By REV. ADREN BIVINS

Laymen Brotherhood Center

In the Bible, which involves the dialogue between God and people. In the Old Testament, Israel is a nation born of prayer.

In Genesis Chapter 12:1-3, Abraham heard God’s call and God heard the cries of the Hebrew people.

In Exodus Chapter 3-4, Moses conversed with God and interceded for Israel. By prayer, Joshua discerned sin in the conquest community (Joshua 7: 6-9).

David, who was the second king of Israel, prayed a confession prayer (Psalms 51). God hears the prayers of those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

King Solomon, David’s 10th son and Bathesheba’s second son, prayed to the Lord for wisdom. James 1:5, tells us if we lack wisdom asks God and he will give it to us freely.

Daniel, who was thrown in the lion’s den, had a strong prayer life. The Bible tells us that he prayed three times a day. He did not let obstacles hinder him from praying and believing in God. The three Hebrew boys, who were thrown in the fiery furnace, prayed and believed in the Lord to deliver them. Praying is a natural way of communicating with God when we believe in him. It is a way to empty our feelings and heart openly before our Father, who created us and who already knows what we are going through.

In the New Testament, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. Jesus also prayed for God’s will to be done and not his will during the crucifixion. Those were crucial moments for his disciples also. Jesus displayed an intimate prayer life, which was shown even when he went to the Mount of Olives to pray. Sometimes, we have to get off to ourselves and pray to the Lord in secret. If we have faith and believe, the Bible tells us that the Lord will reward us openly.

Luke taught that Jesus was guided by the Spirit of God. We must pray that God’s will be done in our lives as he sees fit. We must also realize that without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Prayer alone will not do it. We must have faith and believe that the Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, as stated in His Word. Faith is the critical concept of Christianity. A trusting commitment to God should be our daily prayer. Having faith shows that we are loyal to God.

Peter showed great faith in Jesus. He walked on the water because he had faith. We must keep our eyes on Jesus in order to have the faith that Peter had. When we take our eyes off Jesus, we will begin to walk out of harmony with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and began to do things our way. Peter began to sink as soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus.

There is power in prayer if we trust in the Lord to see us through. We must be more specific in prayer and open up with saying “our Father.” We have a Christian duty to pray for others such as our leaders, those who are in authority, and intercede for others including our enemies. We must pray with a humble attitude expecting the Lord to hear and answer.

In James 1:6, the Bible tells us to have faith, never doubting love for one another. We have to make time for God to pray and to develop an intimate relationship. We must never compromise that time we spend with God. Last month, my wife and I attended an event at the Tallahassee Civic Center with Pastor David Jeremiah. His message was, in order to live in a world that seems to be spinning out of control and with so much going on, we as believers must be true to our faith and to God by taking a bold step for doing what is right in a sinful world. His message was based on Romans Chapter 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

We need to pray when times are good and bad. God has blessed America to be a blessing to other nations. However, we must be sober minded to remember the things that pleases God if we want to continue to receive his blessings.

The Psalmist David said “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, (Psalm 33:12).” As we pray for God’s continued blessings on America for the 21st century, I am reminded of the promise he made to Abraham and the nation of Israel in Genesis Chapter 12 verse 2. I believe this blessing applies to all nations through the Gospel of Christ. There are earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, oil spills and all kind of disasters and tragedies. God is definitely speaking to all of us. We must pray and have faith in the Lord.

In closing we must remember what God told his people in the days of old, which also applies to us today.

“When I shut up heaven, so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plaque among my people, if my people who are called by my name, will 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 heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:13-14).

Our land needs healing and we need to humble ourselves by admitting our sins, pray to God and ask for forgiveness, seek God continually, and turn from sinful behavior. True repentance is more than talk, but changed behavior. Whether we sin individually, as a group or a nation, these steps will lead to forgiveness. If we pray and have faith, the Lord will see us through.

Prayer: Our Father who art in Heaven, please help us to pray and have faith in you daily and apply our heart and mind to your words in the Bible, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Rev. Adren Bivins Sr., a clergy, is the founder of Laymen Brotherhood Second Chance Outreach Center Inc., a non-profit Bainbridge organization. He can be reached by calling (229) 465-3752 or 416-0476.