Dear Church Family:

This will be my last encouragement for a couple of weeks.  It is my hope that by the end of May I will have a “blog” set up, and each week we will direct you via a web link to my blog for the encouragement. I also will be finishing my musings on “the declining moments in evangelical Christianity.” I have been a “little distracted” in recent days, and I want to give the right time and attention to those important articles.

But today it is appropriate that I ask you to pray! In his book “Too Busy NOT to Pray,” Bill Hybels made this comment…”when we work, we work; but when we pray, God works!” I wish I was much more insightful and spiritually astute to fully understand the mystery and mechanics of prayer. I know that God is sovereign and that His purposes have been determined in eternity past. I know that God is unchangeable and that it is us who need to conform to His will and His ways.  Yet I also know that the Bible speaks loud and often at the importance of prayer.  The disciples asked the Lord to “teach them to pray,” and so He gave a working outline on how we should pray and what we should pray for. James tells us “that the effectual prayer of a righteous man – avails much!” So I know it is important and effective to pray.

Tomorrow (or maybe today, if you are reading this on Thursday morning) is the National Day of Prayer.  We are called as a nation to cry out to Almighty God and ask Him to intervene in our nation.  I know that much of what is happening in America is godless, sinful, and horribly depraved.  Maybe better then asking God to help, we should have a “National Day of repentance and mourning for our sin.” Yet we are asked to pray and especially the people of God. If anyone should lead the way of prayer, it’s us.

Listen to Paul’s admonishment….First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Here is Paul – living in the time of barbaric Nero – who hated and murdered Christians. He wasn’t calling for anarchy – he called for prayer! He asked that God would grant us tranquil, quiet lives so that we become godly and dignified. WOW – not picketing in the streets, boycotts, or burning down anything!  He first and foremost asked believers to PRAY.

I need you to pray.  Pray for me, like I appealed you to do on Sunday.  Pray for our pastors and leaders. Pray for the lobby project (let’s fill up the chart on Sunday!). Pray for our nation. Pray for your enemies. Pray for your co-workers, friends, and family – especially the ones who don’t know Christ. PRAY.

What a fantastic privilege we have to call out to God and ask Him to show His mercy upon His creation! Join us Thursday morning at 6:30AM for prayer on your way to work!  Then join us Thursday evening at Long’s Park for a picnic and prayer. One of my favorite preachers Chuck Swindoll will be sharing.  But if you can’t come to any of that – JUST PRAY!!!

Pastor Jamie