Prayer - November 20, 2010

Daily Lectionary Readings for November 20,2010
Psalm 60
Malachi 3:13-4:6
James 5:13-20
Luke 18:9-14

James 5:13-20
Encouragement to pray whether suffering or cheerful.  No matter our circumstance, tending to our relationship with God is critical.
Nothing more than noting a coincidence, but interesting that in the Malachi passage, the last passage of the Old Testament there is mention of Elijah and here in the last passage of the book of James there is the mention of Elijah as well.  Again, no correlation is suggested, beyond reminding again of the shadow cast by the giants of the Old Testament, Abraham, Moses, David and the one mentioned here - Elijah.

Luke 18:9-14
The Luke passage is the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple.  Where the James passage exhorts us to pray, this passage indicates both a poor attitude for prayer (the Pharisee) and a preferred attitude for prayer (the tax collector).