Heart of Worship: 30 Days to Deeper PraiseSample

Hi there, it’s Ben Fielding from CXMMXNS and I'm excited to bring you today’s Scripture from James 5:13–16 (NIV).

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them… The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

I love how James doesn’t separate prayer and praise into different parts of life. Trouble, joy, sickness - whatever the season, there’s a way to turn it towards God. Sometimes that looks like quiet, persistent prayer. Sometimes it’s a song that rises from deep inside, even when the world around you feels like it’s falling apart.

I’ll never forget hearing one of the songs I wrote, What a Beautiful Name, sung in Arabic for the first time. At that time, we knew that believers across Syria were listening to the song even more as persecution deepened.

In a place marked by fear and uncertainty, worship wasn’t a comfortable routine. It was an act of courage. My prayer was that hearing the song in their own language might be more than just music - that it might carry hope right into the middle of unimaginable tragedy.

James 5 reminds us that in every circumstance, our response can be prayer and praise. Prayer when we are in trouble. Praise when our hearts are full. Faith-filled prayer when someone is in need of healing. The people singing in Syria embodied this truth. Their songs rose in the very place they had every reason to stay silent.

Moments like that remind me: prayer and praise aren’t determined by our surroundings - they can actually transform our surroundings. They connect us to the God who hears, heals, and brings peace in ways we can’t fully understand.

Whether your “crisis” right now feels global or deeply personal, James says the same thing - bring it to God. Call on others to pray with you. And lift up a song, even if it’s through tears. Your worship might just be the light someone else needs to see, or the reminder your own heart needs to hear.

Reflection:
What’s one situation you need to bring to God in prayer today? And what’s one thing you can praise Him for, even if it’s hard? Take time to do both.