Prayer According to James

One of the themes of the book of James is prayer.  In the Church the book of James is most well-known for chapter 1 verse 5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  This teaches us the powerful truth that God will answer our prayers and give us wisdom when we come to Him in faith.  This was one of the most important verses for Joseph Smith and was the catalyst for the events of the Restoration.  I think we miss something, though, if we stop reading after verse 5, for James has much to teach us about prayer. 

                One of the lessons we learn from James is that prayer must be done with faith.  We too often fail to read the subsequent verses after we read verse 5 in discussing the Joseph Smith story: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering…. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6-7).  If we are to ask God for wisdom, then one of the essential requirements is that we ask in faith without wavering.  According to James, if we do not have faith when we pray, we will not receive anything from the Lord.  Later James also reiterated that “the prayer of faith shall save the sick” (James 5:15).  For, prayer to be of power and to work miracles, it must be accompanied by faith. 

                Given that, though, James emphasized that prayer must also be accompanied by works; we must show forth righteousness if we really want to commune with God.  For example, he condemned those who spoke good words to God through prayer but then cursed men around them: “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men….  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing” (James 3:9-10).  We can’t expect God to take our words to Him seriously if our words to others are full of wickedness.  James said in one of his most famous statements, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?... Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:14, 17).  Surely he meant this to be applied to prayer as well.  Amulek expressed the same idea in more specific terms: “Let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you....  Do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick… your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing” (Alma 34:28).  To have the most powerful kind of prayer, James taught that our actions must match our faith—we must be righteous.  He said, “Draw night to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts” (James 4:8).  If we “ask, and receive not” then it is “because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).  James summed it up this way: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

                I’ve heard it said, “Pray as if all depends on the Lord, and then work as if all depends on you.”  I think that might not be a bad way to sum up this message of James: we must “pray in faith, nothing wavering” and then we must go forth with clean hands and pure hearts and seek to do the will of the Lord in our lives.