Pray, Tell?

The number one problem in marriage is communication. Statistical studies prove the truth of that fact and statement. Communication is also a problem for families, businesses, and friendships. Is it any wonder than that we find this same problem within prayer?

Here are some statistics on prayer:
- An average prayer lasts under five minutes.
- 10% of Christians pray daily.
- 52% of people who pray do so several times a day.
- 59% of Christians are not satisfied with their prayer life.
- 21% have extended times of prayer with other family members (spouse, children, relatives).
-33% of Christian adults regularly participate in a prayer group or other meeting that has a focus on prayer.
-29% of Christians say grace before every meal.
- a 2005 Gallup Poll found that 15% of church goers are committed spiritually to prayer and service within their church community.
- a 2007 Barna Poll revealed 37% of Christians claim no one modeled for them how to pray or received only limited teaching on prayer.
- In 2006 Christian Life Today polled 150 Protestant churches, a study revealed that in 69% of the churches that only the Pastor or Leader prayed during corporate prayer time.

How can a marriage survive if there is no communication between the bride and the groom? It can't, plain and simple. We, the Christian Church are the Bride of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Groom. As believers, we are in a marriage covenant with Christ Jesus. We seldom take this to heart and keep this fact at the forefront of our minds.

Prayer is our conversation time with our beloved Lord. It is where we pour out our hearts to Him. Where we confess our sins, our wrongs. It is where we learn and discern His voice. It is where He speaks to us and reminds us of His love, provision, protection, receive His forgiveness. It is an interactive conversation. Many believers have only one way conversations and seldom tarry or wait in prayer to hear what His voice says. Oh the troubles we can avoid by waiting for direction and healing! Many see their relationship with God as a big Santa Claus in the sky when they pray. Think of it this way. If you hardly ever talk to your spouse throughout the year and spend time with them, do you think if you give them your Christmas list that you'll receive anything special? Yes your spouse may love you and you may get a gift or two, but how much more and special would the gifts be, had the relationship been nurtured on a regular, daily basis?

Think about this believer in Christ, someone prayed for your salvation. Someone prayed for the seed of faith to grow in you. Someone prayer for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for you. Was not God faithful? Were not those answers special, refreshing and meaningful?

American Christians have unsatisfying prayer lives and seldom see miraculous events because we don't know how to wait on the Lord in prayer. We treat God like a fast food restaurant. We want to place our order and have it our hands in two minutes otherwise our eye is on the exit door to go somewhere else and get served quicker. If God answered like that, how would our faith grow? Yet, that's how we act in prayer too. "Lord bless my day and give me a parking spot right in front. Amen." There's seldom the thought, "God, what do want me to do today for you?" Or a prayer like, "Jesus, I invite you into my day. Help me do YOUR will today. Empower me with Your Spirit and empty of my will today?"
God help us. Holy Spirit bring us to our knees before You. Let our hearts hunger for You.

Saints of God, Family of God, let us fall down together on our knees. Let us hear the voice of God in prayer. May we yield our will to His. There is much power in prayer and therefore much we miss out and deprive ourselves of because we fail to give ourselves to prayer.

This quote by Corrie ten Boom tore into my spirit and agreed with my soul, "Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees." May we all take heed. Amen and Amen.

Let's communicate with God every day.

Porn Kills

I have just been amazed lately by the staggering numbers of people who struggle with pornography. Not just those in the secular world but even within the church.

Here's some staggering info for you:
March 20, 2007: At a men's summit in Oregon before 2,000 men, Shelley Lubben of Shelley Lubben ministries challenged those who were struggling with porn addiction to stand. 30% rose to their feet. She immediately challenged them a second time, with the result that some 70% were standing.

April 6, 2007: 70% of Christians admitted to struggling with porn in their daily lives. From a non-scientific poll taken by XXXChurch, as reported by CNN.

August 7,2006: 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography. 60% of the women who answered the survey admitted to having significant struggles with lust; 40% admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year; and 20% of the church-going female participants struggle with looking at pornography on an ongoing basis.
From the results of a ChristiaNet poll reported by Marketwire.com

In December of 2000, the National Coalition to Protect Children and Families surveyed 5 Christian Campuses to see how the next generation of believers was doing with sexual purity:
48% of males admitted to current porn use
68% of males said they intentionally viewed a sexually explicit site at the school .

A 1996 Promise Keepers survey at one of their stadium events revealed that over 50% of the men in attendance were involved with pornography within one week of attending the event.

In 2008: Out of 81 pastors surveyed (74 males 7 female), 98% had been exposed to porn; 43% intentionally accessed a sexually explicit website.

In his book, "Men's Secret Wars", Patrick Means reveals a confidential survey of evangelical pastors and church lay leaders. Sixty-four percent of these Christian leaders confirm that they are struggling with sexual addiction or sexual compulsion including, but not limited to use of pornography, compulsive masturbation, or other secret sexual activity.

A 2007 poll showed: 34 percent of female readers of Today's Christian Woman's online newsletter admitted to intentionally accessing Internet porn in a recent poll.

In March of 2002 Rick Warren’s (author of the Purpose Driven life) Pastors.com website conducted a survey on porn use of 1351 pastors: 54% of the pastors had viewed Internet pornography within the last year, and 30% of these had visited within the last 30 days.

72 million: The approximate number of unique visitors to adult websites in 2006, per month, worldwide.
420 million: Total number of porn pages.
40 million: The number of U.S. adults who regularly visit porn websites.
Internet Filter Review

2007 Survey of divorced people: Of the 50% who get divorced in America, 70% of those marriages had one spouse who struggled with pornography at one time or another.

Please pray for those addicted, those whose marriages are torn apart by porn, those in the industry, and for those who are leaders. Pray for our nation.

Shalom,
Frank