America Honors God May 4th

By Loretta Nevins

“…Those who honor me, I will honor…” (I Samuel 2:30 NIV) In this verse, God has declared that sin has prevented Eli and his house from participating in the privilege of ministering in the sanctuary. As stated in the NIV notes, “Spiritual privileges bring responsibilities and obligations; they are not to be treated as irrevocable rights.”

Thursday, May 4, 2006 is the 55th annual National Day of Prayer. How can the Church in America honor God on the National Day of Prayer, and every day of our lives, based on I Samuel 2:30? First, we must recognize that we sin against God which prevents us from ministering in God’s sanctuary! We must ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal to us how we sin so that we may confess and repent.

The St. Louis Community National Day of Prayer (SLCNDP) exists to encourage the community to pray, not just one day a year, but every day, for the ultimate purpose of revival in St. Louis and America. Revival is born in confession and repentance. This year, it is the SLCNDP leadership’s conviction that the Church tends to gloss over the key element of repentance in prayer. Consequently, the NDP mid-day prayer gatherings at city halls and evening regional events will begin with confession and repentance.

Confession and repentance is one way we must honor God. There are numerous ways to honor God. Obedience springs to mind. Confess and repent daily, then set your mind to obey God, using His Holy Word for direction. Start with Matthew 22:37-40, “…Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Another way to honor God is unity in the body of Christ. Jesus prayed to the Father, “…that they may all be one…so that the world may believe that you sent Me.” (John 17:21). Paul and others repeatedly preached on unity in the Body of Christ. Apparently the early Church was having difficulty embracing this directive. We too are grieving the Holy Spirit, and hindering Kingdom expansion if we do not present ourselves to the world as one in the Body of Christ. The National Day of Prayer is an excellent opportunity for the Church in St. Louis to show the world we are united in the Body of Christ! Think of what God could do in St. Louis and America if the Church united to pray on this one day, then continued to love each other despite our denominational differences throughout the year! The ties that bind us would be broken asunder, and God’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven! It is His will that we are united in the Body of Christ so that the world would believe that God sent Jesus to die for their sins!

Prayer honors God tremendously. It is an honor when someone special calls to talk or visit because they love you and enjoy your company. We are God’s beloved! We are so special to God, He literally died for us, so that we could be with Him. In prayer, we have the privilege to be with God, to be loved by Him! It is the most intimate relationship a person could possibly experience on Earth because God knows absolutely everything about us. Yet, we cannot know God personally unless we spend time with Him in prayer, and in His Word. Enjoy God’s company daily. Be still and know that He is God. This honors Him, and creates the opportunity for God to reveal Himself and His will to us!

Honor God by devoting the National Day of Prayer to Him. America has so much for which to be thankful. We have so much to confess. We desperately need God’s mercy, grace, protection and guidance!

On Thursday, May 4, plan on attending one of the following city hall prayer gatherings from Noon to 1 p.m.; Arnold, Ballwin, Bel Ridge, Brentwood, Chesterfield, Crestwood, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Ellisville, Eureka, Fenton, Florissant, Glendale, Hazelwood, Jefferson County (Jefferson County Library, Northwest Branch), Kirkwood, Ladue, Lake St. Louis, Lakeshire, Manchester, Maplewood, Rock Hill, Sunset Hills, St. Louis City (from 11 a.m. to 1p.m.), Town & Country, Valley Park, Webster Groves, Wildwood.

In the evening, unite in the Body of Christ at one of following four regional locations from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Several pastors and their congregations have overwhelmingly supported the SLCNDP in the past two years, and they are again teaming up with the following pastors and their churches to take this city and nation to God in prayer:

St. Louis City: Pastor Raphael Green, Metro Christian Worship Center, 3452 Potomac St.; North County: Pastor Dr. Ronald L. Bobo, Westside Missionary Baptist Church, 2677 Dunn Rd.; West County: Pastor Dr. Bill Jones, First Evangelical Free Church, 1375 Carman Rd.; South County: Pastor Dr. Bryan Cutshall, Pastor, Twin Rivers Worship Center, 10575 Tesson Ferry Rd.

Get your church on board! The SLCNDP task force has flyers, bulletin inserts, and posters to get the word out to your congregation. For materials, and a complete list of SLCNDP prayer events, and other information visit the St. Louis Community National Day of Prayer at www.slcndp.org, or contact us at (314) 253-4075.

Dr. Henry Blackaby is this year’s Honorary Chairman for the National Day of Prayer and has composed the following prayer for the 2006 NDP. Pray to God as your read…

“Oh Heavenly Father, You have made Yourself known to us as a nation by Your mighty works throughout our history. From the beginning, You have been with us through many wars and conflicts; Your right arm has saved us. We have been amazingly and graciously blessed. Today, we confess our sin of not responding to Your right to rule in our lives and our nation. Too often we have despised and rejected Your will while imposing our own, and we are now facing the consequences of our disobedience. Draw us back to Yourself that we may return to Your ways once again. Without You we can do nothing. You have promised that if we honor You, You will once again honor this great nation. That is our fervent prayer. For Your honor and glory we pray, Amen.”