified and amplified classic translations for James 5:16, one says persistent prayer and another says continued prayer.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. AMP
Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. AMPC
You know that acronym P-U-S-H? It means prayer until something happens! The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing anyway in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. So when we add that “ing” even to the word push…we get PUSHING! Keep praying until something happens.
In the King James Version of James 5:16 it says: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Effectual means sufficient to produce desired result. Fervent means constant, strenuous, intense. Check out Psalms 112 where it talks about the righteous man as well.
6 He will never be shaken.
The righteous one will be remembered forever.
7 He will not fear bad news;
his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is assured; he will not fear.
In the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
9 He distributes freely to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted in honor.
When I look outside of my window, I see answered prayers. Why? Because I seek to live a righteous and repented life. Also because I didn’t just pray once about the hurricane, I added an “ing” to the action of prayer, which turned it into praying!
Don’t give into what you see or hear. You see Psalms 112:7 says, he will not fear bad news. The Lord is saying to us this morning, KEEP ADDING THE “ING” to everything!
P.S. I just love my Conversations With God! Don’t you?
P.S. #2 Don’t forget to grab your signed copy of The 1 Hour Prayer Challenge Book & Journal
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SALVATION PRAYER
If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’re not a believer, but you have a desire to be, all you have to do is openly confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community, stay connected to other believers, and start having daily conversations through prayer with God every single day. Welcome to your new life with Jesus Christ!!!
ASSIGNMENTS
What did Holy Spirit say to you in your conversation with Him this morning? (Be sure to write it all down).
Which one of those action verbs do you need to add an “ing” to?
Record yourself reading the Word of God on video or audio and watch how God will use your own voice to give you revelation and build your faith (keeping this assignment on here for a while).
Grab your copy (and a copy for a friend) of the new book: The 1 Hour Prayer Challenge: How You Can Transform Your Spiritual Life in 10 minute Increments.
Join the 1 Hour Prayer Challenge LIVE! Begins 9/13/21. Sign up right here!
Struggling with Consistency? I want to help you! Leave me a message! Text 601-299-4398!
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