Scripture: James 5:16, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Devotion

We believe in living out our faith in community with other believers, seeking to support, encourage, and uplift one another. We are called to grow together in prayer, transparency, and accountability so we can more fully reflect the love of Jesus.

Today’s reading shows the importance of confession, prayer, and community in our faith journeys. James reminds us that healing comes when we share our burdens and pray for each other, and Ecclesiastes highlights the strength that comes from having others by our side. Together, we’re stronger and more resilient, able to resist challenges that we might not withstand alone.

This community requires us to be honest and open, not hiding our struggles but sharing them with trusted friends and accountability partners. It invites us to pray consistently for one another, asking how we can support each other in prayer and practical ways.

Do you have a group where you feel safe to share and be lifted up in prayer? If not, ask God to lead you to such a community. And if you do, consider committing to pray regularly for each person, asking the Lord how you might tangibly help meet their needs as you walk together in faith.

A Personal Prayer

• Ask the Lord to give you a sensitive heart and help you understand the power of bringing your burdens to Him. Pray for increased trust in His provision and a deeper dependence on Him with every prayer and concern. Thank Him for the Biblical community He has given you, filling in the blank with your specific gratitude.

Pray for Our Community: Room in the Inn

• Room in the Inn is a Nashville nonprofit that offers care and support for those experiencing homelessness, providing seasonal shelter and programs for recovery and personal development. Through a network of nearly 200 congregations and countless volunteers, Room in the Inn serves as a place of refuge for individuals in need.
• Pray for those served by Room in the Inn that they would experience hope, healing, and a renewed sense of dignity.
• Ask God to strengthen the staff and volunteers with resilience and compassion as they serve Nashville’s unhoused community.
• Pray for safety and warmth during the cold months, that all who find shelter at Room in the Inn would feel God’s love and comfort.

Pray for the Nations: Global Workers, Britney & Micah

• Britney and Micah serve as global workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on their community’s medical and spiritual needs. Since 2020, Britney has been a pediatric general and thoracic surgeon, teaching and discipling African pediatric surgeons while ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of Kenyan children and their families. Micah, a commercial real estate developer, leads Bible studies for nursing students and serves on the hospital’s housing committee.
• Pray that Britney and Micah find rest amid the demands of mission life and their responsibilities in the community.
• Ask God for wisdom and discernment as they seek to expand Christian pediatric surgical training in East Africa and that He draws their trainees closer to Him as they prepare to serve.