How to: Increase the numbers in the prayer line.

Lately I’ve been writing a lot of how to articles. These How to articles are really articles in which  I hope to draw attention to some things that we should not do, but because we neglect certain thing in our lives they result in the many things I write about in Going Against The Grain. In this post I want to share with he reader how we can increase the number of people in the prayer lives each Sunday. I realize how ridiculous this sounds, but read on and you will see why I chose this title.

²Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2 )

Are we really prospering?  It seems that when we do, we leave many of our brothers and sisters in Christ behind.  If the blessing of the Lord makes rich (Proverbs 10:22), that means their is excess and what do we do with excess? Invest, save store it up and boast in our things. Many can not enjoy the fruit of their labor because of poor health and bad decisions in eating.  Reality shows exploit (the networks make billions and the obese simply lose weight) the overweight and obese when the church could educate. The church is becoming the place of the haves and the have nots, the ministry will earn millions and the members of the church members receives blessings (some will , some wont). Those whom bellow “I’m Blessed Of The Lord” when you ask them how are they, equate stuff with blessings. Although, being blessed by God could mean you have been fortunate to enjoy the finer things in life and the fruit of  your labor, that’s fine, but what about your health?

Its apparent that many of our church members across America are in poor health and the prayer lines for a healing grows faster than the membership. We come to church, we practically live in the prayer meetings and after the services the food industry sees an increase in revenue every Sunday evening. We so desperately want those spiritual blessings, we are so eager to have the evangelist lay hands on us and intercede on our behalf for our health and all we had to do was eat right, get some rest.There are many things that we do have control over and that’s what we eat.  Although there are some that re unfortunately in poverty and that eat the processed food, fried foods and unfortunately their heal is at risk also. What about those of us who are not living in poverty, those of use with the excess?

In many of our black churches, we spend much time in praise, teaching, singing, attending meetings and convocations when 1 in 7 black have diabetes (StateOfBlackPeople.com). Diabetes is killing the black community and all we do is stand in the prayer line and trust in God, when we could have simple listened to our doctor, pay more attention to our bodies as the years progressed.  For many of us, we have the chance and opportunity to maintain our Good Health.  I remember when as a young man, the only people that I was use to seeing taking medication was the elderly. Now adults in their thirties are taking some form of medication.  In the church testimony service its common to hear a believer testify to the following:

• I thank God that my cholesterol level is low.
• I thank God that my sugar diabetes is under control.
• I thank God I only have to take 3 medications a day and not 7

Sure, its fine to thank God, but it would have been better if the church spent some time education their members about the health issues affecting the black community. Sure one can argue that people should take personal responsibility for their health. If this was overwhelmingly possible and successful, I believe it would impact the revenues of the drug makers and the medical profession. Less sick people equates to less revenues for doctors, hospitals and drug companies. If the medical profession cared about the health of people they would focus on prevent and not treating symptoms.

We can have seminars on tithing, marriage, purity classes. Bur when the church is in a celebratory mode, we eat our selves into a artery clogging feast of fried foods and sugary drinks to excess and will return to the night service praising God.

Insulin, Viagra, inhalers and refilling our prescriptions and oxygen tanks seem to be common words and phrases in the church. Divorce, separation, abuse and drug dependence are also all too common in the church. Although Israel wondered around in the wilderness, nations feared their God and Gods people.  In 2010, were are looked at as feeble minded (for our trust in God) and easily manipulated by those outside the church. How can we preach a Gospel of deliverance to set people free when we are bound ourselves?  Leaders are praying Gods blessings over people for healing when they are sick themselves, taking blood pressure medication, insulin injections and using inhalers.

Taking care if the one body that God gave us seems to be an after thought for many Christians. We are probable the most medicated group of people only second to those bound to a hospital bed. (that’s not a statistic, just a statement)

Reading, Studying and Research

We read whats entertaining, study for test that we need to pass and will only research the things that will grant discounts and special admissions, but we fail to do those things that will benefit our health.  Our skin is a living breathing organ that will absorb what you rub into it. So, why then put something on your skin that :

• you can not  eat
• you can not pronounce the ingredients (chemical) or additives its made of
• and is toxic or harmful (in large amounts)

Place a drop of water on your skin, some of it will evaporate and the rest is absorbed into your skin, this is why auto workers wear latex gloves when changing your oil or fluids in your car, this is why medical professionals wear gloves when working with patients. Not only will latex gloves prevent your from spreading something to someone else, they will prevent you from contracting something , its a barrier between your skin and the harmful organisms.

You will surely increase the numbers in your prayer line… for a healing if you:

• Continue to ignore the warning signs your body gives you.
• Continue to gourd yourself with fatty foods, sugary drinks.
• Continue to eat processed foods, fast foods, fried foods, food high in fats and sugar.
• Cut back on your water consumption and increase your soda, sweet tea, beer, wine drinking.
• Take no vitamin supplements.

I could go on but, I think you get the point. What good is your prosperity in Christ (and I’m not talking about all your stuff and things) if you can not enjoy a worship service because your in such discomfort because you neglected your body.Lets Start with some Vitamin C.

( I am not a medical professional or a nutritionist, the information that you will find here is readily available on the internet or in your local library or General Nutrition Center  [Hint...hint] )

Vitamin C: An Important Antioxidant

You could pile your plate high with citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines and grapefruit), as well as papayas, strawberries, cantaloupe, and pineapple. And you could eat your fill of vegetables such as tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, cabbage and turnips. But you’d need to eat several servings to get the appropriate amount of vitamin C. And it can be lost from foods during preparation, cooking or storage.

Moreover, many of us already have a vitamin C deficiency, which occurs most often:

• If you smoke
• If you suffer physical or emotional stress
• If you drink alcohol
• If you have allergies
• If you have a fever or viral illness
• If you’re taking antibiotics, cortisone, aspirin or other pain medicines
• If you’re exposed to toxic chemicals (e.g., DDT, petroleum products, carbon monoxide), environmental pollution or heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium)
• If you suffer from recurrent infections
• If you’re a woman who takes the birth-control pill
• If you’re older than age 60

To ensure you’re getting the right amount of C, take a nutritional supplement.

( Busywomensfitness.com/vitamin-C.html)

Going Against The Grain.