Tag: Promises

I don’t pray for our nation’s leadership like I should. Truthfully, I don’t really know what to pray for these days. I know a lot of people prayed for our nation’s leaders in church last Sunday. We need Congress to come to decisions that are best for the citizens and the government. I usually pray for the leaders who know the Lord, to seek his leadership rather than lead in their own strength. I pray for God to speak to them clearly, and then I ask God to strengthen the men and women to follow his will rather than the will of the people. But, I then realize I am praying for them not to do the job they were elected to do. Does that prayer really change anything? Does that prayer change me?

I spent a good bit of time trying to search the origin of the phrase “prayer changes things.” As best I can tell, those words began to grow in popularity sometime in the early 1900s. I found people like Oswald Chambers, E. M. Bounds, and Mother Teresa who commented on the phrase, but, after a long Google search, I am still not sure who they would have been quoting. My favorite quote about the verse is from Oswald Chambers who said, “To say that ‘prayer changes things’ is not as close to the truth as saying, ‘prayer changes me and then I change things.’”

Scripture clearly supports the concept of prayer changing things, although not quite as simply as the bumper-sticker phrase would suggest. I originally learned James 5:16 from the King James Version of the Bible. The verse says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” After my Sunday School teacher’s vocabulary lesson on the meanings of the words effectual, fervent, and righteous, I wasn’t real sure my prayers were going to “availeth” much at all. I think I have prayed most of my life without a great sense of certainty about the outcome of my supplications. I know God listens. I know God can do anything, at any time. I also know that God usually limits himself to our free will.

We don’t usually see leaders fall on their knees and admit they don’t know what to do. We rarely see leaders who promise to obey and follow the will of God regardless of personal consequence. We often see leaders who think they know what is necessary; therefore, it’s difficult to expect them to have asked God for his ideas. So how do we pray for God to lead people who lack an inclination to follow?

One answer is found with a second look at James 5:16 and the wisdom of Oswald Chambers. Prayer doesn’t change things; it changes people, starting with me. My prayer may not change the personality of my president or the character of my senator. On the other hand, my prayers might change the life of a Christian who will then impact one of them. My prayer might lead to a release of God’s power. He can bring about changes I couldn’t imagine or wouldn’t think to hope for. Prayer isn’t about changing things as much as it is about changing people. We know God changes people—we know God has changed us.

A “righteous” person is a person who is right with God. What do you have to do today to be made righteous in God’s sight? We need to pray for ourselves to be cleansed before we pray for others. That’s what Jesus meant when he taught his disciples to handle the log in their own eyes instead of the sawdust in someone else’s (Luke 6:41). A righteous person can pray fervently for our nation’s leaders. God knows what needs to be done, and he will lead us to pray for his will. When we have said “amen” to his will, our prayers have been “effectual.” Something will have changed because we took that time to be righteous and fervent with our prayers.

More than eleven thousand people will receive this blog today. What if eleven thousand righteous people pray effectual, fervent prayers for our nation? Will there be a story in the news this evening that makes us smile? Will we see God at work in Washington? Will our leaders be convicted of their sin because we were first convicted of our own? Will someone run for office because God called them to make that choice?

Mother Teresa said, “I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things.” I think Mother Teresa’s life affirmed those words. How many lives were changed because of her prayers?

Let’s take the time to seek righteousness with God. Let’s pray when our words and thoughts are fervently aligned with God’s will. Those prayers will “availeth” much.

We may not see our leaders drop to their knees in front of the television cameras this week, but God may see some of them bow before him. God is ready to bless and guide every leader who is willing to follow. How will those righteous men and women change Washington? I will pray for them—as soon as I have finished praying for that righteousness in myself.

I still don’t want to shop at Target and I hope the same is true for you. Last April I wrote a blog post about Target’s dressing room policy. The store’s policy declares: “In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.” Opinions circulated in the media, in lunchrooms, in other stores and businesses and in blogs like this one. It’s been nine months since that time. How are things at Target?

• AdAge reported that Target took their $686 million-dollar media account to a different agency.
• The January 9^th Stock News Journal reports Target has experienced a 12.70% earnings decline.
• A Wall Street Journal article reported that Target’s CEO, Brian Cornell, admitted that some of the financial woes were backlash from their public bathroom/dressing room policy.
• The American Family Association reports more than 1.5 million signatures were collected from people who said they would no longer shop at Target.
• The AFA also called for Target to change their policy last June when another young girl reported a man recording her on his cell phone while she was trying on a bathing suit in the women’s dressing room.

Target has not changed its dressing room policy, but they have changed their ads. The store is spending millions of dollars on charities and on ads talking about their charitable giving. Chip and Joanna Gaines signed a lucrative contract with the store (much to my disappointment) in the hopes of helping Target’s image and sales with people like me. I like Chip and Joanna Gaines very much, but I’m still not going to shop at Target.

It’s easy in today’s media climate to think that we are “losing ground” in our nation. But I think Target might tell us a different story. There are a LOT of people, both Christian and non-Christian who would like this country to change its values and moral standards. We want our country to be a safer and happier place and earn more respect and favor from other nations as well.

Last week I taught Psalm 33. Verse twelve says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” In Colossians 3:12 Paul said that Christians were, “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.” We have already reached the half-way point of January. This is a good time to re-evaluate our goals for the coming year. I think each of us should add at least one more: Let’s endeavor to ignore the suggestions that somehow the world, and our culture, is slipping away. It’s not. God created the world, has always been in control of his creation, and He always will be. And Christians are his chosen people, holy and dearly loved.

Your influence, empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, is immeasurable. Christians held Target accountable and they have been paying ever since. Truett Cathey, the owner of Chick-Fil-A has openly stated his Christian beliefs and a lot of people thought he would go out of business when he did. What did the line look like the last time you wanted some Chick-Fil-A for lunch? Hobby Lobby won their recent Supreme Court battle. Maybe things are going better than we think?

So, to all my Christian readers – keep speaking up and occasionally, speak out. We have a lot more influence than we tend to realize. We speak up every time we choose where to spend, or not spend our money. We speak up every time we withhold our opinion and every time we give it. We speak up every time we trust God’s power more than anything else.

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Let’s rejoice and be glad in that fact. This world is progressing as God always knew it would. We are just one generation closer to his end. It isn’t better or worse, it’s both and it always has been both. Keep moving forward with God’s strength and guidance. Your life and witness matter more than you realize. God said so, and now, so would Target.

We do live at an interesting moment in history. I watched the Golden Globes and wondered when actors and entertainers began to think their job was to influence the world. And I wondered if the average people in our nation genuinely believe they should.

I found it ironic to watch women in low-cut, beaded, sequined, skintight dresses express their distaste toward being objectified by making sure the color of their gown was black. I found it ironic that many of the films and shows that won Golden Globes reportedly contained graphic content. Hollywood’s confusion was apparent when the same crowd that gave the standing ovation for Oprah’s speech offered murmurs of discomfort as Dakota Johnson, the actress in the Fifty Shades movies, walked to the platform to present an award. It’s hard to look innocent when you are covered in the evidence.

People who read this blog or hear me teach are familiar with my love/hate relationship with Oprah. I think Oprah is a remarkable woman who was both savvy and smart with her career. She took advantage of her opportunities and achieved a great deal of fame, which led to a great deal of influence, which lead to a great deal of power. I respect her business savvy, but I have always cautioned people against her message.

Oprah knew she would receive the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes. She was well prepared to give her acceptance speech. She was both eloquent and powerful with her words and with her presentation. She began by describing herself as a young girl watching television and ended with saying she knew she would be influencing young girls today. Judging by the faces in the crowd, she was influencing more than the young girls.

I watched Oprah influence the women of my generation. Almost all the women I knew watched her afternoon show. Those who worked often recorded it to watch later. Oprah confessed her abuse and campaigned for change. She promoted reading and education. Oprah encouraged equality and fought the prejudice that she had grown up with. She was a talk-show host who used her platform to accomplish a lot of good things.

But Oprah spoke about marriage as unnecessary for women because it gave their power away to a man. She illustrated her point by openly living with her partner. She gave advice on raising children even though she never allowed hers to be born. Her vocabulary was filled with catchphrases like “personal truth” and “self-empowerment.” She defined truth as whatever a person wants it to be and encouraged people that they had the power to choose their version of truth over anyone else’s.

So why am I using a blog post to put Oprah on display? Because I want us to consider her influence and ask ourselves why she has it. I would almost bet my house that Oprah’s speech last night was the first of many. I think she has wanted to be the first female president for a very long time, and I think she used her Golden Globe speech last night toward that end. I won’t elaborate on why I think that is true. There are plenty of articles on the subject.

I would ask each of us to consider this important lesson from Oprah’s story. Have Christians worked as hard as Oprah to achieve a position of influence with our truth?

Oprah spoke to a confused crowd and a confused world at the Golden Globes and offered them answers. She told people to believe the World Press because of their “insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice.” I think the most telling portion of her speech reflected the theme of the evening at the Golden Globes. Oprah used the story of Recy Taylor’s horrible abuse to say, “She lived as we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men. For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up.” She concluded her speech by saying that truth goes marching on with “every woman who chooses to say, ‘Me too.’ And every man — every man who chooses to listen.”

Oprah’s speech was powerful, moving, and influential. The danger is that her speech was partial truth rather than full truth. The media does not have an insatiable dedication to uncovering absolute truth, but if Oprah chooses to run for president, the media will love her for saying so. Our culture has not been broken by brutally powerful men who hindered women who dared to speak “their truth.” Our culture has been broken by both men and women who, like Oprah, think “their truth” is the truth.

It occurred to me that, in today’s political climate, King Solomon would never have been elected. When Solomon was crowned king, God appeared to him and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (2 Chronicles 1:7). Solomon answered, saying, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10). Israel achieved its height of power and influence under Solomon. Solomon’s great strength was that he knew he needed God. His weaknesses were apparent when he began to trust his own truth instead of God’s.

I’ll conclude my blog by rewording Oprah’s words, with biblical truth in mind:

All of us live in a culture that for too many years has been broken by sinfully powerful men and women. For too long, God’s truth has not been heard or believed because people have dared to speak their truth rather than rely on his. But their time is up. Their time is up.

Truth will go marching on when every Christian chooses to hear God say, “Choose me,” and every person, men and women alike, chooses to listen.

The media is full of lists right now promising a healthier, wealthier and happier new year if we will follow their five or ten directives. I wish reading those lists accomplished the goals. I’m often more of a “reader” than a “doer.” I find it comforting to know that James needed to address my same struggle when he told his peers, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Are you a listener or a doer? Most people are both.

God makes a lot of promises in Scripture, but most require us to be “doers” if we want to receive them. This year as you throw away the leftover Christmas cookies, dust off the treadmill and delete the store ads from your inbox, consider making a few spiritual goals as well. If we get the cart behind the horse this year, the rest of life will fall into place.

Consider these promises from God and ask yourself what you can “do” to receive them:

• You have a strong advocate. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14). What hinders you from finding time to sit with God and listen to his perfect advice? If there was a doctor who could cure you, how long would you sit in his waiting room? If there was a financial expert that could double your wealth, what would you do to remember every word he spoke? The Creator God of the universe has promised to fight for you. When will you choose to be still and let him?
• You have a reason to be brave. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Exodus 41:10). The “right hand” of God is symbolic for his omnipotent, creative power. This year’s news began with a shooting, North Korean concerns, a plane crash and a sense of distrust for all things political. Fear and dismay are the natural result of listening to the evening news. God promises that whatever happens in this world, Christians are protected by the same power that spoke the world into existence. So, do not choose to fear and do not be dismayed. God has you in the palm of his omnipotent hand.
• You can improve your life. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). What does God want you to avoid this year? What does God want you to purge from your life? What areas of your life has Satan been given access to enter? Label those areas as danger zones. Submission to what God wants for our lives is how we resist the devil. Hand God the key to those doors and enjoy the simplicity of having fewer rooms to clean up.
• You have, or will have, everything you need. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). If you read my blog, you know the difference between a need and a want. It’s interesting how often we try to satisfy our needs by getting something we want. Christians need love, friendship, security, and we need to serve others to feel complete. God gave us Jesus so that we could literally have everything. How often do you want Jesus and his blessings?
• God will make this a good year. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is a cornerstone verse for all of God’s promises. A perfect new year is yours, if you will love God and live each day according to his good purpose. If something isn’t good today, you can know it will be good someday. Love God and love others with all your strength and allow him to call you to his good purpose.

All of us want to have a “happy” new year, and for most of us, it will be mostly happy. But let’s set our hearts on things above and choose to want a “happy” eternity. That one goal will change everything. God has promised his promises are a promise – forever. And every new year is one year closer to our perfect forever.

Let’s view this year’s news and events in the light of his promises and it will be a blessed 2018.