What makes prayer successful?
What makes prayer worth the while?
The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.Elias was a man subject to
like passions as we are,
and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:
and it rained not on the earth
by the space of three years and six months.James 5:16-18
If you are a praying person, what keeps you at it?
If you aren’t, what keeps you from it?
That’s a strange expression in the King James Version of the Bible.
Behold, we count them happy which endure.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job,
and have seen the end of the Lord;
that the Lord is very pitiful,
and of tender mercy.James 5:10,11
Does that mean that in seeing behind the scenes in the book of Job we also see the purposes of God?
Well, this is the Internet, so I will check in another version or translation…
OK, here you go:
Indeed we count them blessed who endure.
You have heard of the perseverance of Job
and seen the end intended by the Lord—
that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.New King James Version
We count those blessed who endured.
You have heard of the endurance of Job
and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings,
that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.New American Standard Bible
As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of Job’s perseverance
and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.New International Version