Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
This verse is such an important part of Christianity. I think it means for us to befriend one another. The confessing of sins helps to keep us accountable. We need to know that first– God forgives us our sins, and forgets. So we are not confessing to receive a lashing. I think we confess to release. Confessions bring about healing, and it is for us. We need to learn to fess up and let it go. Only then can we actually move ahead with our sins washed away.
I want to focus on the part where it says we are to pray for each other, so we may be healed. God hears and honors our prayers. The verse says the prayers of a righteous man (woman) are powerful and effective. This is not all fluff and pretty words. This is healing and freedom.
I have found there are times in my own life when I do not have “close” friends. Not ones that I can call up and chat – let alone confess my sins and ask for prayer. Well, I will come closer to asking for prayer than confessing my sins. However, since the advent of the internet, I have forged friendships that run deep and are real. I am talking about friendships with my “sisters.”
I have faced some of the darkest times of my life (when my mother died) and other really tough times, by leaning on my sisters in Christ, my faithful online friends. Yes, I have my family, my husband, and my children and friends. They are there for me, but at times, I need a little something more, I need a hand, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to bend. These friends have been there for me, offering encouragement, tears, prayers, and it is a view of how God wants His children to act. This is what this community does – Sisters in Bloom – offering hands extended in the name of Jesus Christ. Sisters in the Lord, that’s what we are!
About Lori Ramsey
I have already seen this in action in the blossoming community and I am grateful for what God is doing!
May God continue to make this a place of prayer!
Amen Stacey!
amen thanks for this! <3
You’re welcome!
Lori, this is so good, so important and essential to community. Thank you so much. I need to step into this even more. What a blessing to be gathered up, all vulnerable and real, trusting in Him, in the community He brings!
Thank you Jennifer. I’m so happy to be a part of this community!
And wow have we ever shared our hearts online. Thank you Lori for being that friend who I can ask to pray for me. It is so awesome to have that – here at home I don’t have many interactions with friends because I stay home, and it has been a god-send to have sisters in Christ to call upon in time of need.
Let’s keep that sisterhood going!
AMEN Denise! You have been with me through some really sticky times, and I’m so thankful God brought you in my life – and all the ladies here!
I saw this in action in my own life in the past few weeks….others holding me up in prayer while I prayed and fasted through a dark time. It worked…just like the Word of God says it will. Posted about it today. http://www.leahadams.org/consider-the-messenger/
Thanks for such a great website!!
Thank you Leah. I visited your website, and your post is very good! Words that I needed to hear. Isn’t it wonderful how God brings us all in agreement?
Your post is a wonderful example of the community of sisters we have, and the promise that God hears our prayers. Many moms,, women can find this prayer support and encouragement here at Sisters In Bloom. Thank you Lori for sharing your heart… I was again reminded of His faithful promises. Amen!
Thank you September. This community is certainly a blessing to me.
I love coming here for the uplifting posts and stories. What a great addition to my day!
Good to hear Lisa! You are always welcome here!
I don’t know how I would live without the community of sisters and friends I have been blessed with, who pray regularly for me and lift me up! I cannot even imagine. I am honored and humbled by the sweet blessings of this community and others like it. Amazing!! Thank you, Lori!
Amen Kris, and you are most welcome!
Amen. We so need each other! This community and others have blessed my life so richly.
Agree Kristin!
What a great post
This really touched my heart a lot. I just moved to California at the end of last August…and it’s taken till now to just begin to form some friendships with people at church, especially good, Christian women friends that I can pray with…so I’m not at the point, where I can share the deep things in my heart…but I’ve got on-line friends…and that has been a total God-send, especially when I didn’t have anyone hear to turn to for prayer!! Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
Welcome to Sisters in Bloom Heather! With God there is no miles between friends, and we can pray in one accord from all over the globe. Enjoy warm California!
How thankful I am for sisters in Christ. I just emailed one tonight with a prayer request!
That’s nice Rachel, and you can be sure that you will be prayed for.
Amen! May everyone really hear your message–and may we all join together to offer effective and powerful prayers!
Thank you Richella!
I love this verse! Having been a leader of children for several years I learned the verse in the NIrV. The verse ends by saying…”It makes things happen.” I love that. And I love that as a community of sisters we can expect to see God’s power at work in amazing ways.
Amen to that Diane! With God All things are possible and where 2 or 3 are gathered in prayer, He is in the midst!
I have been sooo blessed by the community of sweet sisters here. You’re right, we truly can lean on one another and pray for one another during those dark times. We need that…so glad that God brings those people into our lives!
Me too Ashlie!!
And He IS the one who brings them into our lives, at just the right time. He is so good.
It’s such a blessing to be in community with like-minded women! I have found confession to be the thing that deepens relationships, just as you said. The times when I have confessed to by best friend have been so healthy for our friendship. Not only do I confess, and I’m better for it, but it opens the door to honesty and it never fails that she has things that she needs to confess too. Because I have been honest, she feels she can be too. Isn’t that a beautiful thing? Love this post, Lori. It is such a good reminder of this. God bless!
I so agree Jenny!!! They say “Confession is good for the soul” and in this manner you can see it is. We develop deeper relationships, trust, and know we have someone who has our back prayer-wise. I don’t know about you, but I can use all the prayer I can get. So blessed to be a part of this community!
God’s love radiates so beautifully and powerfully, among Sister’s in Christ! Being able to admit our shortcomings to our sisters who walk beside us on our paths of faith, is a humility we need, but also brings about the grace of support, encouragement and prayers from one another – and ultimately even a greater bond with each other, and strengthened missions, to spread the Word of God, and His love for us all, no matter how great our sins.
Beautiful post Lori, and might I add, you’re a sister of mine I have felt quite blessed with!!
AMEN Laura! The feelings are likewise.
You are a big blessing to me too!