May 7, 2020
We have been stressing the need of prayer this week. I don’t believe in my lifetime (almost 64 years) that I’ve ever seen a time in America where prayer is more needed than it is right now. I realize that this pandemic has caused havoc in our nation and literally around the world, but I’m more concerned with some of the things I see happening in our country that in my opinion is aimed at changing our culture even more that it’s already been changed over the past generation and threatening our freedoms as Americans.
I believe that the key to having God hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land is for us to humble ourselves and repent (turn from our wicked ways). The thing that really concerns me is, “Are God’s people really willing to turn from their wicked ways?” I know that the lost have not been willing to turn from their wicked ways, but God didn’t call on the lost, but rather His people to turn from their wicked ways.
Most of us are experts at pointing out the wickedness of others, but struggle with seeing the wickedness in our own lives. Jesus told us to remove the beam from our own eye so that we could see clearly to remove the mote that is in our brother’s eye.
(Luke 6:41) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
(Luke 6:42) Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
Today, May 7th, has been designated in our country as a National Day of Prayer. Here is some information that I took from the website on the observance of the National Day of Prayer.
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance of prayer for the nation dating back to a call in a joint resolution of Congress signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1952. Every year, local, state, and national observances are held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from all socio-economic, political, and ethnic backgrounds in prayer for the nation.
On Thursday, May 7, millions across the nation will be taking time out of their daily schedules to intercede on behalf of their communities, their nation, and their leaders. Each year, people gather across the nation at more than 60,000 local community events to pray together for America on the National Day of Prayer, the annual national observance established in public law in 1952 and observed publicly on the first Thursday in May.
This says that millions across the nation will be interceding on behalf of their communities, their nation, and their leaders. Most of those millions will recite a prayer that will not be heard in heaven. However, I believe that there is still a remnant of God’s people left in America that can get God’s attention today. So, let’s use this day as another opportunity to do our part as God’s people to humble ourselves and seek the face of God on behalf of our nation. Let’s be willing to turn from our wicked ways and see what God will do to heal our land.
Bro. Rick
