If My People . . .: A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation
If My People guides believers on a 40-day prayer journey in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14. “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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” In the days prior to the election, this prayer booklet guides believers through 40 days of prayer, plus providing seven prayers from past presidents, inspired during some of our country’s darkest days.
The Weapon of Prayer – Enhanced Version
Why pray? In his book, The Weapon of Prayer, Edward Bounds states: “The life of the individual believer, his personal salvation, and personal Christian graces have their being, bloom, and fruitage in prayer.” As a chaplain in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War, Bounds initiated weekly prayer sessions to strengthen the spiritual state of his local area. His wisdom has impacted Christ-seekers for decades, and his words are as powerful now as they were in the 1800’s. Bounds reminds us that throughout Biblical history, many of God’s greatest movements were incited by the prayers of God’s people. According to Bounds, prayer must be a priority. Other Christian duties, such as sacred works, communion, and church activities, cannot and should not take the place of prayer. To eliminate prayer from our daily lives is to abandon communication with God. It is through prayer that we have the opportunity to share our deepest sorrows, joys, and desires with the only one who can truly comfort us. To remind readers that God’s presence steadfastly endures, Bounds concludes his piece by providing modern examples of the power of prayer.
A Radical Idea: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God
What if building the right church depends on using all the wrong people? Imagine. Churches not built on the greatest talent, the finest facilities, or the most exceptional programs. Instead, churches that come together to unleash every single person to impact the world with the Spirit of God for the glory of God. It’s a radical idea.
The Prayer that Makes a Difference
God’s will is not automatic. His promises must be obtained by faith, and prayer expresses that faith. One of the greatest regrets we will have when we get to heaven will be when we discover all that God would have done and given. Either we did not ask, or we failed to ask according to His will; therefore, we never received. Oma Van Gelderen walked by faith and not by sight as she grew to understand the witness of the Holy Spirit as a fact of knowledge and not a feeling. She knew neither fame nor fortune, yet God used her prayer life to make a difference. Also included: Three connected truths concerning prayer by John R. Van Gelderen.
