"A Minute of Prayer"

August 13, 2016  

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:11-13

At the end of this devotion is a link to a website where you can download the chime of Big Ben to your Smartphone. It is free and legal to use. To install it as an alarm, please consult your children or grandchildren. They will probably know how it's done.

* It was only a few days ago that two terrorists interrupted Mass in a French church, forced the priest to his knees before the altar, and murdered him ... and filmed the entire atrocity. After visiting the place of the attack, the President of France has said his country is now at war with ISIS, which had claimed responsibility.

* It was only a few days ago that a woman who was angry with God entered St. Clement Catholic Church in Bowling Green, Missouri. There she vandalized the church and desecrated the elements set aside for Communion.

The fact that these types of terrible incidents are becoming more commonplace tells us that St. Paul knew what he was talking about when the Holy Spirit inspired Him to write that we are wrestling against powerful forces of spiritual evil. Later on in that chapter the apostle added we should pray "at all times in the Spirit" (see Ephesians 6:18).

Now all of us agree we should pray at all times, and especially in terrible times.

We should pray, but all too often we don't. That was the situation in World War II, which is why King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill supported the idea of a minute devoted to prayer.

To that end, beginning on Sunday, November 10, 1940, the BBC began to broadcast the chiming of Big Ben at 9 p.m. That was the signal for the prayer-minute to begin. The idea caught on and President Roosevelt encouraged the silent minute in America too.

Did the idea succeed?

After the war a Nazi leader confessed to British Intelligence, "During the war, you had a secret weapon for which we could find no countermeasure, which we did not understand, but it was very powerful. It was associated with the striking of Big Ben each evening. I believe you called it the 'Silent Minute.'"

Today there are millions using the silent minute as a reminder to pray for their nation. I am one of them and invite you to be one too.

We believers who have the ear of our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, can take our concerns to the Lord. James 5:16b says, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." If that is so -- and it is -- think what can happen if the tens of thousands of Daily Devotioners join together.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we live in troublesome times. The Savior and His followers are under attack from many directions, which is why I give thanks that You have provided me with the weaponry that will enable me to stand firm. For my salvation and preservation, I offer my deepest gratitude. In the Savior's Name I pray it. Amen.

You can download Big Ben by clicking here.