Just been listening to the radio - a reminder of how essential prayer is.
A comment was made along the lines that for the most part the church in this country has lost the vision for prayer - unlike some religions where it has a higher profile!

I am the product of prayer - and I worry that by saying that I am giving God a bad reputation...

Many years ago there was a traveling preacher who passed through where I was at the time. There was some long past connection to the events that brought me into the world, so it was thought that I should be introduced to him. The only thing I remember he said to me was '... ah B - you're near the top of my prayer list ...'. That along with other comments I hear about prayer suggest to me a standard to which I don't attain.

In 2011 news of a situation I found myself in went ballistic - with people I don't know / never met / unlikely to meet praying for us.
I find it embarrassing compared to my simple 'Help them Father' reaction when news of other people's difficulties reach me.

In a previous article I attempted to go back to first principles with Jesus' teaching on prayer.

So how do I pray? Best summed up by the words of the old songs:

• '... a little talk with Jesus makes things right ...'
• '... oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not take it to the Lord in prayer ...'

A good way of praying is to look for scriptural examples like this one (Philippians 1vv9-11):

'I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices.
...
And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.'

Also need to remember something else Jesus taught (Matthew 6vv7-8):

'... don't babble on ... Your Father knows what you need before you ask.'

But there Jesus also said something about 'people who don't know God'.
Which brings me back to the religions refered to above - Christianity is unique as a singing and rejoicing faith!
Looks like this guy puts it better and in more detail than me!

But what about the title of this article'If my people...'  (2chron7v14)?
In previous articles I have commented on the 2015 and 2010 UK elections - we need humility and prayer.
I have a vision of people coming out onto the streets in prayer and praise!
But not something organised like 'Big Church Day Out'.

On the day of the 2015 election the E4 television channel suspended normal programs for a 12 hour election special.
It consisted of a silent comedy with a ticker tape running along the bottom. The message that really caught my eye said:

'What will you tell your grandchildren when they ask what did you do at the great 2015 election'!

We are living at a pivotal time, no one guessed what the election outcome would be. My wife and I intended to vote our different ways, in the end we both changed our decision and voted a 3rd way! Such was the national turn about someone we know standing with no hope of success almost got elected onto their council by accident!

I sense that Justin Welby, the current Archbishop of Canterbury (part of God's people I don't often mix with), is a man called by God for 'such a time as this'.
Oh that he would be known as the man who called this country to prayer! But what would it take trigger such a trumpet call?