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For Such a Time as This, Prayer

by: bonnie alba | published: 05 05, 2010

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"When we forget the real inner source of our power, our outward physical strength begins to disappear. Before long we become confused and fearful as we scramble to find the reasons for our weakness and failures. America is scrambling and it is time to rediscover the source of our strength and success." - Sen. Jim DeMint (SC) from his book "Saving Freedom"

On April 16th, U. S. District Judge Barbara Crabbe ruled National Prayer Day unconstitutional on a case brought by the "Freedom from Religion Foundation" in 2008. Amazing. One judge decided the government cannot call the nation's people to prayer one day a year.

Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, is planning an appeal on behalf of 31 members of Congress. He stated, "It is unfortunate that this court failed to understand that a day set aside for prayer for the country represents a time-honored tradition that embraces the First Amendment, not violates it."

Meanwhile, National Prayer Day community spirits have not been dampened by this decision. For most Christians, this is just more evidence of the secular progressives' ongoing assault to remake America and eliminate the historical spiritual heritage of our nation's founding, all the way back to the Pilgrims and Puritans enrichment of our Christian underpinnings.

The NPD theme for this year is taken from Nahum 1:7, "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust Him." Exactly as the founders were prone to do --- take refuge in God in the midst of squabbling over states' representation at the 1787 Constitutional Convention.

Benjamin Franklin was able to calm everyone with a powerful speech, "...I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth---that God Governs in the affairs of men. ... I therefore beg leave to move---that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business....".

From that day to this, each session of Congress has opened with prayer. Is it possible that regular prayers are now taken for granted and Congress has forgotten who they serve -- God and the people?

Many of us would agree with Sen. DeMint, "Our government has sacrificed the good of the nation by replacing religiously inspired moral aspirations with the minimum standards of secularism."

He also stated in his book, "The connection between God, the Bible, Christianity, virtue, law, individual responsibility, and freedom were unquestioned by those who shaped America's founding."

I would add education of our young to the above principles. Moral and civil character-building blocks once taught as essential elements in our public schools disappeared when Bible reading and prayer were nullified by U.S. Supreme Court cases over the last 63 years. Several generations have been raised to adulthood without being taught virtues, morality, and individual responsibility in common with parents. Those adults have no guiding principles in their lives beyond the surrounding enticements to babylonian entertainment and materialism without purpose.

Community and individual prayer is a primary way to draw closer to God, seeking His wisdom and understanding of His standards. He does answer prayer as millions can attest to His responses. He is the strength and the power within millions of hearts worldwide.

One Judge's ruling NPD unconstitutional will not keep the people from gathering and praying for our nation, for our leaders and for turning back to God in the public and political arenas and in the hearts and minds of the people. Otherwise we know that God, though long suffering and patient, will not hold back His chastisement for our rejection of Him.

In his 1988 Proclamation of National Prayer Day, President Ronald Reagan declared, "Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Constitutional Congress, in the first step----humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the Love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance, and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessing, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always."

Sen. DeMint is right. For such a time as this, Americans should draw closer to God who is the source of our inner power and strength which blessed and made America Great!