Broken relationships break hearts, broken hearts do not pray effectively, and ineffective prayers get ineffective results - relationships matter! The King James Version says, “Confess your faults to one another that you may be healed”, the Greek word translated as ‘faults’ is ‘paráptōma’ literally meaning ‘failures, slip-ups, unintentional errors, faults and offenses’. The Greek word translated as confess could also be translated acknowledge – so, acknowledging willful or unintentional actions that caused hurt toward ourselves and others will bring healing, inner wholeness and it will help us to pray effectively – relationships matter!
James is NOT saying that we should go and dig up old bones of past offenses and talk about them… “remember when you told that lie about me and I got fired… even though you did a very bad thing, I forgive you” – NO… please do not do that! What James the apostle is saying is that we should make peace with others and acknowledge that our intentional or unintentional actions caused hurt or offence… “I just want you to know that I love you and whatever I may have done, or whatever motive you may have thought that I had, I just want to make it right so that you and I can be healed and enjoy each other again” – in other words ‘have a conversation and say a prayer that leads to healing’ – Relationships matter!
Blessings on you, Nick
