Listening to the news coming across the airwaves these days, one could easily live in a constant state of fear and despair.
Do we not, many times, feel like the prophet, Habakkuk, who said,"O Lord, how long must I call for help before you will listen? I shout to you in vain; there is no answer. 'Help! Murder!' I cry, but no one comes to save. Must I forever see this sin and sadness all around me? Wherever I look there is oppression and bribery and men who love to argue and to fight. The law is not enforced and there is no justice given in the courts, for the wicked far outnumber the righteous, and bribes and trickery prevail."
— Habakkuk 1: 2-4 (The Living Bible)
Jesus, himself, said,"You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." (Matthew 24:6-7)
This year marks the 100th anniversary of World War One. Canada, being a part of the British Empire in 1914, was automatically at war when Great Britain declared war on Germany, in August, 1914.
With the assassination of the Archduke of Sarajevo, and his wife, triggering what was dubbed as the 'Great War,' many later questioned the purpose of it all. This fight against evil was supposed to have been, "the war to end all wars."
However, we know the deeds of men cannot thwart God's purposes, and He will ultimately right all wrong. His Plan will happen and be right on schedule.
Recently, at church, we were encouraged to
1. Pray Big, Bold Prayers; 2. Dream Big; 3. Act Big.
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| Pastor Joe Wright |
Everyone was expecting the usual, politically correct generalities, but instead, heard a stirring, passionate prayer, calling the country to repentance.
The immediate response: A number of legislators walked out during the prayer, in protest.
Six short weeks later, the Central Christian Church in the area, received more than 5,000 phone calls, with only 47 negative responses. International requests for copies of the prayer came from India, Africa and Korea.
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| Commentator Paul Harvey |
Commentator Paul Harvey aired the prayer on "The Rest of the Story" and received the largest response than any other program he has ever aired!
Should we not be praying 'more boldly' for those leaders who have authority over us?
Consider Joe Wright's powerful, bold prayer.
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says,'Woe on those who call evil good,' but that's exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that: We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn children and called it a choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbours' possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honoured values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the centre of Your will. I ask it in the name of Your Son, the living Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen."
"God is our refuge and strength... He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth... Be still and know that I am God."
— Psalm 46: 1, 9, 10
— beulah
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