My brother’s young son had a malicious malignant brain tumor. I’ve never prayed as long or as hard before or since in asking God to heal him, but he died. Not only did he die, he died a painful, (excruciatingly painful), death. Admittedly at the time I had some problems understanding God’s reasoning for allowing this to happen and I questioned the effectiveness of prayer for some time afterwards, but in spite of this incident, today my faith in God and prayer remain solid and unwavering.
I’m convinced that God always answers prayer, but sometimes the answer is no. That notion is easier to grasp than answering the question, “Why?” I mean what father won’t deny their children sometimes. We often don’t know what is in our best interests, but parents do.
I cannot see the rationale for many bad things that occur in our lives, but I have faith that God who loved us enough to send His Son to die a horrible death on a cross, has our best interests always on His mind and that the promise that “all things turn out good for those who love the Lord” rings true. He has a plan whether we can recognize it or not, and it is ultimately a good plan.
So I believe in prayer. I’ve seen it work in my own life many times. My Bible study reveals that Jesus prayed often. He would pray before He ate, and throughout the day, and at night; He prayed constantly and many times would go off by Himself to the desert, or up on a mountain to pray in solitude.
Hey, if He prayed that earnestly, how much more so should we.
My wife and one of her friends have put together a prayer rally at Honey Lake Plantation church this Sunday. We have a great line-up of speakers, and there will be singing led by none other than Nashville singing star Terry Warren. It begins at 4:00 p.m. and ends at 5:30. Afterwards those who are hungry can walk across the street and enjoy a hearty buffet style meal at the Whispering Pines Restaurant.
We will be praying in part for sanity to return to our great country in this upcoming election, and that anti-Christians like Obama will be roundly defeated. I don’t know if God is going to answer yes or no in this election. The media wants us to believe that it’s hopeless, but with God all things are possible. I am of the belief that we should individually do everything within our power to defeat those in power who are destroying our nation. That includes volunteering to make calls, donating money, and VOTING, but more important than anything praying that God will convince this nation that the direction it is careening towards immorality is the wrong one, and beginning with this election, taking the right course towards morality and following God’s commands should occur.
God did not design our bodies to last forever. He wants to spend time with us in heaven where we can enjoy eternity together forever and ever. My brother’s young son resides there now and I can fully understand why God would want to spend time with that wonderful little boy.
Who knows, God may not grant our request and indeed He might want to begin ushering in the Rapture now. Certainly allowing a government to continue down its path of taking away religious freedom, endorsing homosexuality, and promoting abortion on demand and even infanticide is a rousing start and indeed this process may already be well underway, but we are instructed to work hard and fight the evil that surrounds us right up until the very moment we are called to join Him.
I believe Obama to be evil. His speech writers are good and so are his deliveries of their words, but his actions speak much louder. I have enumerated them many times in this column. As Christians we have an obligation to do everything we can to elect Godly leaders who vote for the righteous things in life.
I was asked to join Governor Mike Huckabee on Monday to speak and help spread the word as a social conservative. I heartily agreed to appear with him, but what I want to spread the word about is that God loves this nation and wants to bless it, if we will just turn towards Him and away from our sin. I don’t know if that is social conservatism, or simply following biblical truth, but I believe it with all of my heart. Hope and change comes from God and only from God, not some grinning political hack.
Please join us Sunday, or at a minimum say your prayers and ask God to bless our nation as never before.
2 Chron. 7:14
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.