Changing the Nation Through Prayer

GAME CHANGER! No, I’m not talking about last Tuesday’s primary, while it was competitive. And I’m also not talking about the HBO movie that came out this week demeaning Sarah Palin. I’m talking about prayer! I’m talking about the James 5:16 kind of prayer; “Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” I like the King James version that says“effectual fervent prayer”. Are you praying fervently? Do you really believe that what you believe is really real? In other words, do you believe that effectual fervent prayer is powerful and effective? I believe it. In 1996 I was in the jungle of Venezuela on a missions trip. There was only one way back to our camp and it required crossing a rapid river that had no bridge. This was a little dicey in good weather, but add a torrential downpour and the river would overflow the banks. Your only option at that point was to wait it out until the storm passed and the water receded. On the night before we were to depart, the rain began. It rained all night long. We knew that if it didn’t stop, we could be stranded. I began praying James 5:16 -18: “16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops”. I prayed for the rain to stop by 11:00 a.m. which would give the river enough time recede to a passable level. The rain stopped just before 11 and we were on our way. We got to the river banks where there were several vehicles pulled over waiting for the water to go down before chancing it. Some larger trucks were creeping across. We were in a 4 wheel drive SUV and our host believed we could make it. So he went for it. We arrived at the airport in time for our flight. Now when I say “airport” I mean some little, brick building in the middle of the jungle, probably not what comes to mind when you read the word “airport”. When we checked in, we found out that our plane was the last one going out for SIX MONTHS! They were shutting down for renovations! The nearest airport was 200 miles away, across some not-so-safe roads and mountains. Do I really believe that what I believe is really real? You bet I do! This week as we pray for our nation, let’s be effectual and fervent. Take a look at this video and see what can happen when we get serious about praying for our city, our state and our country! Create a Canopy of Prayer over our nation! To become a member of the Faith & Freedom prayer team click HERE. Regina Brown National Prayer Coordinator