LET US PRAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE
I woke this morning with the thought burning in my heart, we need a NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. I am sure every Australian has been moved and disturbed at the massive drought we are currently experiencing across our nation, and now the major bushfires in almost every state, and this week the tragedy of the volcano explosion in N.Z. (On our recent cruise we were actually just a few days ahead of the cruise ship that has been impacted) I decided to post on FB this morning the question “Is it time for a National day of prayer? Quite quickly I got a response that said, “There is a National Day of Prayer & Fasting” planned. This was the first I had heard about it. A past student also responded and gave me a website www.nationaldayofprayer.org.au and informed me it is on 22nd February. With the effectiveness of social media, I was surprised it is over 10 weeks away, we sure need to be praying NOW.
I see one of the driving forces for the National Day of Prayer & Fasting is a very dear friend, and we will be talking about soon, so I can get as much information as possible about it.
I trust the prayer & fasting may produce a spirit of repentance, as our nation needs to come back to God.
I also discovered today that there is a survey each year to find out the most popular Scripture verse for the year, and for 2019 it is Philippians 4:16 The NKJV says Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The NLT says Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life.
The MESSAGE says Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
I find it very interesting the verse is all about prayer.
WE MUST LEARN THAT PRAYER MUST BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY NOT OUR LAST RESORT.
After being a Christian for 68 years I am still praying the words of the Disciples, “Lord teach us how to pray”. I am trying to learn that the moment a situation/temptation/ thought appears, I need to NIP IT IN THE BUD THROUGH PRAYER, as it is a “wile (trick) of the enemy Eph. 6: 11 NKJV Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The armour of God sure includes prayer Eph. 6:18 NKJV praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
We sure know the mind is the battle field of the soul so let me give you an example, a negative/sinful/fearful thought comes into your mind, and I am still learning the moment it comes in I must “cast it down” (kick it out) otherwise it will stir my emotions and rob me of my peace and cause me to sin. Paul writing to young Timothy says in 2 Tom. 1:6 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
God is never the source of fear, either it comes out of our sinful nature or the evil one, what does God give us?
POWER Greek Dunamis the Power of the holy Spirit
LOVE Greek Agape, The love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit Rom. 5:5.
SOUND MIND a calm and well balanced mind, self discipline/self control (fruit of the Spirit.
What a glorious inheritance that is ours NOW, so let us lay hold of them every day.
So, it would seem the Lord is using disasters etc to cause us to come to Him in prayer MORE AND MORE, may I suggest we organise our private world more, and when we move into 2020 PRAYER BECOMES OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
