11-01an

NOVEMBER, 2001

Are America's Prayers Effective?
By Pastor Anita Norris

Since the terrorist attacks on America, we have seen a wave of prayer going across the nation. While I totally agree that our nation needs to turn to God, I believe that we are not totally following what the Word says when we just pray! Let’s look at II Chronicles 7:14-15 to see what God says about the matter.

“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. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.”

Notice that God said, “If my people...” This particular passage refers to the Israelites as God’s people. However, if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, you have been adopted.

Romans 8:14-16 -- “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

God was not talking to heathens. He was talking to people who knew Him as Jehovah. God is speaking to us Christians. He is not talking to the unsaved.

Then God says we must humble ourselves. The best definition I have for humble is “to line oneself up with God’s Word.” We are commanded to renew our mind with the Word. The reason we need to know the Word is so we can know how to live. We must have every intention of living according to God’s directions. It doesn’t mean we will be perfect. It just means we must strive to be like Christ.

After we have humbled ourselves, then we can appropriately pray. We need to pray according to the Word. God says His Word will not return void. This means that when we pray His Word back to Him, He will take action, according to that Word. Do we pray out of our heads or out of the Word?

Then God says we are to seek His face. Aren’t we guilty of seeking God’s hands and not His face? Especially in America, where we are so materialistic, we tend to seek God for what He can do for us. We should seek Him and not what He can do for us. Certainly God can bless us abundantly more than we can even ask or think, but God wants us to know Him and not just His gifts.

Lastly, He says we must turn from our wicked ways. Let me remind you that God is not talking to everyone in this scripture. He is talking to His people (the Body of Christ, the church). God is telling the church to line themselves up with the Word, to live according to the Word. He is not holding the unsaved accountable. He is holding us, the Christians accountable. Can the world look at us and see us living a Christ-like life, or do we just blend in with the world? Pornography is not just a problem in the world, it is a problem in the church. So is abortion, divorce, alcoholism, drug addiction....must I go on! Anything that we do that is not in line with the Word is sin and is therefore wicked. The church is quick to point out the unsaved and their sins. We need to clean up our own act. We can’t be a light do a dying world if we blend in.

After we have humbled ourselves, prayed, sought His face and turned from our wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land. Notice that God will heal America if the church will follow His instructions. Americans are seeking answers. Only God has the answers. This is a great opportunity for the “world” to look to the church for answers. The big question is.... Are we prepared to give them what they need? What the world needs is not condemnation but the LOVE OF CHRIST!