Day 293: James 5:16

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." ~James 5:16, NIV

The context of this verse is the "prayer of faith", as described to be capable of asking for and receiving anything. Our fears can stem from many things - nature, nurture, spirit... But prayer brings faith, prayer hands the issue off to God so you don't have to worry about it anymore.

And while the Bible does tell us to pray for ourselves (ask and you shall receive) we are the body of Christ, and in a body, if one cell is sick, there's damage to the whole body. You are important to the body, and it's up to God through (disclaimer: not always) the body to take care of you.

It's also our responsibility as the body to take care of each other, and prayer is the "least" we can do - yet look at what James says! Prayer is powerful and effective. So it's not a small thing to do, and isn't it so simple? And can't we banish each other's fears by asking God to do so? And don't we foster a loving, caring atmosphere that growth easily comes to when we do so?

And don't we break down barriers that humans erect when we do so?