Is Prayer Meaningless?

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It’s Christmastime and all we should be thinking about is love, joy, peace, and the Baby born in Bethlehem. But we have yet another glaring reminder of evil. 2015 began with violence. Then as months flew by, almost at every turn violence appeared somewhere, and now, it’s ending with violence. Why? Because brainwashed, malicious people are overturning our world.

These, either by blood or osmosis, have assumed the characteristics of the ancestor they claim.  Ishmael, God said, “…shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him..." (Genesis 16:12)

However, the recent San Bernardino shooting is not the only acts of evil we are seeing. “Stricter gun-control laws,” they chant.

Why do politicians ignore the fact that gun-control laws only disarm law-abiding citizens, not criminals or terrorists? They seek to take away the right of the people to keep and bear arms, which our second amendment says, “shall not be infringed.” And this act plays right into the terrorist’s hands.

But still, there’s more. According to Dr. Jim Denison’s December 03, 2015 commentary:  CRITICS LAMBAST CALLS FOR PRAYER AFTER MASS SHOOTING, he states, “San Bernardino is a city of more than 200,000, an hour's drive east of Los Angeles. Before yesterday, it was primarily known as the location of the first McDonald's restaurant. Now it will forever be tied to yet another mass shooting. But with this difference:  when political leaders responded to the tragedy by tweeting promises of prayer, skeptics quickly pounced. The New York Daily News published the giant headline, "GOD ISN'T FIXING THIS" and the subhead, "As latest batch of innocent Americans are left lying in pools of blood, cowards who could truly end gun scourge continue to hide behind meaningless platitudes." The Nation and Huffington Post made similar allegations.” (http://www.denisonforum.org/)

Emma Green of The Atlantic, in her “Prayer Shaming…” article quotes George Zornick, the editor of the liberal publication, The Nation.  Mr. Zornick stated, “There’s a clear claim being made here, and one with an edge: Democrats care about doing something and taking action while Republicans waste time offering meaningless prayers.”

What?  After horrific heartbreak, in the wake of tragedy, out of desperation and exasperation, people pray. PRAYER is hope. Hope of Divine intervention when humans are faced with situations beyond their control.

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We were created for prayer and prayer is what we should be doing. Not merely 9-1-1 prayers of “help” after the fact. But, prayer of repentance and turning from our wicked ways because, our problem is SIN. Sin in the heart produces the action of the evildoer and no gun-control law will ever change that! Only our Triune God can change hearts and stop this insanity.  He searches all hearts, understands all intent, and He made the wages of sin, death. (I Chronicles 28:9; Romans 6:23)

God was grieved by this evil, not shocked. He allowed it because somehow it works into His plan for this age.

So now, at Christmastime or anytime evil rears its ugly head, focus on the coming of our Redeemer. The One who paid for us the wage of sin.

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In the fullness of time, “…God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law…For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” 

(Gal. 4:4-5; Titus 2:11-12)

Do not fear. God is in control. Pray, because PRAYER is NOT meaningless. It shows submission, dependence, and it moves God’s hand. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Anita