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Last week I threw a bunch of statistical data at you that reflect the decay of our nation. And my humble opinion is that it is due to the lack of prayer in our society. It appears that we have gone from a nation that prays to a nation without a prayer. However, there is hope and I think it begins with what Jesus told his disciples in Luke 18:1. Allow me to do a little theorizing here. I would imagine that our nation is not the first nation to turn its back on God. After all we have the well-chronicled history of the Israelite nation that turned to and from God throughout their entire existence after their Egyptian rescue. (see Exodus 13:3) So I don’t believe it surprises God when a nation that is on the right “track” jumps the track. God is aware that we will sin and turn from him and his ways. So, naturally the consequences of those sins and that “turning away” must be inflicted to turn us back. But back to what Jesus said, “…that men always ought to pray and not lose heart”. Wait a minute? Even though the society is falling apart and murderers and thieves are on the rampage? When teenage mothers are killing their born and unborn children without any thought it seems? When teenage boys have no regard or respect for older adults and display this disdain in public daily? Why yes, of course. Especially during these times. I think in these times where it seems so hopeless and our efforts seem to be futile at best that we should pray harder. Why? Because constant prayer causes you not to lose heart. Jesus knew that situations and circumstances in our lives would cause us to become unfocused on Him and prayer to Him, but he instructs to always pray and not faint. Not to give up so easily. Not to throw in the towel on our trials, on the ways of our younger generation, on our nation as a whole. Jesus cautions us to remain in constant prayer so that he can give us strength when we believe our efforts are useless (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). Jesus commands us to remain on our knees when we feel we are fighting a 5-alarm fire with a water gun. It is in these times when we remain in prayer to Him, that we develop closeness with him that grants us the grace to live among the degradation. This same closeness empowers us with zeal to meet the task head-on despite the mountain of statistics that say we are losing the fight. It is this same closeness that bestows on us wisdom that provides encouragement for our weary fellow-soldiers, enlightenment to the lost and significance for the forgotten. “…men always ought to pray and not lose heart”. This saying is not just to provide the believer with fuel for outreach but strength for in-reach (the inner soul) when the world’s cares beat upon us and we feel tired, frustrated and despondent. Jesus gently says to us to drop our temporary agenda and join him in a permanent solution for our problems—personally or nationally.

Lord provide me with the strength to continue prayer to you as answer for all of life’s problems. Those that I face personally and those we face as a nation. Amen

Suggested Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:14-15; Hebrews 11:6; Luke 18:1-14

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

The First Sin