Author: John Page 163 of 166

The term ‘free rider’ has important applications in economics and social science.  It refers to someone who benefits from a resource without paying their fare share because others bear the burden.  In many ways, American Christians have become free riders.

The Lord has blessed America throughout our history well more than we deserve.  This disparity has become even more acute in recent days as the nation has invited cursings, not blessings, upon itself.  The nation has been free-riding on God’s grace, with a willful lack of appreciation for the Lord’s unmerited favor.

At the same time, those of us who have failed to regularly and fervently pray for our nation have been free-riding on the faithfulness of those more dedicated to proper Christian citizenship.  The prayers of faithful citizens may have delayed the judgment of a longsuffering God on a nation that has invited His wrath.  Their prayers may be all that separate America from a harsh and deserved fate.  At the same time, their prayers may also be staving off an even more severe devolution of our society than that which currently brings sorrow to the faithful.  Those who pray are paying the cost for the rest.

PLEASE PAY THE SMALL COST OF REGULAR AND FERVENT PRAYER FOR OUR NATION.  Free riders will always exist, but America Christians should not be numbered among them.

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Challenging other like-minded believers to reach towards greater heights is a fundamental part of God’s plan for success in the Christian life.  Those who do not receive motivation from others in this way will rarely succeed.  In amazing brevity, this verse offers two challenges of its own.  First, the Lord encourages us to be strong Christians ourselves so that we can be used effectively to strengthen others.  Second, the Lord encourages us to be humble Christians, recognizing that no matter the magnitude of our current strength, there is still strengthening to be done.  This mixture of strength and humility is the key to mutual success.

The fundamental concept of PLUS, as described under the “Personal Motivation,” “Strategy,” and “Vision & Mission” tabs, is for this burden to be shared with others and spread through word of mouth.  This website is meant to challenge Christian citizens to pray regularly and fervently for the United States.  It was born out of a humble recognition that I had failed to be the prayer warrior that my nation needed me to be, and out of a strong determination that I would never again fall short in this way.

At the same time, PLUS is also meant to encourage you to humbly but determinedly challenge others in a similar fashion.  Encourage others to pray for our nation, on their own or by your side.  Prayer that permeates our nation will promote Christ to His proper position of preeminence.  PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CHALLENGE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO PUT THEIR BURDEN FOR AMERICA INTO ACTION THROUGH THEIR OWN PRAYERS.  Sharpening others in this way will magnifying our mutual impact, on our nation and on each other.

I Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Tomorrow is the 62^nd National Day of Prayer.  It is a day with great festivities and a nationwide call to prayer for our nation.  It has the bold theme of “Investing in Hope … Transforming our Nation Through Prayer!”  Its leaders are absolutely correct in the desperate need for divine intervention in America.

Unfortunately, praying for our nation one day a year is not nearly enough.  It is akin to attending church only on Easter and Christmas.  It is better than nothing, but is far from optimal.  In fact, it is likely that the National Day of Prayer organizers see it the same way.  Their hope, much like the Pastor who invites a prospect to a Christmas service, should be for a greater burden to grow in hearts.  Just possibly, a small taste of sporadic obedience will promote a greater hunger for regular faithfulness and fervency.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONVICT THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER TO MAKE IT A DAILY BURDEN RATHER THAN AN ANNUAL EVENT.  After all, the transformation that our nation needs requires us to cease not.

James 4:16b “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

We all want to be productive.  We want the time we spend to be worth the investment.  We want the output of our lives to exceed the value of the inputs.  We want our actions to have an impact.

Prayer provides great leverage in the physical sense of the word.  Relatively small inputs of prayer on our part, multiplied by the long lever arm of the Lord’s reach and power, results in a magnified outcome.  It avails much.  Yet, all prayer is not created equal.

Powerful prayer requires fervency and righteousness.  A fervent prayer displays passionate intensity in which the prayer warrior truly yearns for the petition to come to fruition.  Fervency manifests itself in regularity, because it is based on an issue that grips in such a way that it constantly burdens the heart.  This fervency is best communicated through a righteous heart of one who is cognizant of his/her responsibility towards Christ-like service and is dedicated to such service.  This individual understands that they are best postured for productive prayer through a Godly disposition.

Our nation needs prayer warriors who fervently seek an America that returns to Christ centeredness.  We need Christians who beg the Lord for change at the national level and who dedicate themselves to righteousness at the personal level.  FROM A RIGHTEOUS AND FERVENT HEART, PLEASE REGULARLY PRAY FOR NATIONAL CHANGE.  If we yearn to avail, then we must!

Esther 4:14b “who knoweth whether thou are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Well before the Lord placed the PLUS concept in my heart, He gave me this as my annual verse for 2013.  At the time, I didn’t know why.  As the New Year turned into late January, I started to sense God’s purpose behind it all.

Esther had found favor with the king, her husband.  As the decree went out to destroy the Jews, Mordecai called upon Esther to act for the betterment of her people.  Mordecai’s challenge to Esther was simple – it is possible that the entire reason she had been placed in the palace at that time was to act with courage and creativity.  If she did not, then she would miss God’s purpose in her life and the blessings of God’s plan would pass her by.  Her inaction would be the worst course of action.

This challenge became an overwhelming burden to me that was a call to action.  It is possible that I had been placed in this position at this time to pray and encourage others to pray.  The entirety of my background and experiences may have been preparation for this calling.  If I failed to act, then I would risk missing God’s purpose for my life and the blessings of God’s plan would pass me by.  My inaction would be the worst course of action.

Yet, this challenge goes far beyond the individual level, and it should be a broader call to action for all American Christians.  It is possible that we have been placed in our positions in this nation to wrestle America back to godliness through our faithful prayers and actions.  If we fail to act, we may miss God’s purpose for our lives and the blessings of God’s plan may pass us by.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD PRAY FAITHFULLY AND ACT DECISIVELY AT SUCH A TIME AS THIS.  Our inaction would be the worst course of action.