KEY #2: A COMMITMENT TO FERVENT PRAYER

Could you not keep watch with me for one hour? (Matt. 26:40)

Today our nation is focused on remembering the thousands of innocent lives lost in the events of September 11, 2001. Ten years ago today four planes hijacked by terrorists forever altered our view of reality and the way we live our lives as few of us could ever have imagined possible. Our children and grandchildren now must navigate a world radically different from the world we once knew.

Reality-altering events have always been part of human history. It will always be so until the final apocalyptic event of our Lord’s return occurs—and event that will forever change us all. On a smaller scale we experience reality-altering events in our personal lives as well. We know that certain events and circumstances over which we have no control forever change our lives. As grandparents, sometimes these events can blur the grand we once enjoyed as grandparents. How do we face these situations and hope to ever get the grand back again?

Key #2 – a personal commitment to fervent prayer, is an important piece in that process. It is very important, however, that we understand what prayer is about. Prayer is more than a means of petitioning God for something we want. It is the aligning of our hearts with the Father’s and surrendering our will to His. Prayer is acknowledging the ultimate reality that God alone is in control of the events of history and my life. When we approach prayer with this perspective, we are in a position to pray effectively. Oswald Chamber said that “prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.”

All reality-altering events like 9/11 or personal family tragedies have a way of shaking us back to the reality that we are not the masters of our destiny. These are the moments when we must make a choice. We can either sulk and complain about how bad things are and even be angry at God, or we can rest in the knowledge of that my life and the lives of our children and grandchildren are in His hands, and there is no better place to be. Let the ache of our soul drive us to our knees because He is our rock and salvation; our fortress where we will never be shaken (Psalm 62).

The fervent, desperate cries of God’s people have always been the starting point of revival in dark times. Why should it be any different in our day? Together, let’s get on our knees and pray…and watch what God will do in our midst!

GRANDPAUSE: We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again. G. Campbell Morgan