Featured Article 4th qtr. 2001

The entire nation watched in horror as terrorist-driven airplanes smashed violently into the World Trade Center Buildings. While watching these bazaar moments, still another plane dove into the Pentagon. Countless numbers of lives were wiped out in a matter of minutes. People screaming and running for their lives will be an image that will not be forgotten.

In the middle of daily routine people stopped what they were doing and immediately began to pray. Thank God! Prayer for those in the building, the rescue teams, for those who lost loved ones and friends, and specifically for our President and those who would now have to make major decisions began to arise. Our President called for a national day of prayer.

It was an awesome thing to see people of all faiths joined together lifting up this horrific situation to God. Two words were very prevalent on each and every broadcast station covering the events: PRAY and PRAYER It was very noticeable that people knew there was nothing they could do on their own. They knew they had to call on a Higher Power. Psalm 86:7 says, In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me. It is so comforting to know that when we call on the one true God, He does hear us and He is with us in the time of trouble.

During Desert Storm, the elections of 2000, and other major events involving this nation, Christians have rallied together and prayed. We saw the hand of our Almighty God as He intervened and answered prayer. We knew that we needed to pray to see a turn-around and victory.

Sadly enough many have not continued to pray for this nation and our government on a daily basis or with fervency. It seems that the devil has been successful in getting us so busy and complacent that we have just let things slide, going along our merry little way as if nothing evil could ever happen to this country. God never intended for us just to pray and obey only in times of crisis. Rather, He instructs us to pray without ceasing. (I Thess. 5:17). He had a specific reason for telling us this. He knows that if we slumber and not pray, things can slip in.

This whole event can be the thing that will bring revival, not only to our nation but also to nations around the world. However, it can't happen without prayer. We need to turn to God and it has to be long lasting. This is a marathon race not a sprint race. This is get on your face, pray and fast time from now until the rapture. Cry out for revival continually. Did these people die in vain? God forbid. The least we can do is stay on our face until every last soul has come into the kingdom of God. Lets do our part and turn this around for the good. God cannot do what He wants to do unless we do what were supposed to do. Are we tired of hearing the scripture in II Chronicles 7:14? Has it become like a Sunday school memory verse? If it has, we need to really search this scripture until we realize the full meaning of it once again and repent. He promised He would heal our land if we would humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways. By our prayers and repentance, we can divert some things that the enemy has planned for this nation and the world.

We all know that God was not behind this devious act. Beloved it is time to wake up and never become complacent again. These are the last minutes before the rapture. We cannot afford to slumber. Our God is merciful and full of compassion. We cant ever get so wrapped up with the cares of this world that we forget the promises of God. He will give us what we believe Him for. We must speak only Gods words now more than ever before because faith-filled words dominate the law of sin and death.

Lets continue to pray for those who are grieving, for our President and his cabinet. Pray for our government daily as we are instructed to in I Timothy 2:1-2. Pray for our children and youth to rise up in great revival and strength. We must take this seriously and obey the commandments of God. Then we will see His glory arise and the incoming harvest of souls. Let's call the glory forth in prayer.

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3