Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.  Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 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 5:13-16

When are you compelled to pray? Every man responds differently under pressure. Some turn inward and withdraw from the world until a moment of explosion. Others will show discomfort in immediate and public ways. Men experience joy in different ways as well, with both internal and external reactions. James teaches his reader that in all circumstances, be compelled to pray. Prayer is a keystone activity that must be central in the life of a disciple.

What triggers prayer in your heart? Remember that James was an eyewitness to Jesus Christ. He saw a man who demonstrated prayer in all conditions. Training yourself to pray the way James described requires thinking of an example and praying that way. The process of discipleship is just that, a process. Keep in mind Jesus, who modeled prayer and gave us the tool to respond to any situation.

DO THIS TODAY: Be compelled to pray under any circumstance.