James 5:16 The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (NASB)
When reading a Bible verse, consider each word. What is a righteous man? Someone who has accepted Christ as the Risen Son of God, and who has therefore been set apart from others. Righteous does not mean a Christian (means little Christ) is "right," it means he/she has been set apart from all others for eternity.
Matthew 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
Whoa! That's heavy! Christ will deny he ever knew you if you do not publicly acknowledge Him to your fellow man! If Christ doesn't know you, that's an eternal ticket to Hades!
So, for God to receive your prayer you have to first receive His Son, accept God's gift of salvation through Christ. And that begins with the first prayer God will receive from you:
Lord, thank you for sending Your Son to save me for eternity. I confess my sins to you, and I will acknowledge Christ as my Savior before all men always. Please forgive me by trespasses. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
If you meant that from the heart - and God is omnipotent and KNOWS your heart, there is no hiding anything from Him - if you meant that from your heart, you are forever righteous and God will receive your every prayer (so be very careful what you pray for!) Now comes maybe the hardest part that one who calls himself a Christian in today's world suffers:
Not forsaking the assembling ourselves - In public or private worship. As the manner of some is - Either through fear of persecution, or from a vain imagination that they (you) were above external ordinances. But exhorting one another - To faith, love, and good works. And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching - The great day is ever in your eye.
--Wesley's Notes on the Bible on Hebrews 10:25
Unfortunately, people today think they go to church or Bible study to learn something. Not! You should go there every single Sunday to worship God - not the preacher, not your new clothing, not to show off a new car, or to be seen by others. You should go to worship God. If the preacher makes you mad, so what? You're not there for the preacher you are there to publicly proclaim that Christ died for you and no human is going to tick you off enough to keep you from coming to HIS altar. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, is the Lord's Prayer. Forgive those humans who habit your church, and worship God!
And so, as a righteous man, on the day of Thanksgiving, lift your prayers of Thanksgiving to the heavens and know that your prayers will be answered - in God's time, in God's way, in every circumstance! Praise be to God, Amen!
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