I've written about prayer in my last couple of columns for a reason. We as a people, as a nation, no longer think we need prayer or God. It shows.
A recent study across America found that the average christian prays about 2.5 minutes each day. That includes preachers, ministers, church members, it included a vast cross section of the country. You may pray more than that and I hope you do. But that's what the study revealed.
2.5 minutes a day is sad. How would any relationship last if we only talked to that special person in our lives for 2.5 minutes each day? So we neglect God, by not speaking to him (prayer) but expect Him to pull us out of every bad situation, provide or meet all our needs, and welcome us one day into heaven, when we don't know Him.
We know all about Him, but we don't know him because we haven't spent time with Him or spent time consistently reading His Word. We are consumed with ourselves, our needs, our wants.
The early church found in Matthew 7:21, did all the things you would think a going, vibrant church should be doing. But the Lord said to them, “Depart from me you who practice iniquity, for I never knew you.”
So, how can we know God?
The only way we can know God, is through reading His written Word, and spending time with Him in prayer, which will be reflected in how we live every day. How we treat others.
2 Chronicles 7:14 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.
The four things people must do:
1. Humble themselves.
2. Pray
3. Seek His face
4. Turn from their wicked ways
People don't like to humble themselves today. Many have lost their fear (reverence) of God. They claim they've heard it all, it doesn't work, the God stuff is fiction, they like to point out who they see as hypocrites, all because of the way they choose to live. When in truth, Isaiah 59:1-4 is where we live today.
Isaiah 59:1-4 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your (Our) iniquities (sin) have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
4 None call for justice, nor any pleads for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Sadly these scriptures describe America today. This country was founded upon religious freedom. “In God We Trust.” Today, America is working hard to take God out of everything. So that people can live a selfish, self centered life of sin and not feel bad about it. They don't believe they need anything from God. That line of thought is why we are where we are today.
If we humble ourselves before Almighty God. If we humble ourselves and pray, willingly sacrifice some of our personal time, (more than 2.5 minutes each day), to be with Him. He will hear our prayers, forgive our sins and HEAL THIS LAND.
I love America. I'm proud to be an American.
Since its beginning, America has sent missionaries all over the world, to bring the light of Jesus to the lost. Today, those far away places are sending missionaries to America, to bring the light of Jesus to the lost. Just take a moment and think about that.
We have hope! Yes, we can get this ship back on course. We can become a blessed nation again. We can bring the light of the Lord to a lost and dying world. 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. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
I pray the God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob and of Israel will bless you and your family always. And that God will use us, America, to once again be a light in the darkness of this age.
