The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (James 5:16,17)
Prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon, especially when the person praying is trying to live righteously.
James, the writer of these verses, references one such righteous man — Elijah. Elijah was a prophet of God. At one point, the Lord decided to punish Israel and King Ahab for their sinful ways, especially idolatry. The punishment — drought and famine. Elijah prayed and it did not rain for 3 1/2 years.
I recall visiting with a 5-year-old boy in a hospital in Richmond, Virginia. I gathered with him and his family the evening prior to the boy’s scheduled heart surgery. He had a large hole in his heart needing immediate repair. As I was about to pray, the boy asked if he could pray. Of course I said yes. His words were few: “Lord, I pray I survive. Amen.” No surgery ever happened. God healed his heart supernaturally. The prayer of this righteous young man was powerful and effective.
