James 5:16-18

There is great power in the prayer of a righteous person. Perhaps this is why people are called to confess their sins and pray for one another. Confession of sins gives need for prayer, and those who confess their sins are those who are cleansed from unrighteousness. An example of the great power of prayer is in Elijah. Though he was a prophet and mightily used by God, he is described as someone with a nature like ours. He isn't some mighty super-human who is far greater than us, but he had a nature like ours. He prayed for the rains to cease, and it ceased for three years and six months. Afterwards, he prayed again and it began to rain again. There is power in the prayer of a righteous man, and yet, this man was just a man who had a nature just like ours. Therefore, there is great power in the prayer of a righteous man, and not because we are powerful, but because the one who we pray to is powerful.