It’s time to avail much

Lately, I’ve noticed an uptick in visibly answered prayers--some of them head-spinningly prompt. 

Maybe that’s simply due to more praying by myself and those around me, maybe it’s a matter of sharing and hearing more testimonies, or maybe faith is rising in our region. However you slice it, when I offer up my requests at the throne of grace, my Heavenly Father answers many of them rapidly, and in my estimation, extravagantly.  

My barely whispered cry in the night of “Lord, help me!” has found, following hard on its heels, abundant mercy and divine insight that strengthen my faith and renew my mind. Prayers asking for help in ministries I lead, or have led, brought in resources and team members and even new leadership beyond what I was expecting or had imagined possible. The individual stories aren’t that remarkable--I asked the Lord for a sound tech, and one volunteered the next day; one early Sunday morning driving to church I asked God to touch the hearts of those who He’d called to serve with me in Harvest Kids, and that day three people brought it up in conversation--but as the testimonies have continued to stack up, I simply stand in awe of God’s eagerness to be our strong helper. 

And, if this has not been your experience, take heart. It hasn’t always been mine, either. It’s a process that began with a choice, the decision to take God at His word, and place His word above my experiences in a fallen world: 

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” —James 5:16 

The word avail has limited use today---but it has a detailed, rich definition. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives an example1 from usage in court, where it denotes sufficient authority or power to defeat opposition: “the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit”.  

The Apostle James was dead serious when he wrote that the prayers of the righteous bring great benefit, and we can take him at his word. 

James’ instructions to the believers was calibrated for the least among us; in the following verses he illustrates his point with the prophet Elijah, who “was a man with a nature like ours”, but whose faith altered the weather, among other astonishing things. The Word of God is calibrated for us, where we are right now. Regardless of how we esteem ourselves, the instructions in its pages are accessible, applicable, and will avail us much if we practice living them. 

So, my brothers and sisters, no matter how long your walk with the Lord, no matter how deep your faith may already be, I encourage you to take your next step in believing that your prayers overcome the obstacles before you, and that our God is eager and ready to answer, and to join me in standing firm, eyes wide open to see the salvation of our God. 

Avail: webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/avail.

Annalea Eastley is a staff pastor at Harvest Valley Worship Center.