Not long ago my son passed the written portion of the Tennessee State Drivers license test.
I remember the day well as there were almost no other folks at the DMV but us. We simply went in and he took the test.
These days it’s a bit harder for young folks to obtain and keep a drivers license.
If under the age of 18, a written and signed certificate of one hundred and eighty hours of driving experience must be supplied before their physical driving abilities can be tested.
I have a license to drive issued by the state of Tennessee, which now falls under Home Land Security. Home Land Security is no longer state but federal.
Back in the day, all we had to do to obtain a license was pass the written portion of the test and drive around the park with the officer in our vehicle. Did you catch that? Back in the day all we had to do to obtain a license was pass the written portion of the test and drive around the park with the officer in our vehicle.
Well, let me tell you, many things have changed in regard to obtaining a driver’s license. But, there is this one thing which remains the same. Just like back in the day one still has to navigate the physical portion of the test with the officer in the vehicle, and he is no back seat kind of officer. As a matter of fact, here in America, the officer sits in the right-hand seat.
At some point in time, we talked about The Gift of Christ and Criminal Minds.
Driving a car is not my favorite thing, and, since I have no idea of what kind of vehicle you prefer. I am going to give our subject matter, our vehicle a name. At some point in time, we talked about The Gift of Christ and Criminal Minds. This week our subject matter is The Equalizer. The Equalizer of pride, position, prejudice, poverty, prosperity, and privilege is the power of prayer.
The power of prayer is The Equalizer.
Prayer is the only way to posture our petitions in view of an all wise, all knowing, almighty God. The road, the High Way if you will to God is through Jesus, His one and only son and the vehicle by which one navigates to the one who created all things is called prayer.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
But here is the thing Prayer is not a vehicle we gas up to drive on Sunday Mornings and Wednesday Nights. Prayer is not a vehicle we get behind the wheel without first consulting the manual. Prayer is not a covered in the garage type of vehicle. Prayer is not a fly by night airplane.
Prayer is more like a slow-moving train.
Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. Daniel 9:7
Prayer is more like a slow moving train, which navigates tracks which crisscross our country. Prayer is more like a slow moving train, which navigates tracks which crisscross our counties. Prayer is more like a slow moving train, which navigates tracks which crisscross our cities. Prayer is more like a slow moving train,
which navigates tracks which crisscross our communities. Prayer is more like a slow moving train, which navigates tracks which crisscross our churches. Prayer is more like a slow moving train, which navigates tracks which crisscross our children.
The Equalizer of pride, position, prejudice, poverty, prosperity, and privilege is the power of prayer. Prayer is a slow moving train which is our heritage.
I love the LORD because He hears My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. Psalms 116:1-2
Sometimes the train of prayer just sits on the tracks. Sometimes the train of prayer remains standing on the tracks. Sometimes the train of prayer uses raises hands while standing still on the tracks. And sometimes the train of prayer has the audacity to kneel on bended knees on the very same tracks. But folks, family, and friends prayer playtime is over! The timeout bell has sung its last song. Its time for the train of prayer to lay prostrate on the tracks. Its time for the train of prayer to lay prostrate on the tracks in the middle of the night. Its time for the train of prayer to lay prostrate on the tracks in the light of the day. Its time for the train of prayer to lay prostrate on the tracks this very season. Its time for the train of prayer to lay prostrate on tracks for such a time as this.
The Equalizer of pride, position, prejudice, poverty, prosperity, and privilege is the power of prayer. The house in which we live will not get us there. The husband we love will not take us there. Our children we adore will not meet us there. Our brokenness will not keep us there. Our rightness will not help us there. Our bank account will not fund us there! And friend might I add, what the world sees as our rebellion will not in no way, shape, form or fashion keep us from going there. But what will get us there and keep us there is being in a right relationship with the one and only.
The Equalizer of pride, position, prejudice, poverty, prosperity, and privilege is the power of prayer. However, with all that being said, what I stopped by to tell you today is this when we pray to our Father in Heaven for anything and everything in this and every season we must give Him a reason. Yes, I'm reminded of that En Vogue track "Giving Him Something He Can Feel." That’s right, I said it, Give Him something He can feel. That’s right, I said it, Give Our Father in Heaven something He can feel. Give our Father in Heaven a reason to answer your prayer. Give Our Father in Heaven something He can feel. To let Him know your love is real. Give our Father in Heaven a reason to answer your prayer. Yes, like a child! Give our Father in Heaven a reason to answer your prayer.
Like Hezekiah
Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God." 2 Kings 19:19
