For the next 15 weeks, the music team cell group at my church has been turned into the prayer team responsible for upholding the upcoming 40 Days of Purpose Campaign in prayer. We are seeking God's guidance and protection in preparation for and also as we walk through a program that we feel He has called us to go through as a church, and praying for whatever He calls us to pray for.

Tonight when we were praying we realized all of a sudden that we were praying the exact same prayer as we prayed at one point last Wednesday night, without realizing it! It was a prayer for righteousness. Here's why: Last week the scripture quoted on the little sheet that helps guide us in our prayers each week was James 5:16b, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." So, we prayed for God to refine us and assist us to live lives that were more defined by righteousness so that our prayers were even more effective.

Then tonight the scripture that was quoted was Psalm 5:11-12: "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield." So, we prayed for more righteousness in our lives so that we might be blessed and surrounded with the Lord's favour.

Actually, that puts me in mind of last night at the Youth/Young Adult service, too - we were reading the last half of James 5 and we talked about how righteousness is one of the keys to having our prayers be effective and touching the heart of God.

I'm sensing a theme....