James 5:16 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]. AMP
It is one thing to read this scripture and quite another to experience the truth of it. Like many scriptures one can read it and think or say, “yeah, OK,” and go on to the next thing, not really considering the fullness of what it says.
Who is righteous? Certainly not me, that’s what I used to think. But today I understand that a person who fits the John 5:16 description is one who has a close, personal relationship with Jesus, and in that closeness they are being transformed, growing more like him. In that transformation their minds and hearts are tuned to his heart and mind, thus their lives become living extensions of the fullness of God in Christ. The short version is: they love Jesus more than their stuff. They believe they are who God says they are (Rom. 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God). NASB
As I began to trust this picture of who God says I am, my prayer life began to bear amazing fruit and I understood the fruitful prayer lives of many of God's people, no matter their brokenness.
As my faith continues to grow, so does the fruit of my prayers. He is my righteousness and I can yield myself, my life, up to him daily and in that process I continue to heal and be restored, thus bearing more fruit.
When our lives are full of secret shame, with our heads full of negative, and often grandiose, self-talk, we can’t imagine being righteous enough for our prayers to ever matter, or we think too well of ourselves, forgetting to whom we belong.
If you don’t think you have those things in your mind carry a pocket sized notepad, listen to your thoughts, and write them down (include what you say to, or think about others). Do this for a week or two, or a month. Ask your friends, your spouse, your family what kinds of things you say about yourself. What do they say to you?
Some years ago my husband asked me, “Did you hear what you just called yourself?” I was shocked at the look of sadness on his face. That moment changed my life, catalyzing me to do what I have suggested, carry a notepad and write down my self-talk and thoughts. It was a few months of growing awareness of the power of words to give life or kill: Prov. 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit Prov. 12:18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment. AMP
Read James 5:16 again, slowly, a little at a time. Carry it around & ponder it for a time. When questions come up, ask Abba (God) about it, His Word says He will answer. How cool is that? Such is His Amazing Grace and Love.
Think about what happens as we, The Body of Christ, stands in faith that we are heirs to the Kingdom of God and We Pray, “Thy Will Be Done, on Earth as it Is In Heaven!” Believe it!