“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16b, NLT).

This Too Will Pass!

“Most holy and everlasting Father, humbly we bow in your presence, acknowledging and confessing that you are God and beside You there is none other!” Kneeling in a circle with my family in the front room of our old two-story farmhouse in the 1950s, I opened one eye as my father continued praying. “All of the power of heaven and of earth is in Your hands. You can destroy and you can defend. You can speak and men will live. You can speak and men will die.” Quickly glancing around the room, I saw my father, mother, two older brothers, and three older sisters (the twins had not been born) all on their knees with their eyes closed.

Family prayer in our home was not limited to Sunday morning before breakfast.  It was persistent– and often at night after we were exhausted from working in the fields. Dad would read Scriptures and teach us biblical lessons before leading the family in prayer. Although I wanted him to hurry it along, I sensed even as a small child that there was something special and good about being part of a praying family. We struggled to make ends meet and life on the sharecropping farm in the Jim Crow south was hard. But Dad kept us in prayer and kept telling us, “One day we’re going to be looking back on all of this.” It was his way of saying, “This too will pass.” Although I could not see from one end to the other of the long rows of cotton, tobacco, peanuts, and corn, where we labored beneath the scorching heat of the sun, I watched us go from almost nothing to just enough, to more than enough. And today, thank God, by prayer and work my cup runneth over!

So I am concerned whenever I hear someone say, “We don’t need any more praying.” Of course, the devil wants us to think prayer is futile. But prayer is needed more than ever, especially today, when our nation is so imperiled. I dare say the country is under heartless leadership–leadership that violates the instructions of Jesus to show kindness and care for “the least of these” (Matt. 25:40), and to “love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44) rather than to call them ugly names and seek to destroy everyone who disagrees with their dictatorial and mean-spirited practices. I am tempted to respond angrily at times.

Before he concluded the prayer, Dad, who had to endure much from his enemies, added, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). Yes, we must guard our mouths and add work to our prayers, but we must never cease praying. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT). Prayer still works! And yes, America, this too, shall pass!

Focus Quote: “Never stop praying.”               

                                                  –1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)

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 altonesumner.com – an inspiring motivational ministry.

Please continue to join us at 5:14 p.m. each day as we pause to pray. Please see the attached prayer list. Just pause and pray wherever you are. Just connect to God and pray! I will also be praying with you. There is power in agreement!