THE POWER OF TO ENHANCE YOUR LIFE AND RESTORE AMERICA PRAYERInspired thought-leadership from these and many others: REAR ADMIRAL VONETTE BRIGHT SENATOR ROMA DOWNEY DR. BEN CARSON SENATOR BARRY C. BLACK TIM SCOTT, SC ORRIN HATCH, UT “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicle 7:14 A Special Report Prepared By The Washington Times Advocacy Department Table of Contents Prayer itself What is it, how do you pray and what happens when you pray? Can one truly ‘pray without ceasing?’ . 4 The odd, compelling richness of daily prayer . 6 Adm (ret). Barry C. Black Ms. Kay Coles James The characteristics of prayer . 4 Conversations with God getting past the awkward start . 7 Ms. Vonette Bright Rabbi Daniel Lapin A nation in need of re-harnessing prayer’s power . 6 The prayer closet . .. 7 Ms. Shirley Dobson Rev. Lon Solomon How prayer changes lives Prayer can profoundly change everything, slowly or from one minute to the next Prayer in the times of mountaintops and valleys . .. 8 The healing presence of the Holy Spirit . 15 Senator Tim Scott Dr. Brenda Hunter Calm amid the chaos of troubled Ireland . .. 9 The intense intimacy of connection . .. 16 Ms. Roma Downey Dr. Art Lindsley The intimacy of prayer in sacred marriage . 9 Step by step through a day in conversation with God . 18 Dr. Luonne Abram Rouse Ms. Star Parker The power of the 10-second prayer . 10 The smart money bets on the reality of prayer . 20 LTG (Ret.) William Boykin Mr. Chuck Stetson T en Prayer changed the trajectory of my life . 12 To be healed, first forgive others . 20 TM Dr. Ben Carson Mr. Walter Wang ar P ‘The Circle Maker’ . 12 In gray, tired America . 21 de Mr. Mark Batterson Dr. Michael T. Ross y C a C Prayer: The source of peace, joy and perspective . 14 What the Pope’s prayer means to me . 24 Ms. Sarah Young Father Lawrence Ventline ADVO S From behind prison bars jailhouse prayer is sincere, powerful, restorative 15 Helping Muslims fall in love with Jesus . 24 e Mr. Jim Liske Mr. Jerry Trousdale IM on T America’s story of prayer, then and now gt n How prayer has influenced America’s history; restoring government and military in prayer SHI The wall separating faith and public life must be torn down . 27 America: Still a nation of prayer . .. 32 e Wa Senator Orrin G. Hatch Ms. Lea Carawan H T Faith’s role in America . 28 Mobilizing heavenly forces . 34 BY Senator Rand Paul Mr. William J. Federer ared The freedom to bow our heads and pray in public . 29 Learn to ‘pray with our legs’ . 35 S P e Senator James Lankford Ms. Penny Nance re TIM T P America has always turned to prayer . 29 Does prayer still work in America? . .. 35 on or Mr. David Barton Mr. Paul Blair P GT n re What happens in Room 219 . 30 Adopt a precinct . 36 L a SHI Representative Randy Forbes Ms. Shelly Huey a CI e W e The sound of a billion prayers . 30 Praying the Gettysburg Address . 37 SP a TH Mr. Bob Williamson Ms. Rebecca Hagelin | If my people who are called by my name . 31 On our knees . 38 Ms. Nancy Schulze Ms. Janet Parshall Prayer in nature, culture and art ber 30 • 2015 Praying in nature, God’s creation; art and prayer M ove Praying ‘War Room’ into being . 39 God in the wind and the silence of nature . 41 n Stephen and Alex Kendrick Mr. Rob Keck Desperation drove us to our knees . 40 Recommended reading for your spirit . 42 Mr. Jon Erwin Byron and Beth Borger Monday • Monday God is the issue . 40 Heaven’s geeks . 43 2 Mr. Brad Bright Mr. Neil Ahlsten a SPeCIaL rePorT PrePARED BY The WaShIngTon TIMes ADVOTHE WASHINGTONCaCy deParTM TIMESenT | Monday • noveMber 30 • 2015 3 PRAYER ITSELF What is it, how do you pray and what happens when you pray Can one truly ‘pray without ceasing?’ which doesn’t mean nonstop — but bachelor who interacts constantly with actually means constantly recurring. an invisible 6-foot-3-inch rabbit named So, adoration for God In other words, we can punctuate our Harvey. Throughout the entire movie, can enable you to be moments with intervals of recurring Stewart’s character is aware of inter- continuously aware of prayer. acting unceasingly with his imaginary His presence, creating a Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Ameri- friend. can essayist, brings some clarification The eternal God, our friend, isn’t desire to punctuate your on this theme in his sermon “Pray imaginary. The glory of the sunrise days, hours, and minutes Without Ceasing.” Emerson made the and the majesty of the sunset remind with the communion and following observation: “It is not only us that He is alive and well. Songwriter fellowship of prayer. This when we audibly and in form, address Ervin Drake wrote: “Every time I hear our petitions to the Deity that we a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or adoration can transform pray. We pray without ceasing. Every see the sky, then I know why I believe.” sporadic and stammering secret wish is a prayer. Every house is This song, “I Believe,” reminds us of prayers into a constant a church; the corner of every street is the God to whom our prayers ascend, By Barry C. Black a closet of devotion” (Thevalueofspar- who inspires us to punctuate our lives and characteristic rows.com2014/02/02/). with joyful and recurring intercession. hen I was young, attitude of reverence To illustrate further, while in col- You see, it’s possible to keep your my mother gave and dependence on lege, I fell in love with the woman I mind consciously in God’s presence. my siblings and a higher power. would eventually marry. That romantic Perhaps this is what the psalmist was me 5 cents for experience helped me better frame this suggesting when he declared, “I will each Bible verse biblical command to pray continuously, bless the Lord at all times; His praises we memorized. I was puzzled by this verse, “Pray punctuating one’s life with prayer. will continually be in my mouth” This motivated us without ceasing.” Did Jesus pray I knew intuitively that it’s possible (Psalm 34:1). This may also be what the T to look for the “low-hanging fruit” of nonstop? The Bible says (Luke 2) to love without ceasing, for the pres- prophet Isaiah is attempting to empha- en short verses, finding in 1 Thessalonians 5 that he was a carpenter for at least 18 ence of one’s beloved engenders recur- size when he says, “God will keep them TM W ar a treasure trove. First Thessalonians 5:16 years before being baptized by John ring adoration. For me, that adoration in perfect peace whose minds focus on P states, “Rejoice evermore.” Verse 18 says, in the Jordan River. Surely this work has continued unabated for decades. Him” (Isaiah 26:3). de y “Always give thanks for this is God’s will prevented Jesus him from continuous So, adoration for God can enable C a for you.” Verse 19 tells us, “Quench not prayer, yet this Bible verse challenges you to be continuously aware of His Retired Navy Rear Adm. Barry C. Black C the Spirit.” Verse 20 enjoins, “Despise us to pray continuously — to bathe our presence, creating a desire to punctu- is the 62nd chaplain of the U.S. Senate. ADVO not prophesying.” Verse 22 admonishes, years, months, days and moments with ate your days, hours and minutes with Elected in 2003, he became the first Afri- S e “Avoid the appearance of evil.” prayer: “Pray without ceasing.” the communion and fellowship of can-American and the first Seventh-day IM I loved these terse, money-making As I grew and matured spiritually, prayer. This adoration can transform Adventist to hold this position. He was verses. First Thessalonians 5:17, how- I began to believe that it is indeed sporadic and stammering prayers into formerly chief of chaplains of the Navy, on T ever, not only provided me with 5 cents possible to pray nonstop. It’s possible a constant and characteristic attitude and chief of the Navy Chaplain Corps. gt n but with a question. The text says, because we can cultivate a spirit that of reverence and dependence on a SHI “Pray without ceasing.” Three simple is habitually devotional, keeping our higher power. words, but what could they possibly hearts attuned to the transcendent. I remember fondly an old 1950s e Wa mean? I pondered the question: “Is it The Greek word for “without ceasing” Jimmy Stewart movie, “Harvey.” Stew- H T possible to pray nonstop?” in 1 Thessalonian 5:17 is adialeiptos, art plays Elwood P. Dodd, an eccentric BY ared S P e re TIM T P on or The characteristics of prayer P GT n re L a subject, at the click of your computer History records no significant Jesus said, “If you ask anything in SHI a CI keys. Never before in the history of movement of the Spirit of God that has My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). e W e man have there been so many ques- not been preceded by a strong empha- I believe prayer could change the SP a TH tions with so few answers.