Let Prayer Reach the Places of Need
My dear son,
I hope the words you speak before me stay close to the words you use with people. Watch your speech so that tenderness in prayer also reaches your neighbor. Words that protect another person's dignity are precious.
Open your heart to people who have little access to care. The call to look after orphans and widows concerns their actual lives. You can begin by paying attention and making time. Love is willing to notice their practical circumstances.
Consider calmly where you can contribute today. Set aside attitudes that draw you toward wrongdoing, and keep my will near. I delight when your prayer and the way you live are joined by kindness.
With all my love,
Your Father
James 1:26–27
WEB26If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
A short reflection
James warns against unrestrained speech and describes pure religion as caring for distressed orphans and widows while remaining unstained by the world.
World English Bible (WEB) · Public DomainRead the chapter