It’s Star Wars Day!

If you’re not a Star Wars fan, I’m sorry, but there’s a lesson in thinking about the power (the Force) that was an essential element in the Star Wars stories and the “blessing” they sent each other into battle with:

May the Force be with you.

Power should be an essential element of our stories too:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1.8, ESV)

And, believe it or not, I’m continuing yesterday’s meditation on God building King David’s “house” – a permanent kingship.

David’s first response to God’s promise of a permanent monarchy in his line was praise. His second response was to pray the promise. Just as the good guys in the Star Wars adventures couldn’t win without the “Force,” we’re not going to win without God’s power. And King David understood an important principle:

God’s power and promise are released through prayer.

So now, great GOD, this word that you have spoken to me and my family, guarantee it permanently! Do exactly what you’ve promised! …For you, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, told me plainly, “I will build you a house.” That’s how I was able to find the courage to pray this prayer to you…Please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You’ve already as much as said that you would, Master GOD! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently! (2 Samuel 7.25 – 29, MSG)

Praying the promises is an integral part of the history and teaching of The Navigators, the organization with which I serve. Founder Dawson Trotman prayed Jeremiah 33.3 as reported in the first part of an article by my friend Dean Ridings and published by Focus on the Family. It starts:

Taking God at His word transformed the life and ministry of a young man named Dawson Trotman. Dawson was deep into Scripture memorization. One verse that captured his attention was Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (KJV).

Again and again he reviewed and meditated upon this verse. Did God really mean it – call upon Me; I will answer you; I will show you great and mighty things? Pondering this led to a 42-day “prayer meeting,” in which Trotman and a few others with him got serious about praying for local youth and cities, and then expanded out to other cities in their state, other states in their nation, and finally the world…“We didn’t even know what we were praying,” Trotman said. “I didn’t realize that within four years, men from every state of the nation would walk into our front room and find the Savior. God answered our prayers abundantly, and there was the beginning of our work called today by the name, Navigators.”

Instead of being like King David or even Dawson Trotman, I’m afraid some of us are like the folks that James wrote to:

You have not because you ask not. (James 4.2)

Should we pray about the mission Jesus has called us to? Jesus was direct in what we should pray for about that:

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9.37, 38, ESV)

Dawson prayed for effectiveness in making disciples with verses like these:

Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. (Isaiah 43.4, NKJV)

You shall raise up the foundations of many generations. (Isaiah 58.12, NKJV)

A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.” (Isaiah 60.22, NKJV)

Provision? I’ve prayed this for years and seen God work:

God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9.8 – 11, NIV)

King David “went in and sat before the Lord” and prayed the promise. (2 Samuel 7.18 – 29) May we do the same, and…

May the (real) Force be with us!