James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (ESV)

Context is king when determining meaning, we must discover what the ‘therefore’ is there for:

James 5:13-18 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [14] Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” (ESV)

In verses 13-14 we find that whatever your circumstance turn your mind to God. He is the author of what is going on, look to him for peace, comfort, praise, and above all, thanksgiving.

This includes your sins. “For there is no one who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46 ESV). Solomon wisely here talks about the elephant in the room straight to God while dedicating his Temple. Forgive! Yes! Amen.

Go before your elders and confess that you may be healed. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

It is the confessing of sin (naming it, noting that it is ‘my fault’, and repenting of that sin by turning away from it and towards God). 

Then, pray. The people to whom you confess must be spiritually mature enough and in a position of authority/responsibility to help you in overcoming that sin. (Confess sin only as wide as the offense: you dont need to broadcast it to everyone, greater offense will then be made and perhaps more damage. Again, wise, loving, godly counsel will help here). The prayer is to show unity with God in hating that sin and in a sincere desire to sacrifice to help the sinner heal (cf. Galatians 6:1-5!!!).

Then James does something strange! Prayer to God in such circumstances: loving, godly, restoring, and serious people who love you, Jesus and hate sin is powerful. Ok. Got that. What’s Elijah got to do with this.

Elijah was a human just like you. Wait! The dude who fought 400 prophets of Baal. The dude who asked it not to rain and it didnt! He’s just like me. Yep. He has the same nature as you. And God worked through him.

That of course is the key: he was a man who had turned his life over to YHWH and he blessed Elijah. Your prayers are powerful as you bring your life more and more into line with his by the power of God the Spirit.

Therefore, keep turning to Jesus. Continually find godly people to both confess to and pray for. Healing will come. This is a choice you must make and it is the power of God that must he at work in you to make it happen:

Philippians 2:12-13

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (ESV)