I arose early this morning, plugged in the coffee pot, turned on the morning news, poured a cup of coffee and then I realized just how fortunate I really am.
The newsman was quite discouraging, as he reported the many losses due to the storms and flood damage along the East Coast. He then reported the fires in Texas. I heard a lady say all that was left of her home was her burned washer and dryer. Another family reported that they lost everything they owned.
As I listened to the news, I thought to myself, “what I could do right now to lend a helping hand to these fellow Americans.” I am like you; I cannot go to all of them and fix it because that would be impossible. I feel very sorry for all of them, however, that is not good enough.
I guess I could just turn the news off and ignore it all and hope for the best, but that is not helping matters. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that as a Christian I have an obligation to do my best to help others in their time of need.
What can I do now? I can pray for those hurting people all over our nation right now. God’s Holy Word reminds us, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you” John 15:7.
If you are a Sunday school teacher, make a special time in your class to pray for those people who are going through all these disasters. Pray for these dear people and their families when you say your table grace. Have your children pray for them at their evening bedtime prayer.
Get some people together on your lunch hour and say a prayer for them. Pray for them during small group meetings in your church. Pray for them at special times or worship and fellowship. Use every opportunity possible to lift these people and their families in prayer.
“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day” – Abraham Lincoln.
The Bible says in Genesis 4:9, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Let us reach out and touch others with our prayers and concern no matter how far away they may live from us. Patrick Henry said, “I am not a Virginian, but an American.”
THINK ABOUT IT.
