Prayer and National Challenges: Development or Derailment?

Some Jamaicans contend that prayer is not enough to tackle the problems and challenges of this nation. They probably cast aspersions on the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast that was held yesterday (January 21, 2010) and concluded that it was a sham, a mere show of politico-religious pomp and pageantry without any consideration given to purposeful concerted action. This perspective on prayer is not without merit and substance given the prevailing theology and practice of prayer.

I would like to suggest, however, that the issue is not that prayer is not enough, but that we do not pray “enough”. “Enough” to me means that the quantity and quality of our prayers are adequate and results-producing. From one angle, it is not that we merely pray without acting, but that we fail to pray without ceasing (quantity). From another angle, any solid biblical theology of prayer would include the notion that genuine prayer is persistent, action-generating, and transformative (quality).

My understanding of the essence of Christian prayer is that when it is done within the ambits of integrity, penitence, humility, and confident expectation, it produces tangible and palpable results regardless of the complexity and intractability of the contextual ills. Lest we forget, it was Jesus who stated categorically that there are certain perceived difficulties and apparently insurmountable challenges that cannot be tackled successfully without prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Indeed, on another occasion he said, “Men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Was Jesus a mere prayer fanatic?

Many nations around the world have experienced positive transformation and economic development on the foundation of authentic prayer. Although some might question his credentials, President George W. Bush said during his remarks on America’s National Day of Prayer in 2006 that, "America is a nation of prayer. It's impossible to tell the story of our nation without telling the story of people who pray." (Read the entire speech here) Taiwan, which was recently ranked 13th place (above Japan and below only Singapore among Asian nations) in the "Innovation for Development Report 2009-2010”, hosted its Ninth National Prayer Breakfast on November 28, 2009. In his address, President Ma Ying-jeou indicated that whereas one individual’s prayers are helpful, “collective prayer” is even more significant, and that prayer among the citizens of Taiwan was the most useful, especially in light of his nation’s economic recovery and national development. (See this link)

Those who claim that prayer in Jamaica is not bringing about any results might be on to something, but they should not be impetuous in their analysis and evaluation. They must be reminded that wherever genuine prayer is uttered something happens. If indeed our prayers are “enough” in Jamaica in terms of quantity and quality, positive change will come. If there is no constructive change, then the act of praying is not to be blamed, we are to be blamed for not praying effectively or for not praying from lives of integrity. For it was James who wrote in his letter in Scripture that, “”The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).