I’ve been up for a little while this morning, and as is normal for my routine I spend some minutes in prayer, scripture, devotion and connecting with my world. It’s a normal routine that doesn’t take a lot of time, but it is important for me to have the stability of my morning that provides the start of my day.
However, two quick news items this morning sort of set the stage for my thought to share with you today.
- Can Democracy survive? The stress of the “parties” (strange word to use) angst against each other over current events. If ever there is a time to prove our governing system, perhaps this is the test to see whether our constitution will survive.
- Don McLean (American Pie) was given an award by a university, and then 3 days later had it yanked because of some family squabbles that have been in the news but not considered by the students. His statement in an open letter to the school was summed up with this sentence that speaks volumes to my ears: “We live in a dark age of accusation and not law.”
This is my thought about the age of our times. We are like squabbling 2-year-old children who are just learning the power of control and ownership. “Mine!” “No!” “MINE!” “NOOOOO!” Temper tantrums everywhere. Shouters gain control by forcing themselves on everyone else regardless of right or wrong. Marching to take control of city streets in spite of commerce needs. Social media tantrums and wars and speaking without thinking. Politics (“many” “bloodsucking creatures”) are draining the life out of us all! Violence! Civil strife around the globe! The economies of the world are in question!
It’s totally negative! It seems we have lost control of our sanity! Can we back up and start over? I hear the words of Jesus, as he describes some future time:
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(Matthew 24:6-8 NKJV)
What we need is a heed to scripture that goes back thousands of years.
“…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.
Now My eyes will be open and
My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”
(2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NKJV)
Of course, this is God talking to Solomon about a different set of problems, but the words are timeless. There is no time like the present to right the ship before ruination wreaks our forward path.
I taught about Prayer last night, and that’s key critical to surviving the challenges of the day. This is a part of our Foundation, and we often use it only during tragedies. The age of our times may be reverting to the Terrible Two’s, but we can mitigate the negativity of the ages by returning to the roots of our heritage.
This crosses many religious barriers, because, I believe, most believe in some form of prayer and mediation. So, why not ask everyone to pray?
How about it? Time for prayer? Patient and consistent prayer will open up our pathway to change. I think it’s time.