One of the first Christian concerts I ever went to was to see Avalon. Also appearing that night was a fellow I had heard of (and heard some of his songs, though I didn’t know they were his). His name was Mark Schultz. He has done such songs as “I Am the Way,” “You Are a Child of Mine,” and “I Have Been There.” This night, he did a song that he had just finished. It was the performance of the night.
As we approach Independence Day, let us remember that there are men and women who are sacrificing so much, going without, for the sake of us and others.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
I’ll be praying…
that they hear the Gospel and they be saved.
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I’m new to this blog and to be honest about myself, I am not a Christian. I only want to ask this question and just so you know, I do not intend any disrespect.
What does praying accomplish?
I mean that sincerely. Is it really Biblical to simply pray for this or that and expect some Godly intervention that would otherwise not have occurred?
I will not pray for the troops, but I certainly keep them in my thoughts and in my heart and I continue to support them in a very real and tangible way.
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“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.” James 5:;16
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Karl,
The purpose of prayer is for an individual believer, or a body of believers, to humble themselves before the throne of God, and ask for His providence. It’s not like pitching a penny into a wishing well or rubbing a “magic lamp.” When we pray, it’s not so much about changing God’s mind as it is getting our heart right with Him, and submitting our will to His.
See, He has already purposed that some things will happen. There are some things He will not do unless we ask Him. That’s why the second thing we should pray for when we pray is “THY will be done.” We are admitting that we are totally dependent upon Him for His protection, He grace, His mercy, His providing.
There are some who could go a whole lot deeper, but that’s the best I can do for now.
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It should probably also be pointed out to Karl that, with his profession of not being a Christian, the one prayer that he should be focused on praying, if he decides to pray, is one of sincere repentance over his sin, and one of calling upon Jesus Christ to save his soul. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)
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Amen, brother!
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Thank you all for your responses. I want you to know that I asked with sinserity, and you gave me very good, clear answers. I apreciate that. A lot of times in American culture, our eperiences with prayer are limited to watching a football team pray for victory, or daredevils praying for God to keep them safe just before jumping off a building lit on fire. You know what I mean…
I used to see my dad pray for just about everything from business success to safety while traveling or our great country. I don’t know… when you pray for someone to be safe and next thing you know they’re dead, you start to lose faith in stuff like that.
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when you pray for someone to be safe and next thing you know they’re dead, you start to lose faith in stuff like that.
That happens with a lot of people. And it’s only natural to mourn the loss of a loved one. A lot of people forget that we are mortal, we are human, we are all going to die. Whether we are 10 or 100, people die. Why? Because of sin. We are all born sinners, and because we all sin, we will all die. In fact, there has only been one Man who ever walked the face of the earth without ever sinning even once. And while He may have died, noone took His life from Him–He gave it up for us. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of God and gave up His life so that all who follow Him may be forgiven of their sins and live eternally with Him.
When we pray, it is an act of submission on our part, and mercy on God’s part. We are expressing our gratitude for all He does for us, and when we pray for others we are showing our love for that person also, that we would petition Almighty God on that person’s behalf. And we submit to Him in prayer, He condescends to hear us.
But He only hears the prayers of those who submit to Christ. A lot of people, when they get in some pickle–they may never have prayed before in their entire life, but they will sure find a way to do it to get out of a jam. And it’s usually a jam they have created themselves.
But God hears the prayer of faith, the one offered up with a sincere heart and a love for God and for others. A prayer that seeks for God to be glorified, and for His will to be done–no matter how difficult or painful that will may be.
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Thanks Fourpointer. I see too many things wrong with the Christian church in general these days. I could not imagine wanting to convert but who knows; maybe some day I’ll see things more the way you do.
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Dear Karl,
We too see so many things wrong with the visible church, especially in the West. That is why we do what we do on this blog. There are so many errors flying around out there that we are doing our part to defend truth and contend for the (true) faith.
If you’ve spent any amount of time on DefCon you’ll see that we aren’t afraid to point out the damnable heresies, lies, and other errors being espoused in the name of Christ.
We don’t like the shenanigans going on in American churches anymore than you. In fact it bothers us even more because it’s our Lord and Savior that they are trampling on. If, Lord willing, one day you come to trust and love Him as your Lord and Savior, you too will understand.
Your conversion would not be to the mile-wide, inch-deep circus churches of American Churchianity that you see so much of; it would be to the Savior who, with His own precious blood, purchased you.
Thank you for your comments and your continued readership.
Respectfully,
– The Pilgrim
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Thanks Pilgrim. I am enjoying reading your Blog. It definitely is different from what I’ve become used to seeing from churches these days.
Take care.
-Karl
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