What is…
“effectual prayer”

“The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much.” —James 5:16 excerpt

This term occurs in the King James Version translation of James 5:16.

The New American Standard Bible translates the text as “effective prayer (or supplication).” Prayer of a righteous person “moves the hand of Him who moves the world.”

“…The effective prayer (or supplication) of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.” —James 5:16b-18 NASB

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” —James 4:3 NASB

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” —James 4:3 ESV

Article Version: March 15, 2020

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