By Shaila Touchton – The righteous man is the one who listen to God, who fear God and who do not practices his own righteousness but he lives according to the Scriptures and Gods ways .He makes a great relationship with God as his top priority. Gods word says that eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 34:15), and, again, “the prayer of the upright pleases Him” (Proverbs 15:8).
When a righteous man prays, there is a humble request, he recognizes God’s sovereign power. In Exodus 14:15-16, Moses prayed and the Red sea parted. In1 Kings 18:36-38, Elijah prayed and fire came down from heaven. In Acts 4:12-16, the disciples prayed and people were healed. The people prayed and the disciples were released from prison (Acts 12:1-17) and brought back from the dead (Acts 14:19-20). Prayer saved the righteous Daniel from the lion’s den in Daniel 6:11, and in the wilderness, God’s chosen people benefitted enormously from Moses’ right standing with God in Exodus 16–17. The barren Hannah’s steadfast and humble prayers resulted in the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:20, and the apostle Paul’s prayers even caused the earth to shake in Acts 16:25-26.
God does not answer wayward self-centered Prayers: “You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:2, 3)
We need to remain steadfast in prayers at all times. Prayer is the communication with God which involves listening and talking to the Lord. Prayer makes us closer to God. When we pray according to the Word of God, our prayers are effective which carry authority and power. James 5:15-18 says and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Laying hands on people is found all through the Bible .When you pray for others it’s better to lay hands on them, bless them and pray for them .There is an intimacy and bond that comes from laying hands on others and praying for them that goes beyond just simply praying for a person.
Scriptures say “laying on of hands” is a powerful gesture of blessing that may be appropriate in a variety of circumstances .It can be performed on the sick to restore health.Any special anointing-Spirit-filled believers can lay hands on the sick in faith and will be healed or receive the Holy Spirit. And we read in scriptures that Jesus continued this Rite by reaching out his hand, gently touching those in need as he healed them. Jesus blessed the children by the laying on of hands (Matthew 19:15, Mat.9:18; Mar.16:15-18; Act.14:3).
Some times laying on hands will not have any power because its merely performed as a symbolic act and the person who lays hands is not right with God and doesn’t have enough faith to perform miracles and healings.
May the Lord teach us to pray effectively, according to his will and help us to walk in his righteousness!