An Anomaly of the Christian Life???

May 4, 2009

tags: Abraham, Christian life, Faith, Friend of God, Genesis 18, National Day of Prayer, Old Testament, Prayer

What our country is most in need of is not a stimulus package, bailout money, universal healthcare, or border control, but prayer. Our country doesn’t need to turn to the right or to the left. It needs a U-turn back to God, back to what we were founded on. God has continued to bless this country because of our foundation. How far we have drifted!

This Thursday, May 7, 2009, is the National Day of Prayer. Do we really believe in the power of prayer or has it become an anomaly of the “Christian life?” We pray for our meals, we pray at church and special occasions, but they are much more eloquent than powerful.

Why don’t we pray more?

Why do our prayers lack power?

Faith. More specifically, lack of faith!

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray. believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. – Mark 11:24

What would happen if millions of Christians had the faith to actually believe Scriptures like II Chron. 7:14 and Psalm 33:12?

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. – II Chron. 7:14

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD – Psalm 33:12

If Christians confessed their sins to the Almighty, pleaded for mercy for their country’s sins and cried out to God, God promises to hear and to heal. But somehow, we have convinced ourselves that we don’t need to pray because “God is in control.” He is in control! And He desires to heal and to bless, but He will not continue to bless those who curse and dishonor His name.

Prayer moves the heart of God.

Prayer can move mountains, if that prayer is a prayer grounded in faith.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. – Matt. 21:21

Prayer is able to move the hearts of a country’s leaders, if that prayer is grounded in faith.

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. – Proverbs 21:1

When will we, as Christians, decide that we want to do more for the Lord than our parents, grandparents and previous generations? We trusted Him with eternity. When will we trust Him with our lives and live for Him today?

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. – II Corinthians 5:15

Let us take the next few days to spend time with God like we have never done before. Let Him truly examine us and yield ourselves to His desire and His will. Let us be diligent to allow Him to remove any hindrances to our prayers. Begin now to prepare ourselves for this National Day of Prayer. Ask God to illuminate the cobwebs of sin in our hearts through His Word, so that our hearts may be cleansed as we pray confessing them to Him. Then, pray that He burden our hearts for our country.

Don’t allow prayer, effectual fervent faith-based prayer, to become an anomaly in your life.