Bear with me on this one… I just found something in my perusing of the New Testament scriptures and would like to share, but I want to take you through my thought process. So for the deep sea divers here, I think you might like diving into this. Lol. Ok… So there are particular scriptures in the bible that have always been favorites for me, and a couple of them I just looked at with much deeper focus.
James 5:13 (ESV) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
James 5:16 (ESV) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
I was desiring to know the full definition of prayer in this context, so I looked deeper into the Greek origin of the word here. And this is what I found…
In verse 13, the word “pray” is the Greek “PROSEÚCHOMAI” - originating from both root words “PROS” and “EÚCHOMAI” (which I will also define): to pray to god, i.e. supplicate, worship, etc.
“PROS” is the prefix: a preposition of direction, forward to, i.e. toward, etc.
“EÚCHOMAI” is the suffix: to wish, by implication, to pray to God - pray, will, wish, etc.
So, to “pray” in verse 13 is saying to will or wish, but in a particular direction - to will TOWARD something or someone. In other words… concentrated effort, focus, or thought energy. But what does it mean to pray to or will toward “God?” And this is where understanding a deeper nature of god and divinity is necessary. Once we know that all of mankind has “god” or divinity within him or herself, we can know who we are praying/willing towards. When we “pray,” we are not necessarily asking for a being outside of ourselves to do something for us, but rather we are WILLING the DIVINITY in ourselves or in another to do something. So let’s look at verse 16 again, but let’s focus on what a “righteous” man is, exactly.
James 5:16 (KJV) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16 (ESV) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
In verse 16, the word “righteous” is the Greek “DÍKAIOS”: equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):—just, meet, right(-eous).
This is saying a righteous man is someone who’s character and actions prove they are “innocent” (we know this doesn’t mean literally that they’ve done NOTHING wrong their whole life, so it must mean they are overcoming their own faults and are practicing innocence or being just.)
So let’s put this together… (Verse 13) If one suffers, let him point or direct his will toward the divinity within himself… Let’s think of that in terms of meditation. When one meditates he is seeking to become in touch with the higher self and not be controlled by the mind or thoughts which can bring suffering. So prayer and meditation can in some ways be considered one in the same. (Now Verse 16) Confess your faults, mistakes, or wounds to one another, so that you may be healed. The will (prayer) of a just man, or a man who has PROVEN to be actively practicing innocence and walking in good character (love, peace, joy, meekness, etc), has great power and effectiveness.
I think this is true from the standpoint that a just/righteous man usually has more clarity and control of his thoughts, will, and emotions. So his innermost self, or his spirit is more in control, therefore his “prayer” or will is more potent, because he is able to energetically effect the spirit of another. Now imagine if a group of people who walk in good character and have strong control over their will were to collectively “pray” or will an outcome into fruition based on the magnitude and power of spirit within that they have accessed. Synergy… You’ve heard the phrase, “Thoughts become things.” You’ve heard the phrase, “You are what you think about.” You’ve heard the phrase, “You attract what you are.” These are all different ways to express the one truth, which is that our spirits are capable of creating, recreating, and manipulating reality, because our spirits come from The Creator itself. We literally hold the power of creation within, but our character is important to creating the reality that we desire to see. How do we create unity and love to revolutionize the world if we do not first create unity and love to revolutionize ourselves? And this is why changing the world all starts within each and every one of us individually.
#UnityLoveRevolution
#OrganicEtherealReEvolutionaryLiving
Wholeness and Light, - Mikal Anthony aka Ethereal Re-Evolutionary