Give thanks always to the Lord, and always let your requests be made known to Him. Remain faithfully in your prison. Put your hopes beyond the grave, your treasures in Heaven. And pray! pray! pray! Do not faint, but keep on praying.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1—NIV)

We must set aside a place and time to pray each day, as I said. But in addition to this we must keep on praying during the day and night as we have opportunity.

Pray continually; (I Thessalonians 5:17—NIV)

To the beginning Christian, the idea of praying continually may seem an impossibility. As we mature in the Lord we find there are so many problems that praying continually is the only way in which we can endure the day.

God sends problems upon us to keep our eyes focused on Him.

When we face a problem we can accuse other people and become bitter, or we can use the problem to drive us to God. Thus every problem and crisis becomes a golden opportunity to press closer to Jesus.

I understand viewing problems in this manner seems idealistic and unworkable. I admit it does take character, effort, and courage to look always to Jesus—especially when something of a threatening nature takes place.

But every time we respond to a crisis or problem by going to Jesus we become stronger in this procedure. Life becomes much more peaceful and less threatening because we find the Lord keeps on delivering us. He becomes increasingly real to us until we can tell when victory has been gained.

If we do not learn to take every crisis, danger, and problem to Jesus immediately, looking to Him for strength and wisdom, we will not be able to stand in the dark days facing us in America.

The written Word of God is of tremendous importance. However the Apostles placed prayer as the highest priority.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4)

The first of the ten practices necessary for spiritual survival in the coming days is that of prayer. Numerous Christians do not pray enough even to cope with the present distresses. If we cannot live the victorious Christian life in the present hour, what shall we do when greater trouble comes?

If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country,  how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? (Jeremiah 12:5—NIV)

God will reward you richly if you make a practice of daily prayer. Try it and see!

Meditate in the Scriptures Continually

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalms 1:2—NIV)

Sometimes American believers state they cannot understand the Bible. My suggestion is, get one of the newer translations. They are much easier to read than the King James, although the King James is a fine translation and faithful to the Greek text.

In any case, it is not going to be possible for you or me to stand during the age of moral horrors unless we do as the Bible exhorts: meditate on the law of God day and night.

To be continued.