God answers prayer

2007-11-15

Georgia needs rain. So the governor did something crazy.

He prayed.

And, check this out, it rained.

There’s a reason that “Politics” is a subcategory of “Theology” on my blog. This is just one example of why.

Categories : Theology and Spirituality/Politics   Theology and Spirituality
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6 comments

  1. Since the rain came in the form of a minor storm, I suspect that it was forecast prior to the prayer session. It’s and old trick, actually.

    In fact I would argue that this sort of thing does more damage than good to the image of Christians. Rain ceremonies and prayers are most closely associated with pagan religions (and hucksters) that are largely thought of as quaint or as sources of mythology now. Creating that kind of mental association for a modern faith can’t be a good idea.

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    Gerald Cameron, November 15, 2007

  2. Except that the rain wasn’t forecast, as the second link discusses.

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    Seth Ben-Ezra, November 15, 2007

  3. If more people (especially public officials) humbled their hearts enough to ask God for intervention in times of crisis, I believe that we’d see more miracles. Based on the condition of the Church in our nation, my suspicion is that we as Christians are failing just as bad when it comes to professing our weakness before the throne of grace. In my opinion, this lack of humility, which distances us from God, brings more of a black eye to our Faith than the actions of a governor casting down his pride and asking for rain at the risk of looking like a huckster when the rain comes.

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    Jeremy Beach, November 15, 2007

  4. Regarding my previous comment, one of the greatest prayers I ever heard went something like, “Jesus, please forgive us for not giving our lives to you as we ought. Too often we ask you to bless us when we have done nothing to make us blessable. Please forgive us for our pride and give us the grace that only you can provide to change our hearts so that we would be a people worth blessing.”

    James 4

    1What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
    2You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
    3You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
    4You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
    5Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
    6But He gives a greater grace Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
    7Submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
    8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
    9Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
    10Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

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    Jeremy Beach, November 15, 2007

  5. From an Associated Press article on the prayer session posted 2 days ago:

    Meteorologists said earlier this week there was a slight possibility of rain Tuesday, with some more rain in the forecast Wednesday. After that, little rain was predicted for the rest of the week.

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    Gerald Cameron, November 15, 2007

  6. Before Seth’s post, I had read that some meteorological reports were saying that there was a slight chance for rain in Georgia before the governor had his prayer service. This doesn’t change my opinion that the governor’s actions were a good thing.

    I’ve generally found that weather forecasters have a pretty spotty track record, so for me “a slight chance of rain” is pretty far from guaranteeing rain. Then again, even if the chances for rain were 100%, I still think that the governor’s actions were a good thing. Crying out to God for help in times of crises is always the proper response no matter if the world perceives this as foolishness.

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    Jeremy Beach, November 16, 2007

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