Prayer for 2016

21 days of Prayer and Fasting has been set aside during the month of January for the past several years. Once again I have decided to join with those spiritual leaders who are calling for that effort in 2016. I am sure that many of us realize that America is in need of another "Spiritual Awakening" that would rival those of our spiritual yesterdays. I am also one of those who believe that God is not finished with the church in America and that there are "greater things yet to be done" in the community in which you reside. I publicly refuse to stop praying for the spirit of revival to flood our nation one more time. But I also believe that it will begin in people such as you and I who sense the need for more of God at this critical time in our history.

I felt led to place this scripture before our local church as the theme for our 21 days of Prayer and Fasting. James 4:8a, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." (NKJV) You may have read this passage many times throughout your journey with Christ. But it reminds us of one the greatest promises of the Bible. God will come near to us if we will come near to Him. Prayer is one of the methods that God uses to bring this promise to pass in our lives. God recognizes each of us as we approach Him in the spiritual discipline of prayer. Our communication with God provides one of the "spiritual vehicles" that brings us into the presence of God. We need to develop an attitude in which we look forward to spending time in the presence of God. I want the desire to pray to grow stronger as I move through this coming year.

Will you take the time to pray for yourself, your family, your spiritual leaders, your church family, our nation, our world and those special requests that are presented to you? According to the Bible God desires to hear your voice calling out to Him. He will come near to you as you come near to Him!!!