“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” (James 5:13)

Now here we find a plain lesson. It may even apply to every moment in life. When we feel up, then praise the Lord with song! When we feel down, then take the painful issue to the Lord. Though the instruction is simple, doing it daily is challenging. But we are directed to practice it.

James’ admonition to pray lies among many similar pointers. For example, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Yes, this means carrying on a constant conversation with the Lord, from waking to sleeping. Even the psalms we sing are prayers themselves. “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness” (Psalm 107:15)!

One way those without the Holy Spirit handle affliction is with complaining. Even Christians who “are after the flesh [and thus] do mind the things of the flesh” (Romans 8:5) complain as we did when we were “under the elements of the world” (Galatians 4:3). When we instead pray, we do “all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14) and thereby “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

And what a light we shine when we sing aloud to the Lord! Paul wrote we should speak “to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

How can believers find themselves singing and praying more often? Memorize and practice singing a favorite hymn or other worshipful song to the Lord. Sing it when times are good! When times are hard, recognize complaints as a lack of trust in the Father, tell Him the issue, and then trust Him again. BDT