I had a great conversation with a man from our group last Friday afternoon who shares my sentiment that a lot of people are praying a lot of things these days. Obviously it doesn't confuse God, but it sure stands the potential for confusing us. But we really don't need to be confused, do we? We need to be in unity.
A.W. Tozer once said, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” [A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine]
Here's the deal - we can pray any number of ways, but now might be a good time narrow those ways down to just one. But which one? What one "tuning fork" puts us all in tune?
Let me suggest God's way. Here is what I mean: God's number one goal for every candidate in the 2020 US General Election (not to mention every human being on the planet earth) is that they be saved and understand the truth.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. [1 Timothy 2.1-4 NLT]
What might happen if, for one period of 40 days, or a week, or even a day, people actually prayed the same thing? What if we were all in tune with the heartbeat of God?
Here is a clue: Something powerful
What if, at least a contingency of people in the USA, prayed for all the 2020 US General Election candidates to be saved? Forget about praying one wins and one loses... Don't you see that ALL win if they are saved and understand the truth!
The battle is not about nations and their politics - the battle is about the world. The fight is between good and evil on a global scale. Fighting flesh and blood does not reach the source of the problem. The source of the problem is skillfully anchored sin deep in the hearts of men.
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God [Romans 3.23 NKJV]
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? [Jeremiah 17.9 NKJV]
To answer Jeremiah's question above, God knows the human heart. God also knows that every human soul needs to be redeemed because it is separated from Him and proudly struggles to remain in its default condition. Because of this, we can pray for help and forgiveness for anyone and everyone at any time. Again, ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
So, what we pray for one candidate, we can pray for all candidates, "Father, forgive them."
And, what we pray for them, we can pray for ourselves.
Why? Because God loves the world. So much so, that He gave His Son to redeem us and show us the way to live. Jesus' final demonstration of how to live was witnessed on the Cross:
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. [Luke 23.34]
In God's help and forgiveness is salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, deliverance, provision and healing. Who doesn't need these? Who doesn't need more of these?
If we only get one thing right, let's get this right. Let's forgive as we have been forgiven. Let's join Jesus in His joining the Father in seeking forgiveness and salvation for all.
PrayLikeNeverBefore!
Greg
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