O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people in the land. Daniel 9:4-6.
I was invited to pray for the media during our National Day of Prayer gathering. As I have been waiting on the Lord for His direction, so many thoughts have run through my mind. Media–newspapers, television news broadcasts, social media and podcasts–areas where good communication should be taking place. There was a time where people read newspapers with confidence that what they were reading was accurate and true. My dad regularly tuned into to the nightly news to learn about what was happening across our nation and the world. We grew up listening to Walter Cronkite, a broadcast journalist who anchored the CBS evening news from 1962 to 1981 and was often referred to as “the most trusted man in America”. I’m afraid I can’t think of anyone who would come close to that title now.
Over the years, unfortunately, disillusionment and distrust has taken the place of trust in the media world. We now must “fact check” every speech we hear from the President on down. One thing that came to my heart was the words Jesus spoke in Luke 12:2-3: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. I find these words while convicting, also comforting. History tells us that hidden things can get uncovered. We have Watergate with President Nixon, the illicit relationship with President Clinton and of course in the Christian world-Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart. Everyone of these discovered situations brought shock, sadness and disillusionment. As Christians, we can tsk tsk President Nixon and President Clinton understanding power can bring corruption. It was hard for me to comprehend and trust the Watergate story. Would a sitting president really stoop to that level? The Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart stories really affected me. Satan loved to destroy these men’s reputation and influence into our culture, but the ripple effect to those who hear of their failures. It causes us to wonder who can we trust?
The various media outlets, including the ever growing influence of social media are slowing undermining biblical values. Continued exposure of making it seem healthy to live together without marriage has influenced our current culture. Alternative lifestyle beliefs are becoming accepted and ultimately the norm. The good news is God is raising up a new generation who are learning the truth about what God’s Word has to say. There are more Charlie Kirk’s on the horizon. Men and women who desire to stand for truth instead of believing the lies.
As I was preparing to pray at this meeting, I recognized two things. Did I believe that my (our) prayer was going to change any aspect about the Media going on in this nation? If I didn’t, then why bother. I also realized I had to release my faith as I prayed. This meeting was held in an assisted living residence. There were about 35 mostly seniors present. These men and women are standing in faith and experience that God is active and present in our nation. Several came up and thanked me for my prayer.
My friends, it is obvious that this day is not a “one and done” type of prayer. It is something we need to continually bring before the Lord, trusting that He that has begun a good work will complete it. Let’s join together in praying for this aspect of our culture.
Father, I thank you for seeing the mess our country is in. I thank you for being merciful as you see the lies, immorality and manipulation that takes place through our media. Please rise up your men and women to stand for truth. Thank you for being the creative God who will bring forth even more creative sons and daughters to proclaim your glory through art, media and the spoken word. I pray for protection for those who are standing in the limelight against all the wiles of the enemy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We are very far away from Ephesians 4:29. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as good for building up.
Faith Encounters 