Our Nation Needs Prayer, but is There Faith to Pray

In a democratic nation, we are faced with the ability to vote in our leaders.  Many will head to the poles to vote for who they think they should vote for.  Why will we cast the vote toward a particular candidate? Most likely our decision will be based on how someone or something has influence us.  Most people do not know the candidates personally, nor have they met them.  So, our perspective of a candidate is primarily rooted in what someone else believes.  Which leads us to the question, what do we believe?  Who should our faith be in?  Should our faith be in those propagating the news?  The short answer is, no!

If we take on the name Christian, we are admitting that we are "little Christs."  Did Jesus place his faith in man?  No, he placed his faith in one, the One, his and our Father.  When he taught his disciple to pray in Matthew 6:9 (ESV) he said, ^"Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven..." Not only did Jesus demonstrate that he placed his faith in the Father, he also calls us to do the same.  There will be a time when faith is needed more than ever, but it will be in short supply.   In Luke 18:8 (ESV), Jesus says, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” We need our Father in heaven to answer our prayers, but do we have the faith to go to Him.

At the end of Jesus teaching his disciples to pray in Luke 11:9-13 (ESV) Jesus says, "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;  or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus encourages us to pray.  He also wants us to know that our Father will answer our prayer because He is good.  So, have faith! Pray!