Delta Dawn When the Light Comes On: Week Twenty-one

"Seek the Lord all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility, that you will be hidden [in the day of trouble]. Zephaniah 2:3. Does this not highlight "Seek, first, the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33? Of course!

Does prayer change things? Prayer is a spirit-to-Spirit exercise; a communion with God. Prayer changes the hearts of men. Men change natural circumstances accordingly. Genesis 1. Attitude, based on believing, produces excellent behavior! 

What we like or don't like (attitude) sits on what we believe about the subject. We act (behave) accordingly. "Is there any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray, anointing him with oil." James 5:14. It is quite possible the Founding Fathers leaned, heavily, on this verse when they held the First Continental Congress, September 5. 1774, in Philadelphia, to discuss the "Intolerable Acts" placed on the American Colonies by King George III of Britain. 

Founder and 5th Vice-President, Samuel Adams, believed in prayer. The door of his home was open to prayer at all times. Each Colony arrived at the Continental Congress with its own set of ideas on how best to proceed. Founder Thomas Cushing recommended beginning each day with prayer. Some dissented, citing denominational differences. Adams was instantly indignant. He referred to George Whitefield's popular "Father Abraham" sermon declaring there were no denominations in Heaven, then added, "I would accept the prayer of even Jacob Douche'!" Rev. Jacob Douche' ministered as an Anglican (Church of England)!

Next morning Douche' arrived in his robes bringing along a clerk. Amazingly, he broke into 'passionate and spontaneous' prayer. No one ever did this! He read Psalm 35 prayerfully. He prayed, fervently, for the Congress, those on both sides of a Revolution question, Patriot or Tory: The Generals, Washington and Gage, the soldiers, the people, the church. He prayed for the ports and wharf workers, especially for Boston, scene of a nasty massacre and a frightening Tea Party. Douche' prayed for the women, families, businesses, local lawfulness, Colony welfare and angelic protection, in the Name of Jesus.

The Statesmen, using chairs as altars, soon were prostrate on the floor. Some curled up in corners and many faces went down on tables. When Rev. Douche' finished, they arose with a mindset of unity. Prayer, believing Jesus as their King, changed hearts, minds and actions. Attitudes met meekness and humility. Now, Statesmen arose to creatively devising ways to agree. A delegate from Delaware cried out, "Let us no longer be 13 separate Colonies, but 13 United States of America!"

"The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility (submitting under the Mighty Hand of God)." Proverbs 15:33; James 4:10  

Next Week: Original Intent