EDITOR'S
NOTE: Frank S. Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, has issued a call
to prayer for revival and spiritual awakening for our churches, our nation and
our world during 2013. In addition, the month of January has been designated a
month of prayer on the convention's calendar. Baptist Press will carry
first-person articles during the year encouraging Southern Baptists to pray in
specific areas and for specific needs as we petition the Father for spiritual
awakening.NASHVILLE (BP) -- The apostle Paul charged Timothy to establish prayer as the top priority in his life and ministry ("first of all," 1 Timothy 2:1). If our churches are to experience spiritual renewal and our nation is to experience spiritual awakening, Southern Baptists must embrace this same priority in our churches and in our personal lives.
In Scripture, spiritual awakening is always tied to the obedience of God's people. SBC President Fred Luter recently reminded us that revival does not trickle down from the White House; it bubbles up from God's House! God's Word to Solomon still holds true -- "If MY people, who are called by MY Name ..." If revival is to come to America, we must earnestly beseech the Father in specific ways. I mention three.
Pray for our leaders
In Paul's charge to Timothy, he commanded him to pray for "kings and all that are in authority." Few national and international leaders mentioned in biblical history were godly. In fact, the number of godly kings can be counted on less than two hands. On the other hand, the number of evil kings in united Israel and the two divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah runs in the dozens. Add in the foreign kings that dominated Israel through much of its history and we see a sad collection of leaders, few for whom we would want to pray anything positive. It's still the same. Each day's headlines contain another scandal, another policy decision, another looming crisis. It is so vital for us to pray for our leaders. How do we pray for them?
- Pray that the Lord will place godly people in the paths of our elected and appointed officials who will give good words at opportune moments.
