James 5:16

James 5:16

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much.

Let's take a look at this verse from a simple perspective.  Confess means to admit to doing something.  Trespass is to do something wrong.  Effective means to have something do or work out the way it is supposed to.  Fervent means to passionately not give up.  Righteous is a type of person who has a good heart and lives the best that they know how.

Now let's take our analyzed vocabulary and put that back together.

You are to admit everything you did wrong to a fellow believer, and them admit where they messed up in life to you.  Then you are to pray for each other so that each of you will be healed.  The good prayers that result in something positive come from those who are passionate in their worship and talks with God.  These people are good people who live life as best as they can for God.  Their prayers can lead to more than those who are not truly seeking God's heart.

Wait, healed?  Did we read that correctly?

A something has been unearthed here.  Let's talk about it.  

When a person messes up in life, they are in the end hurting themselves (and often those around them.)  It can be physical, emotional, mental or even social injuries that are a result of that sin.  However, there is always spiritual wounds.  Prayer allows God to cleanse you on the inside.  To gently wash your bruised and battered soul.  From tiny scrapes to gaping gashes.  If there is other injuries to you, He will work on those too.  Just keep in mind that God is a God of Choice.  You will most likely still have to suffer the consequences of your actions.  You won't be alone though.  God places fellow imperfect believers around us to encourage and be encouraged by.  He gave us His Holy Spirit too.  You aren't alone no matter the tough places you end up traveling.