The latest news tells us that in New York it is now legal to abort a baby that is full term. This is our world. Humanity has come to killing innocent babies that haven’t even had the chance to breathe their first breath. But this is not the only saddening news we receive, it is only the latest. I decided to research some statistics about the U.S. and the following is what I found:

• As of 2017 there were 882,000 abortions performed (sadly this number may only continue to climb now that the NY law has changed)
• 40% of babies are born out of wedlock
• There are roughly 14 Million alcoholics
• There are 3 million teens between the ages of 13 and 17 that are battling alcohol addiction
• There are roughly 626,000 heroin users
• 22.2 million habitual marijuana users in the last month
• There are roughly 400,000 children in foster care
• There is a violent crime committed every 26.3 seconds
• Someone commits suicide every 40 seconds
• 1 person is murdered every 60 seconds
• 1 person dies in armed conflict every 100 seconds

Please continue reading!

I do not write these things to make your day dark and to point out every bad thing in this world. I write these things to make a point. I don’t know about you, but when I read these statistics, I want to do something to change them. To stop the murders. I want to help the drug abusers. I want to save every child from becoming just another number in the government system. I want to give life to every unborn child that doesn’t get the chance to experience a smile. I want to educate the young man and young woman on the importance of being married before bringing a child into this world. I may not be able to intercede every terrible situation, but there is something I can do. Something we can all do. Which brings me to the point of all the statistics and sadness.

We can PRAY.

And I don’t mean “oh woe is me” prayer. I don’t mean patty cake prayer. I mean FERVENT prayer. On our knees in a closet prayer. Tear stained faces prayer. Yelling until our voices give out prayer. I mean a prayer that CAN and WILL change the lives of those around us. James 5:16 (KJV) says, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (emphasis mine). Fervent Prayer: having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, enthusiasm, etc. Hot; burning; glowing. Tell me that if we are praying fervent prayers that mountains can’t be moved! Hearts can’t be changed! Lives can’t be turned around! They will! God will move when we decide to move.

So now that we know what a time of fervent prayer looks like (hot, glowing, warmth, intense spirit) let’s put this into action! The bible tells us that prayers changes things and that we are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Philippians 4:6-7). When we get down on our knees and allow ourselves to pray a fervent prayer we will be touching the lives around us in spirit. We will be interceding for those around us. We will be reaching those lives that we could never reach physically. We can impact a life through prayer. And since prayer changes things, we could be changing lives just with our words, by devoting our time, by caring about the lives around us in this world. The statistics I gave were only in the U.S.. That doesn’t even touch so many other problems that our fellow humans are facing in other countries. And come on, we know we here in the U.S. have it pretty great compared to a lot of other countries. We are blessed. If we can only get a desire, a burden for others and choose daily to pray a fervent prayer over their lives we could actually make a contribution to someone’s life through God. I am not perfect. God is opening my eyes every single day more and more to the changes and the growth that I must go through. And I am sure I am not the only one. We all need growth. Daily. From birth until death, we can continuously learn more about God and from God and allow Him to work in us and through us. Learning to pray a powerful prayer is a part of that growth. I am tired of looking around our world and seeing so much devastation and not being able to do anything about it. I am finally learning what my part can be in all of it. I will pray. So if you’re wondering if anyone notices you, thinks of you, speaks of you, loves you, let me tell you God does and he will lay it on someone’s heart to pray for you as long as our ears are open. Will your ears be open so that God can work through you? Do your part. Open your ears to hear God’s voice. Then open your mouth and pray. Then, change the world.

He gives us Roots so we can Fly. Roots and Wings.