Reflections from a Patio in Palermo
By Mark Cole
This morning, as I sit on an outdoor patio in beautiful Palermo, Italy, with the sounds of scooters in the distance and the warm Mediterranean sun slowly rising, I find myself reading these powerful words from James 5:16:
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (NLT)
It’s such a familiar verse—and yet, here in this peaceful moment, it hits me fresh. Prayer works. It’s not a ritual. It’s not a religious checkbox. It’s not positive thinking. It’s real, spiritual power unleashed when righteous men and women cry out to God in faith.
1. Earnest Prayer
James isn’t talking about casual, distracted, half-hearted praying. He’s pointing to earnest prayer—focused, fervent, sincere. The kind that comes from deep within. The kind of prayer you pray when you’re desperate, when you’re moved by compassion, or when the Holy Spirit whispers to your heart.
This kind of praying is not reserved for the super-spiritual. It’s for anyone who will come to God with a heart that’s right and a faith that believes He hears.
2. Righteous People
So, who are the “righteous”? James isn’t talking about perfect people. None of us would qualify. He’s talking about those who have been made right with God through Christ—and who live with integrity, humility, and dependence on Him.
Righteousness is not something we earn; it’s something we receive by grace and walk out in obedience. If you’re a follower of Jesus and seeking to live for Him, this verse applies to you.
3. Great Power and Results
What an incredible promise: your prayer has the power to change things. Heal the sick. Open doors. Set people free. Strengthen the weary. Save the lost. Move mountains.
Not every prayer is answered in the way we expect or on the timeline we want—but we are assured that prayer works. Not because of us, but because of God’s faithfulness and power.
A Reminder from Palermo
Sitting here in Palermo, a city layered with history, culture, and faith traditions, I’m reminded that people have prayed here for centuries. Some prayed in monasteries. Some in cathedrals. Some in their homes. And God heard them.
And today, whether you’re on a patio in Italy, in your living room in Canada, or walking a trail in the Rockies, your earnest prayers still matter. They are heard. They are powerful. And they produce results.
So let’s keep praying—with faith, with fire, and with confidence that God still answers.
