lnterceding for Our Nation & World: Prayer Does Change Things

by Joy Lamb
Fall 1998

'The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who ... suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them ... Ever since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature ... have been understood and seen through the things He has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal. .. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity ... because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! ... For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up ... They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God–haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God's decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die — yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them." — Romans 1: 18–32

Does it concern you that...

Division and confusion are consuming all denominations of the Church today. Christ's teachings and Biblical doctrine are in jeopardy.

Most people in our nation spend much more time and money worshiping sports figures, TV and movie personalities, rock and rap music stars, their bodies, etc., instead of God? He only asks for a few minutes a day and a short time on the Sabbath. Time set aside to honor Him has been replaced with "other activities" we deem more important.

People question the authenticity of Scripture, challenging and denying the truth of His Word, these sacred truths honored by rulers, kings and presidents for thousands of years?

Most of the population look to horoscopes, tarot cards, psychics, self–help books, lucky charms, New Age/cult activities, etc., for guidance, rather than seeking God through Scripture and prayer — thus serving the creature rather than the Creator?

Homosexuality is running rampant? Bisexuality is even "in" among young people?

Courses in homosexuality techniques are taught in major universities? These institutions, originally intended as divinity schools, now mock God and deny His very existence.

Books promoting homosexuality are being introduced to all age levels from kindergarten to college, teaching that gay is okay?

Most mainline TV programs depict a gay lifestyle as acceptable? A Broadway play called "Corpus Christi" even depicts Christ as a gay man having relations with the disciples?

TV has more impact on a child's mind and personality than most parents or teachers?

A judge in Mississippi was forced by "the law" to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom?

A group of people praying at the Washington monument was threatened with arrest?

The fight to return prayer to schools continues? And yet, murder is being committed in the classroom by mere children?

Laws are being made to do away with Christmas and to force us to replace the word "Christmas" with "Winter Holiday?"

Supplying birth control in our children's schools, sex before marriage and living together outside of marriage are acceptable as "the way of the '90s?"

Our laws currently allow a medical procedure that allows a perfectly normal baby to be born feet first, but killed by the doctor just before its head is delivered?

The nation's #1 talk show is the Gerry Springer Show, and the rage among young adults is an R–rated cartoon called "South Park?"

Our courts are filled to overflowing with people constantly suing each other, each side claiming that the other is lying?

If your answer is a loud YES to most of these questions, I beg you to Join us In prayer for Our Nation, for the Lord tells us:

"If My people who are called by My Name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. — II Chron. 7:14

Ten years ago, God spoke to me: "Pray My Word, child. It brings healing to all areas. Trust Me, and pray My Word." So we did.

We prayed the medical field would recognize prayer as important to healing. At that time, only three colleges recognized prayer. Today, 30 medical schools recognize prayer as a positive factor in healing.

We prayed the media would recognize prayer and begin to give it "good press." Within days, everyone was reporting on prayer. We prayed television would have shows about God. Against all odds such shows began to appear and get a wonderful response. In October of 1994, we prayed for Godly men to be elected to Congress. Two years ago we began to pray God would reveal all ungodliness in the government, and that He would bring to light all things He wanted to come out of darkness. We are now praying the Lord will purge our land from all evil.

We prayed that producers, including Steven Speilberg when he formed his company Dreamworks, would produce movies about God and draw audiences that knew nothing or very little of God's Word. Speilberg's first movie was "The Prince of Egypt," the story of Moses!

In 1996 we began to pray for the economy and for crime in our nation. Crime has dropped dramatically in all major U.S. cities.

We pray against abortion. Even though the horror of late–term abortion is still in effect and abortions are still performed legally, abortion is the lowest it has been since legalization.

We prayed for intercessors to come forth from across the land. Prayer groups and prayer ministries seem to be stronger than ever.

We prayed for rock and rap music. I read this week in Time magazine that CD sales are slow, MTV is changing its format, and alternative rock isn't dead but is in crisis.

We prayed for prisons. A prisoner wrote me that when she prayed the deliverance prayer, things in her prison became much calmer. She now prays often. We prayed that prayer groups would start in prisons. They are forming.

We plead the blood of Jesus over our neighborhoods, cities, churches, nation and world. We prayed the Lord would bring about a spiritual awakening. He has. We are praying He will purge the land from all evil.. ... He WILL.

So regardless of the bleak situation facing our country, God IS changing things. The more we pray, the more things will change. I urge you to be diligent in your prayers. Intercession is the key to unlocking hope for our future.

God reigns. Thanks be to God!

Joy Lamb is the Director of Intercessors at CHM.