PRAYER TO THE SOVEREIGN GOD

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

We are endeavoring in prayer meetings at our local church to really study, and be involved in, prayer, especially corporate prayer as gathered believers. God tells us much about prayer, especially that He delights in His children seeking Him, and that He hears and answers prayer, according to His purpose. As Arthur Pink said in quoting Martin Luther and others, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of God’s willingness”.

“Nine times out of ten, declension from God begins in the neglect of private prayer“- Charles Spurgeon

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Prayer for forgiveness is part of it, as Christ teaches us in the so-called Lord’s Prayer. It is actually the model prayer. In this example He says in part: “Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:3-4).

I am personally so glad that He is a forgiving God, for I went through several years of failure and defeat in the things of the Lord. It was backsliding---just to be completely honest. I am ashamed of it now, but thank God I am forgiven. I won’t give the devil any glory by telling all about it. Suffice it to say, Christ preserved me from the worst sins. I could have hit rock bottom, but I am sure God heard the prayers of my family and others. About eight years ago, the Lord met me where I was. I repented and He restored me. I hope I have grown ever since. By His grace alone I will persevere! It is He that preserves us, and enables us to persevere. It is all of grace! There is no mercy or security outside of Christ! The following reading from Mr. Spurgeon for May 18th is partially my testimony.

LOSSES OVERCOME

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25).

Yes those wasted years over which we sigh shall be restored to us. God can give us such plentiful grace that we shall crowd into the remainder of

our days as much of service as will be some recompense for those years of unregeneracy over which we mourn in humble penitence.

The locusts of backsliding, worldliness, lukewarmness, are now viewed by us as a terrible plague. Oh that they had never come near us! The Lord in mercy has now taken them away, and we are full of zeal to serve Him.

Blessed be His name, we can raise such harvests of spiritual graces as shall make our former barrenness to disappear.Through rich grace we can turn to account our bitter experience, and use it to warn others. We can become

the more rooted in humility, childlike dependence, and penitent spirituality, by reason of our former shortcomings. If we are the more watchful, zealous, and tender, we shall gain by our lamentable losses. The wasted years, by a miracle of love, can be restored. Does it seem too great a boon? Let us believe for it, and live for it, and we may yet realize it, even as Peter

became all the more useful a man after his presumption was cured by his discovered weakness. Lord, aid us by thy grace” (Faith’s Checkbook)

Prayer For Our Nation

The United States of America is rapidly becoming something different -- much different than it used to be, and much different than our forefathers intended. It is much different than it used to be when I was a boy. It hasn’t really been that long. I am not a fossil --yet!

Some of the changes we have seen are better, of course. Technology and invention has made our lives easier. Most of us couldn’t make it without air conditioning; both in our homes, and our cars. Air travel has made it quick, and usually safe to get most anywhere fast. Interstates whisk us across the country (when there are not massive traffic jams!)

Of course, unless you are very young, I do not need to say so much about how things have changed. You have seen it with your own eyes. But all the changes have not been for good. Sin and violence fill the land. Daily, we hear of a kidnapping, several murders, rapes, robberies, etc.. Senseless violence! The recent example of the ruthless beating of a 90 year old man by a thug while people stood by and watched was disgusting. Liberal judges slap on the wrist the child molesters, and child porn purveyors assuring us that “knowing where they live” because they “have to register” will protect our children and grandchildren. Many are repeat offenders who are treated with kid gloves. People convicted of child molestation, who are repeat offenders, should be put to death! I am, of course, speaking of real, convicted child molesters, not some family squabble where one has been falsely accused, or other highly questionable cases.

In 2006 on Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May), you may remember I wrote concerning illegal aliens. That problem has still not been solved. Why? Because laws we already have are not being enforced. Congress is supposedly going to pass legislation to solve the problem. It won’t solve it because it will have no teeth! Close the border first! Finish the fences! Allow police to ask the status of those they stop in suspected violations, as they now in 2010 are allowed to do in Arizona. Send back, especially, the criminal element among them. Place fines on businesses that hire illegals. Do all that, but tighten border security first, as Mike Huckabee, Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin and others have said. Our borders are vulnerable, and we must solve the problem of those who are already here. The government isn't enforcing the laws we now have! This must change, or how else will we see enforcement of any new provisions?

Yes, the USA is becoming something even more different. The main reason? I’ll tell you what it is. You may not like it. But here it is. It is sin! The nation is under judgment! When a nation can wink at the murder of millions of unborn every year, promote adultery, sodomy, violence and disregard the constitution allowing liberal judges to legislate from the bench; when those we elect to office are too sorry to stand for what we voted them in for, and too cowardly to stand for what is morally right -- we are under judgment! “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). We must pray for our land, for unless Christ returns soon, our children and grandchildren will face misery in a land “That knows not Joseph” (see Exodus 1:8. and see if you get my point). “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor (Proverbs 14:9). "Thy kingdom come.Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).