Starting this Sunday evening, we will be joining together with other concerned citizens to pray for America (Read the first Sunday Prayer post here). The Christian values this nation was founded upon have been under assault for decades, but the very structure of our country is in peril. Unless freedom loving Christians seek the Lord for a change in direction, America will end up where it's headed. We will have surrendered our God-given liberties to a government over the people rather than a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

I believe the Lord God Almighty is stirring belivers to pray. And if he is stirring us, then it is for a reason. He doesn't prompt on a whim, but for purpose and a desired end. He is ready for a fight! Are we?

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  (1 Peter 3:12)

Great and measurable things happen when a man or woman prays! But greater things happen when God's people gather in groups to seek the Lord with singleness of purpose and pray according to his will.

I'm excited about the days ahead. My expectations are high! But along with the excitement my experience tells me that there are potential misunderstandings and problems that can arise when believers of different backgrounds, denominational filters, and experiences come together. It can be beautiful or terrible and I've experienced both. With your permission I'd like to offer some things for us to ponder before we gather together in groups to pray...

First, we all approach God differently. Some people are content to kneel and quietly pray, while others may stand and raise their hands and voices toward heaven. Others may pace, holding their Bibles, praying the Word. Which is right? All the above!

How one approaches God is not for others to critique. What I would recommend in a group prayer setting is to be respectful of others. We are not gathering to perform for one another, but to seek the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of our country. Let those who tend to be loud remember that God is not deaf and will hear the humble whisper. Let the one who prays in English not be fearful of the one who prays in tongues. If God accepts a person's prayer according to the scriptures, who are we to get in the way? I've learned so much about the Lord, and my prayer life has greatly expanded by observing others pray!

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Second, Prayer Is An Experience and A Dialog. How do we act when we get together with our close, intimate friends? We talk, we listen, we laugh, we cry, we joke, we reveal secrets, we hurt, we share, we smile. Should it be any different when we connect with our Most Intimate Friend? Consider how people have sought God in the Bible: Praising, Singing, Blessing, Cursing, Dancing, Sitting, Standing, Kneeling, Lifting Up Holy Hands, Shouting, Clapping, etc., Just because we might pray in a certain way doesn't mean that's the only way to pray.

Gathering with others to pray can be exhilarating and perhaps a little uncomfortable. We might be challenged to rethink our own approach to God. We might experience things we've never seen before, or have only read in the Bible. But let us remember what's at stake and be assured of these truths:

America needs prayer.
God wants his people to pray.
The enemy will do all he can to prevent us from praying.
If we pray, we will prevail.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

At the top of a news website this morning were photos of the two main presidential candidates. Next to their pictures was the headline: 100 Days.

We American voters have little more than 3 months to decide who will occupy the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. With so much at stake, if there were ever a time for Christians to be praying it is NOW.

I'll be the very first to admit that it's way too easy to be complacent. It's too easy to half-heartedly read a few scriptures now and then, say “God bless America” at the end of blessing a meal, and too comfortable to merely complain when a politician writes another freedom limiting law. It's easy to give lip-service to God and country and go about my business. It's a whole other thing to really seek the Lord they way I need to.  Sad but true.

Can you identify with a person who spends more time picking out a Redbox movie than interceding for others in prayer?

•         Hard Question #76: How can I expect America to change if I won't?

•         Hard Answer #76: It won't.

So after I read that news headline I realized enough was enough. The time had come to stop being lukewarm about my country. It's time for ME to get off my lazy rusty-dusty and to seek the Lord the way God commands people like me to seek him:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Do you see what I see? Humble myself...Pray...Seek His face...Turn from my wicked ways... Then will God hear... Then he will forgive... Then he will heal our land.

To whom much is given, much is required. To those of us who know better, and don't do what we know to do, than we're sinning. Yes, I said sin. To those of us who won't serve our country don't deserve it's many blessings. One of the most important ways to serve her is to pray for her and her citizens and her leaders.

I know many of you out there already pray regularly for the United States, and your faithfulness is appreciated. I'm playing catch up here. It's time for me to wake up and join you. It's time to stop hitting my spiritual snooze button and get with it!

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  (Ephesians 5:14-17)

This morning after talking with my lovely wife, we have agreed to put action to words. We are not only going to pray for the USA, but we're going to open our house up for Sunday Prayer from 6:00 – 7:00 PM to others who feel the same way for at least the next few months leading up to the elections of 2012. Then we'll see what God has for us next. Having a set date/time/place for action will keep us all faithful to prayer. America is certainly worth the commitment of regular prayer isn't it?

If you live near Chandler – Gilbert, Arizona area and would like to join in and pray together with us for America, we'd love to have you. Send us an email. If you don't live close by but would like to join with us in agreement and pray during that time, please let us know. We'd love to hear from others who know that the good ol' USA needs some good ol' fashioned prayer!

If you need something bigger than the fast approaching elections to motivate you to pray for America, then consider the bigger picture presented here in Pat Buchanan's article: In The Long Run Is The GOP Dead? Regardless of your political party, you'll find this demographic information at least interesting if not scary.

If you're feeling a nudge from the Holy Ghost to pray for America too, then let's not brush him off any longer. There is a battle raging - a battle that can be won - if we are willing to fight. Let's bind together and pray that wise, godly leaders will be elected and that unwise, ungodly leaders and their policies will be rejected. Let us pray that a hunger and thirst for righteousness will overcome every other appetite in America. Our time is short!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

Let us be obedient! Let us be vigilant & faithful! Let us be victorious through Christ!

Read the next post: Sunday Prayer - Praying In Groups

I thank God for my life here in America where I'm surrounded by conveniences at my fingertips. Here in Chandler, Arizona, there are restaurants galore, shops of every kind, Urgent Care places, gas stations and Super Walmarts only minutes away in any direction. I am very, very blessed. Unfortunately, I'm so blessed that it's a little too easy to get comfortable with the blessings and forget the Blesser; to be rich in this world and not rich toward God.

Can I get an Amen?

It's easy to turn to aspirin for a headache rather than to the Great Physician, isn't it? Television, web surfing or entertainment is often more enticing than prayer. And too many of us look to the government for assistance instead of going to our Jehovah Jireh - "The Lord Our Provider." In other words we go everywhere else first. We only go to God as a last resort when everything else fails. Too bad for us!

Does the Bible say anything about this? Let's take a look...

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (Psalms 34:10)

Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. (Psalms 105:4)

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
(Proverbs 28:5)

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  (Matthew 6:30-33)

As believers, seeking the Lord first should be a hallmark of our lives. We should turn to Jesus Christ for direction, wisdom, healing, etc., on a regular basis. He should be our first resource – not our last resort!

People who regularly seek the Lord and his word walk with peace and confidence that others don't have. They have a relationship with their Maker; they are friends - not mere acquaintances. In times of trouble or peace they are confident because Christ is their Rock and Fortress. They seek God first in everything.

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. (Psalms 105:3)

Remember Asa king of Judah? He was one of the few godly Kings but even this great leader went elsewhere instead of seeking the Lord toward the end of his life...

And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
(2 Chronicles 16:7-9, 12)

Rather than finding his healing, King Asa died shortly thereafter.

How must God feel when we look everywhere else but him for answers? How often do we settle for second or third best solutions, when all the while our Savior has just what we need? All too often we have not because we asked not.

Now that's a warning label we can all live with!

Maybe it's time we turn our attention back to the Lord and seek him first. Whether we need a job, need healing, need direction, need a miracle in our marriages, need wisdom on how to respond to a difficult situation he has the answers! Even if he tells us what we don't want to hear, his ways are better than man's ways and we'd do well to heed his advice. If we will do what he says, we will be blessed!

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)