Author: John Page 90 of 163

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hacksaw Ridge, the movie featuring Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss (see prior post), premiers at a time that should remind Christians of an important truth going into election season.  The movie will premier in America on the Friday before election day.

The only explanation for the safety of Doss and his company on the battlefield in Okinawa was that “Doss prayed.”  Nothing else made sense.  Nothing else could explain the outcome.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our prayers for America’s future were the only explanation of a miraculous outcome on election day?  Wouldn’t it be great if nothing else made sense?  Wouldn’t it be sublime if nothing else could explain the outcome?

We need Christians to pray because we need God’s power in this land.  It is the only thing that can save us.  PLEASE PRAY PASSIONATELY FOR AN UNEXPLAINABLE MIRACLE DURING THIS ELECTION SEASON.  May we be bold enough to believe that prayer can change everything.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:
This is my 365^th PLUS post.  Several months ago, continuing on until 365 (enough for a daily devotional) helped motivate me when this ministry was onerous and when I was discouraged.  If I could endure for that long, then I could walk away satisfied that I had done my duty.

Now that I am here, I do not feel that God would have me to stop.  Therefore, I will continue on, both praying daily for our nation and our leaders in my personal life and encouraging others to do the same.  Though over the next few months I will decrease the frequency of my posts, they will continue.  I have a few small but powerful requests, especially during this election season.  Please pray as you should!  Please encourage others to pray as they should!  Please beg them to do so!  And, if the PLUS ministry would be a help to them, then please direct them accordingly.

Thank you for your faithfulness!

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

A new World War II movie is expected to premier in America in early November – Hacksaw Ridge.  The movie will highlight the courage of Desmond Doss, a member of the 307^th Infantry Regiment at the end of World War II as it fought for control of Okinawa.  Doss’ stellar service saw him become the first conscientious objector to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor (there have been two others since then).

While I’m sure that Hollywood will highlight Doss’ objections, I hope they will be honest enough to discuss the strong Christian faith that prompted those objections.

As a combat medic, Doss served bravely and brilliantly.  During a particularly intense battle, he tirelessly crisscrossed the bullet-laden battlefield for five straight hours to tend to fellow injured soldiers.  He is credited with saving the lives of 75 men in the face of extreme risk.

Days before in a different engagement, Doss insisted that his company prayed before the fighting began.  Indeed, they did.  During the fighting that ensued, Doss’ Company escaped with no casualties.  When his Company Commander was asked for a written report that explained their success, he could provide no earthly explanation.  Instead, he offered the simple two-word formal rationale – “Doss prayed.”

Are we praying for God’s protection and provision during our battles?  If not, we must!  PLEASE EMBRACE PRAYER AS THE PIVOTAL DIFFERENCE IN THE BATTLES OF OUR LIVES AND IN OUR NATION.  May our success be attributed to only one thing – we prayed!

SET YOUR ALARM:  If you’re ENCOURAGED (that the Hyde Amendment, estimated to have prevented 2 million abortions, turned 40 last week), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”

One of the most despised acronyms in military flight training is S.I.E. – self-initiated elimination.  It is the official military phrase that describes the situation when someone decides to quit a formal training program.  Individuals S.I.E. for a variety of reasons:  the training is too difficult, they are not doing well, they are not willing to endure the decade-long commitment that will come with graduation, or they don’t enjoy the career field as much as they thought they would.

It is despised for several reasons, including the fact that it severs the camaraderie of trying to complete the year-long training program together as a class.  Yet, the primary reason it is abhorred is that an individual who S.I.E.s was given a great opportunity and failed to use it.  In fact, that individual took a spot in a competitive program that could have gone to someone else who would have appreciated the opportunity and seen it to its conclusion.

American Christians all around us are S.I.E.ing.  In this case, I am not talking about quitting the faith or the church, though that is happening as well.  I am talking about the privilege we have to live in this nation at this time – for such a time as this – and how we are failing to pray as we should.  Indeed, we are seeing fellow Christians faint all around us.  Maybe true prayer has become too difficult for them.  Maybe they are not doing well in their life of faith.  Maybe they are not willing to endure our God-given commitment to pray for “kings and for all that are in authority.”  Maybe they aren’t enjoying the Christian life as much as they thought they would.

Make no mistake, American Christians have been given a spot that others around the world would rejoice in.  Your spot in this country at this time could have gone to someone else.  When we S.I.E., we are failing to live up to that privilege and that responsibility.

PLEASE PRAY AS WE SHOULD FOR THIS NATION AT THIS TIME.  When we S.I.E., then we quit on our comrades and more severely quit on God.

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him:  God is a refuge for us.  Selah.”

John Bunyan described prayer in the following way:

“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God hath promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God.”

Do our prayers lack power?  If so, maybe we have fallen short of God’s intent for prayer:

• Are we praying in trust and faith?
• Are we praying with a pouring out of our heart before Him?
• Are we praying sincerely?
• Are we praying sensibly?
• Are we praying affectionately?
• Are we praying through Christ?
• Are we praying in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit?
• Are we praying according to the Word?
• Are we praying for the good of the church?
• Are we praying in submission?

America desperately needs Christians who are praying powerfully, with nothing lacking.  If there are areas that we are falling short in the above areas, it is time to refocus our prayer pattern and rededicate ourselves to the practice of prayer.

PLEASE HARNESS THE FULL POWER OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION.  It is sensible to do so.

SET YOUR ALARM:  If you’re alarmed (that we are short on leaders who serve with selfless sacrifice), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Acts 6:10 “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”

Nathan Hale volunteered to be a patriot spy for General Washington behind enemy lines in New York City in September 1776.  The 21-year-old graduate of Yale was determined to “reflect and do nothing but what duty demands.”  Indeed, he did.  Yet, following an aggressive purging campaign during the great fire in lower Manhattan, the British apprehended Hale and sentenced him to death as a spy.  The next day, on September 22^nd, Hale was led to an artillery park near General Howe’s headquarters to face the noose.

As a part of Hale’s last words, he gave a “sensible and spirited speech.”  Then, with the promise of a long life ahead extinguished, Hale shared the following famous words: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”  Upon that phrase, he was executed.

Nathan Hale spoke wisely and powerfully. Then, he unhesitatingly followed his words with action.  Both had a large impact on the cause of freedom in this land.

We need Christians who will speak up, with sensible and spirited words.  We need those words to be filled with the spirit and wisdom.  We then need Christians to follow through on our words with action, willing to sacrifice our lives and our livelihoods for the greater good.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO BOLDLY SPEAK UP AND ACT OUT.  The cause of freedom depends upon us doing so.  We need to speak out with the power that our adversary cannot resist.