Prayer History

My minor in college and university was history.  In my readings of history, largely related to that of Europe and America and the ancients of Greece and Rome in relation to the intellectual development of the West that includes some attention to other area histories, I have found little to nothing of the meaning of prayer to the story of mankind.  Even in the reporting of prayer in church history the matter has been treated largely as a church matter applying most largely to individuals and their dependence upon prayer.  The theme is left to sift itself out for the most part, with chapters ending without conclusions identified with prayer as achieving or not achieving results.  In my lifetime there was striking attention given to prayer, even in secular sources, in the event of the British army at Dunkirk during World War II.  The call went out from not only churches but other distressed organizations that the only hope of the Brits to be rescued from annihilation by the Nazis was prayer.  The land had been occupied in France and conquered by the Nazi army with the forbidding sea at the north.  The British and their friend nations were openly asked for prayer as the only hope left for the remnants of the British fighters.  Prayer was scheduled in churches, and persons admitted responding to the call in their homes and workplaces.  Out of nowhere little boats appeared as civilians using anything they could find appeared on the sea taking all the men each could manage back to Churchill’s little island.  The wave became something of a miracle and thousands of doomed soldiers were rescued to fight and win on another day.  In reviewing the literature of history I seldom find that event, marveled at by even the enemy at the time, reported as a possible act of God – God who acts in most human events with the people related to the event.  The point I am making is that history ought to have something to say about the influence or impact, if any, on the history of mankind.  Does God use rowboats and rich recreational vessels to rescue an army?  Other influences, good and ill, are readily reported and searched out.  Irish history turned at one point on a potato famine, and immigration to the United States created shifts in American cities.  Does secular history evaluate prayer results?

A very interesting point related to prayer is that wherever we cut into the story of religions we find prayer. Only now and then do we find potatoes or rice influencing history.  When they do the story is major. Prayer has been an important ongoing factor for both devout and secular persons through millennia that we know about.  While other influences have been born, lived and died, prayer has continued and continues to be important to a massive public, especially during difficult periods.  It is a haven in the time of storm.  American church history places considerable meaning to the Haystack Prayer Meetings that appear to have led to improvement in the lives of the generations.  Even the prayer meetings, both north and south, in the Civil War in America may have introduced some influence.  The evangelistic movement among the Confederate soldiers appears to have influenced the movement toward peace and some reconsideration about the meaning of right and justice to peace.  The boys wanted more to go home, and rejoin families.  If the spiritual factors had been followed up, perhaps the carpetbaggers, the revenge seekers, the former ways would have yielded with firm gentleness and problem solving.  Even Washington D. C. was saluted with great painted signs quoting Scripture as the comfort of peace, freedom, and for return of normal life.  The man who might have brought it off as God would have it, and he included deity in much of what he said at the time, especially about warfare, was murdered by a man who would not make prayer his weapon.

We might be surprised in turning to prayer to discover that the threats of unbelievably murderous weapons now in proliferation might be reduced if those who believe and practice prayer would make a point of asking God for improved attitudes, circumstances, and meaning for nations, for leaders, for followers, for science, for economies – if we prayed for the values of heaven.  God prefers that weapons be made into plowshares, for resources to be used for constructive purpose, for choosing life over death, for love instead of hatred, for forgiveness rather than revenge.  The story is long.  Prayer is a friend to wisdom, an act of peace for earth’s experience.  It may even trigger nature – as the Apostle James reminds us – James 5:17-18.