By Steve Horn
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Tomorrow is National Day of Prayer. As we approach this day, I am grateful for all of the prayer gatherings that will happen across the United States of America. However, let me remind us that a day of prayer is not enough. We need to be a nation of prayer, not just have a National Day of Prayer.
In the Book of Acts, people are said to be praying 31 times. Of these 31 times …
- 14 times an individual is said to be praying.
- 2 times two or more people in a small group are said to be praying.
- 15 times it is the church gathered in prayer.
Half of the references to praying in the book of Acts are references to corporate praying! We see in Acts that there were appointed times and places for prayer. We see that the church prayed for power, wisdom, boldness to share Christ, in times of crisis, for missionaries, for pastors, and for each other. When the Early Church encountered a crisis, they didn’t pout, panic, protest, sign a petition, or organize a boycott. Instead, they prayed.
Bob Russell, retired pastor of Southeast Bible Church in Louisville, KY, recounts the story of how his church once bought the building next door to the leading abortion clinic in Kentucky. They did some crisis pregnancy counseling out of this building, but mainly they prayed. As a result, in 18 months, the abortion clinic closed!
It is not easy to pray. Sometimes, we feel like there is more we should do. Let’s remember that possibly there is more that God would call us to do. However, we cannot do more unless we are willing to work hard in prayer. And, let us always remember that there is nothing better that we can do than pray.
I encourage you to find some special moments to pray for our nation tomorrow or perhaps even find a prayer gathering to be part of tomorrow.
Steve Horn is the Louisiana Baptist executive director.
