MIKE HILLARD

 The 2 hour event include praise and worship from several area churches plus prayers led by area pastors and chaplains. The prayers were powerful. Other than the opening prayer blessing the event and food and the benediction prayer, each prayer concentrated on a specific area, each which affects each one of us every day.

As I listened to the prayers it reminded me that many times I don't stop to pray for all areas which affect us all. Yeah we pray for ourselves or an intercessory prayer for  families and friends and church and for health issues others face and these are obviously OK. But this morning specific prayers were offered for our governments, from local to federal, prayers for our troops, prayers for President Obama and for our community in addition to prayers for our families and churches.

Now I'm not suggesting we necessarily include each of these areas in each prayer. But at least we should add the areas we may sometimes not think about to our prayers and at least make sure we include each of this areas in our prayers often.

So I was convicted to concentrate on broadening my prayers and I hope you will too.

When's the last time you prayed for our troops, our government, our President, our communities in addition to our families, ourselves or our churches? Can't remember?

How about taking your hand off your mouse right now and doing so?

All these areas of our lives need prayer...

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 "pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ"