There is a convergence of people going to occur who will be marching on White House beginning May16. One that is intended to last until the will of the people is met by the out-ot-control government. They are praying daily about this endeavor, and are asking for our prayers as well Thus, I thought I would write something about prayer. First and foremost it is not intended for just Christians. Anyone can pray to God and God hears and will listen. If you recall the conversion of the Gentile, Cornelius in Chapter 10 of the New Testament, The Bible tells us that "he and all his family were devout and God-fearing, he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." God's design for manking has been that, "none should perish but all should come to have everlasting life." (John 3:16). So the iedea that we can simply 'expect' God to step in and help us does not fit the pattern he has set for us. Rather, he says, "With prayer and supplication make your requests be made known unto God." Phil. 4:6
I can tell you that having watched and read the intentions of these people converging on DC that 1. I have great fear for them because they are going to do this march and stay in DC unarmed, taking shifts and being vigilant. However, I can also tell yo that they have been in prayer since the conception of this effort. So how does one know what to pray or how to pray that God mgiht listen? It is a certainty that we as a nation have given ourselves over to liciviousness and every form of perversion, and it is never more glaring than when you see the movies being presented today, the laws being written or discarded that deal with every sort of perversion. Children are slaughtered before they are ever allowed to breathe; yet the scripture says God has counted every hair on their heads. He also says we have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Yet here we are destroying it with little or no conscience about doing so.
Christ gave us a shortened version of how to pray with the prayer we call the "Our Father". But what does it mean to actually put that outline into practice? We know he does not want needless repitition and empty words, so let's see how the Scripture guides us into prayer. Christ's outline begins with, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.." Since the OT is our guide to bring us to Christ, let's see how prayers from the OT compare to what we think is a standard prayer today. Psm. 145 begins: "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever." Psm. 136 "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever. Psm 119:145 "I call with all my heart; answer me, O Lord, and I will obey your decrees. Psm. 139:17 "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!" Psm. 140, Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men.... Keep me, O Lord from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet." vs 7 to the end reads: "O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle-- do not grant the wicked their desires, O Lord; do not let their plans succeed or they will become proud. Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused. Let burning coals fall upon them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise. Let slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down men of violence. I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Sure the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you."
Over and over God tells us we must turn from evil and seek that which is good. If we have but one request for this nation it should be that God will purify our hearts through his word, and that he will lead us away from temptation. seeking ever and only his approval of our words, our behavior, our thoughts, out deeds, and by asking his guidance of our future steps.
1 Thess. 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. How does one accomplish that? Expecially with how busy our everyday lives are! It is really quite simple. First, there is nowhere you cannot pray. You can pray in the car, at a business meeting, while having coffee on break; anytime is the right time where conversation with God is concerned. It need not be with head bowed down, after all, he even warns us not to be like the Pharises when we pray, making a spectical of ourselves. With every little thing that goes right in the day, we can thank him.
Lastly, prayer is a personal relationship one has with God. Our very existence is at stake with the power-grab going on within our government. It should make perfect sense that we should want the greatest power to be on our side. We were once a God-fearing nation, and now we are being rapidly squeezed and smothered by an oppressive government that would destroy every vistage of godliness that this country ever stood for or upheld. We simply cannot let that happen, and it is not up to the officials - it is up to EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY whether we will let the dictates of a godless regime ruin our country and override our inmost love for the most powerful force in the universe: Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Place your trust in God, and begin a habit of praying without ceasing. Praise his name, pray for your friends, your family, this government - yes! pray for this government, because God can turn it around on a dime!
Annette Schultz
