Much is to be found and said about the subject of prayer. Yes, but are we found praying? Maybe you find yourself in the same boat as I from time to time. We know that prayer is where the work of God is done, but we just get so much into ourselves and what needs to be done, that we find ourselves spinning and God’s work does not get accomplished. Or maybe, we think that our country or friends or family are so far gone that prayer is not going to change things and we stop praying. Just the other day I read a short article by David Smithers and I’d like to pass it on to you. Please take a moment to read it and be sure to read the scriptures in context and ponder them.

Email or call the office if you are led to become involved in the various prayer opportunities available here at CCCS. Becky Yoder

Has God Told You To Stop Praying?

Today many Christians are becoming deeply concerned about the great needs facing the Church and our nation. In fact, some have become overwhelmed and hopeless about the Church's inability to deal with our desperate times. Many are convinced that judgment is inevitable for our nation. Judgment may very well be inevitable, but has the Holy Spirit told you to stop praying for revival? As a result of becoming hopeless, some have become prayerless! If any man of God ever had a reason to give up hope and become discouraged, it was the prophet Jeremiah. He was a man of tears, consumed by grief over the sins of God's people. (Jer 9:1). Yet he still encouraged himself to hope in God. He was convinced of the reality of God's coming judgment, but he did not stop praying and preaching. He loved those stubborn people to the end. He could not help but intercede for them. The only thing that could stop Jeremiah from praying for the people of Israel was God Himself. The Lord had to tell him more than once to stop praying. "As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me for I do not hear you."Jer. 7:16. (Jer. 14:11, Jer. 15:1). Israel had totally rejected the Father's ways and refused to be corrected.

Can you honestly say that God has told you to stop praying? If you have not received "the word of the Lord" like Jeremiah did, then you have no other choice but to return to your prayer closet. We must beware of complaining and criticizing and yet never praying. Some will spend hours talking to men about the sins of the Church and then not even spend five minutes talking to Jesus about it. Let us lay aside discouragement and hopelessness and once again pray for revival.

By David Smithers