The Open Door

On November 14, 2007, Governor Sonny Perdue conducted a prayer meeting at the State Capitol as he called upon all Georgians to pray for rain. The response of the media and the pooled spiritual disbelief and ignorance of some respondents to newspaper articles and TV news reports was nothing less than astonishing.

The marked difference in rainfall before the prayer rally and since the prayer rally is obvious. You don’t need a rain gauge in your backyard to understand that rain has begun to fall in Georgia and the only appropriate response is to thank God.

Yes, we are still in a drought and the rainfall totals still lag behind normal averages, but to receive the blessing of rainfall and not acknowledge the One Who provides it is to have a consciousness that fails to exceed that of our household pets. Of course, the negative response actually began at the prayer rally through the ironic demonstration of the “Atlanta Freethought Society.”

Wait a minute, did I say “Freethought Society?” A name change for the organization might be appropriate. Atheists and agnostics complained that our Governor was participating in an exercise of futility that was no more meaningful than magic. One comment I read was submitted by an individual who suggested that the Governor actually planned the timing of the prayer rally to precede the rainfall that came the next day.

We understand, with regrets, that there are people who will not acknowledge God or His provisions for us. I am reminded that in The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5: 43-45 HCSB).

In Atlanta, we have received over 6.5 inches of rain since November 14 and as I type these words, we are anticipating rainfall beginning this evening that will continue for two days, break for one day, and then rain again the next two days. A gentleman from Duluth commented, “You can argue with the Governor, but you can’t argue very well standing under an umbrella.”

After having gone months without even reaching for my umbrella, I am rejoicing that my umbrellas are getting a pretty good bit of use these days. The first several times it rained, I didn’t even use an umbrella. I just wanted to be out in the rain and thank the Lord for the blessing of getting soaked.

For months we have prayed that God would return the rains to Georgia. God has heard and answered our prayers and now we need to pray again and thank Him. As a pastor, there were many times that I would visit with a family at the hospital prior to a loved one’s surgery. I would pray for the patient that God would guide the surgeon and that the surgery would be successful.

When the surgeon gathered the family to report on the successful surgery, I would ask the family to join hands in a circle for prayer once again. I would say, “We asked God for a successful operation and He responded to our prayer. Now we need to thank Him for answering our prayer.”

I’m afraid that we are often guilty of praying to the Lord, making our requests to Him, but then failing to thank Him for His answer. In Philippians 4:6, the Apostle Paul says, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (HCSB).

While some might argue, “Oh, it would have rained whether we prayed or not,” or, “My family member would have come through the surgery whether we prayed or not,” I choose to believe with all my heart and soul that there is power in prayer. I believe that God hears and answers prayer. I believe that we worship a personal and loving God Who cares for us and for our needs as a father cares for his children. James 1:17 says it so clearly, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” KJV

Thank you, God, for the rain!