Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." - Matthew 6:9

There is never a day that passes that someone is not speaking well about their father. Sometimes it comes from the lips of those who as children were once abandoned by their fathers and left to make it all on their own with the help of dedicated mothers. Now that they are grown and have climbed the ladder of success, popularity, notoriety, fame and fortune, they lash out at the father who turned his back on them when they needed him most.

Then there are some who do not know who their fathers are and moan and groan for the love they never knew. The love of a father is precious to any child. There is a young man who recently came to look after my yard. He is not married, but is expecting his first child in a month or two. He is always talking about how he has to buy for his baby. As soon as he is paid, talks about having to go here and there to pay on things for the baby shower. I was expecting him one day and he called to say that he had an appointment and would be late. When he did come as the sun was setting he told me that his appointment was with the store arranging gifts for the shower. What a serious Bahamian young man!

When God created the family, he had a wonderful concept of love and responsibility. There is no greater love for a child than the fond memories of a loving and caring father. Sad to say, many of us who were the recipients of love from our fathers did not afford our children to experience the same. We, like sheep, went astray far from virtue and values.

Carry out a survey, and perhaps it was done, most of the crime that is committed, is as a result of the lack of paternal care and devotion. Boys without fathers in their lives are lacking a vital ingredient that can lead to the rise and fall of a nation.
Jesus, in continuing, his sermon on the mount which began in chapter five of St. Matthew's Gospel, takes time out to tell his disciples how they should pray. We are to acknowledge that God is our heavenly father, and we should always reverence and respect him since his name is Holy.

Not all of us can repeat The Lord's Prayer and so since you may not have uttered a word or a petition to God for the day, join Jesus as he tells us of the power of prayer. "Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen." The most powerful prayer on earth -- it has all the ingredients for successful living. Give us this day our daily bread -- bread that will make us healthy, wealthy and wise. How about "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Think on these things.

The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion, both of which are born in and maintained by prayer. The ministry of prayer is the highest ministry of all human office and is open to all. It is sad to hear high-ranking churchmen and women who look at prayer meeting as 'it's only a prayer meeting'. Recently someone said of someone who was assigned to carry out the ministry of prayer that people were being paid to pray.

Satan has little cause to fear most preaching, but he trembles when he sees and hears the weakest saint upon his knees. Scripture tells us that one person at prayer can cause 1,000 demons to flee and two demons can cause 10,000. Modern and sophisticated Christians know little of "binding and loosing," even though it is part of our assignment.

Spiritually poverty stricken as the church is today in many things, she is most stricken here in the place of prayer. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers but few prayers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters.

If our land is to be the place where righteousness abounds, then it will take the power of salvation through prayer and not legislation of frustration. May your prayer life this day become stronger.

o E-mail rubyanndarling@yahoo.com, Facebook Ruby Ann Darling or write to P.O. Box SS 19725 Nassau, Bahamas with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God's blessings!

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