The internet is such a blessing because you can see what is going on around the world. Sadly, it can also be overwhelming for the same reason. Last week a tornado devastated a small town in Mississippi and this week tornadoes destroyed several other communities as the storm systems continue across the country. Add to that other natural and man-made disasters, security threats, political fighting, economic upheavals, mass murders and the list goes on in our “prosperous and stable democracy.” Is there any room left in our hearts and minds for people in other troubled spots around the world? There should be room because they are our neighbors, and we were told to love them as ourselves (Mark 12:31).
What can I do but comment and complain on social media? I don’t have enough money to solve my own problems, let alone theirs. You can share the WORD when the opportunity presents and pray! That would be a very long prayer and most of them already have Bibles. We were commanded to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16 KJV). That’s the answer they need most, and you can “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes 5:17 KJV) to cover the problems and disasters.
Will GOD answer those kinds of prayers for people I don’t even know? First, “he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6 KJV) and your faith puts you in a powerful position. JESUS said “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Mat 17:20 KJV) and if He didn’t limit the power of our faith, why should we? But I’ve prayed before and didn’t see anything happen. Notice the phrase “If ye have faith” because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 KJV), so how much WORD are you getting? JESUS told us, “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14 KJV).
Why don’t you and all other believers solve the world’s problems through prayer? Good question! Unfortunately, we let doubt creep in and that stops us from praying and it can make the prayers we do pray ineffective. We also listen to the thief who “cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 KJV) and his lies get into out spirit and cause doubts. The only way we can overcome doubt is through spending time in the WORD and in prayer.
You keep repeating the same thing as the answer to our problems. That’s because that is the answer! The WORD says we can’t change someone’s heart, but we are told to give them the WORD and pray. We can’t remove the consequences of unrepentant sin, but we can pray for mercy so they can change before it’s too late. We can’t force people to ask for forgiveness and be born again, but if we do our part the HOLY SPIRIT can draw them, and they may repent and be saved! Now isn’t that a good reason to pray without ceasing?
Wayne Lance (2023) – That’s Good News to Share!