ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

We're living in increasingly tumultuous times. Middle East instability, severe weather, earthquakes, impending floods, terrorists, economic tremors, drug wars, political unrest, government shut-down - all these and more make one wonder what's happening to the world and whether or not the end is coming. (It didn't help that I just watched a movie where the world was incinerated.)

Some of you will say, "C'mon, Bob, when things get tough, people have always worried about that." That's true! Historically, whenever disaster or war or pestilence came upon a society, its people thought the end was at hand. Since Christ first spoke of His coming again, people of all ages have wondered whether the time is now.

Someday it will happen, so our Lord Jesus told us to be ready. The world will not last forever, and just as It's wise to remember one's own mortality, so we must not forget the world's mortality. We should live each day as if it might be our last.

How do we do that? What is the best way to live? Do we always need to think about the end? What about the young? Shouldn't they enjoy life and not worry about the end? Of course! All of us should enjoy the life God has given us. One's age should not determine whether one is happy or gloomy.

We often hear that in difficult times we should pray, then act. Prayer is action. Someone recently sent me an Email about the term ASAP. Besides its usual meaning, "As Soon As Possible," my friend said ASAP can also mean, "Always Say A Prayer." That's a good suggestion, because prayer is one of the best actions to do, in good times or in bad.

The apostle Paul urges us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray continually." The act of prayer means you trust God, and that you depend on Him. Prayer is an act of worship in which we may praise God, confess our sins, thank Him, or ask His help. We know God answers our petitions in His own way and time.

Prayer makes sense. Talking to God about the troubles around us is good action. Prayer strengthens our faith, calms our heart and lowers our blood pressure. Our prayers are heard by God - all of them. Proverbs 15:29 says, "The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous."

Are you fearful? Pray! Are you sick? Pray! Worried about someone? Pray! Feel powerless? Pray! Concerned about the End? Pray!

Always Say A Prayer - ASAP!