Righteous Person?

(NLT) James 5:16-18 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. [17] Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! [18] Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

Now I have no problem being earnest in prayer, but I struggle with the righteous person part.
Matthew 9:13 Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

Okay, this I know all too well. I do not think I (Steve) am righteous.
(NLT) John 16:10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.
(NLT) Romans 3:24-26 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. [25] For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, [26] for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

(NLT) Romans 4:5-8 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. [6] David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: [7] "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. [8] Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin."

Oh! So, it's not about my righteousness, but about the righteousness of Jesus Christ imparted to me by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Today, rejoice and pray with confidence in Christ's righteousness, that your prayers will be heard and will produce wonderful results.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr