Day of Prayer

Each year the first Thursday in May is the National Day of Prayer.  This day is a reminder of our responsibility to prayer for our community, state and nation.  God responds to His people when they pray.  James 4:2 "You have not because you do not ask God".  I have been on a journey for many years now in trying to understand prayer and how it works.  There are many explanations but none of them fully answer the question on how prayer works.  Though I will continue to study prayer and make prayer a daily practice I do not need to understand but I do need to believe that God in heaven hears our prayers and will respond in His timing and wisdom in answering all our prayers.  There are many reasons to have an emphasis of prayer for the nation.  Here are several reasons why we need to pray on a consistent basis for our community, state and nation.  First, to turn hearts back to God.  Regardless of what many expects may say concerning the greatest need facing America, our greatest need is spiritual, it is turning our hearts back to God, it is our willingness to stop doing life our way and begin to do life His way.  Second, in I Timothy 2:1-5 we are encouraged to pray for our leaders and those in authority positions.  This does not matter if these leaders are Christians or not we are called to pray for them.  If we will do this it will help is to live life better here and it pleases God.  Our leaders often face difficult decisions and help from God whether or not they realize it will be a great benefit.  Third, it is the acknowledgement that our help comes from the Lord God and not from ourselves.  God continues to bring down the proud and arrogant and gives grace to the humble.  If I think I can solve my own problems, then God will let me try but in the end I will make matters worse.  II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land."

May the Lord God inspire us to pray for a divine move of His Spirit.

Pastor John