There is a song sung by worship group ‘Casting Crowns’ that explores what might happen if God’s church really prayed. One verse says:
‘What if the church, for Heaven’s sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God’s promise
And stormed Hell’s rusted gates?’
God promises to listen always. God’s promises are there to be claimed. God can’t break His promises. Another verse challenges Christians – those who already have recognised God’s love for them and call Him Father – to come to Him on His knees and ask for forgiveness.
‘What if His people prayed
And those who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
And turn from their own ways?’
It goes on to consider what could happen if we prayed for our leaders – political, global, local, our kings, ministers, presidents, teachers, bosses.
What would be the impact in our society if we taught our little ones to pray – how might that have an effect on anxiety levels? What benefits would there be for the future?
I’m writing the day after abortion restrictions have been changed and Parliament is debating assisting dying so this verse seems particularly poignant. How does a belief in and conversation with a God who makes people in His own image dictate our ideas about the sanctity of life?
‘And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way?
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day’
Finally, the next verse says:
‘What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth?
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do?’
We are so easy and desperate to take advice from any available quarter – podcasts, helplines, websites, social media, literature, TV, ‘experts’, friends etc – that we ignore the First Cause and Creator. The God who sees and knows all and loves us from our hair ends to our fingertips, inside and out.
What would happen if His people prayed? Let’s do it and see!!!