One Voice, United in Prayer

By Gary Keith, Lead Pastor

On May 1, 2014, LBF will once again gather to observe the National Day of Prayer. My hope is to gather several Upland Churches together in one location and pray together for the needs of our nation and our cities and us.

Why gather? Why pray? It was our first President, George Washington, who said, “The twin pillars of morality and religion are essential to support a successful society.” And it was John Adams, our second president, who said, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were…the general principles of Christianity.” 

But it is not hard to see that today our nation has drifted far away from the statements of our first two presidents. Are we a Christian nation? I would say “no.” We are a nation of tolerance towards all religions with a growing hostility towards Christianity and a removal of our religious freedoms.

So what should we do? I think we should gather to pray. And when our nation marks out a specific day to gather and pray – I think it would be good to take advantage of this time and participate with millions of people around our nation and pray.

God says He saw the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). God is omnipresent and there are no accidents because all things are according to the guidance of His will (Ephesians 1:11). Do we believe that? Do we believe it when tragedy strikes or we see a nation falling far from God? Do we believe that God is sovereign like David believed? Check out David’s words in 1 Chronicles 29:10-12.

With all of this in mind I want to encourage us to not let our prayers diminish. Instead, let us come together with a strong belief in God and His love and provision for our nation, our city, and our personal lives. Let’s come together to pray and send God our requests as a gathered church and maybe a gathered community.

Let me end with the words of Paul: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because  you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Hope to see you on Thursday, May 1 for a time of prayer at 7 p.m.!