Celebrate prayer

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Capt.) Jeff Granger
  • 28th Bomb Wing chaplain
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Webster’s Dictionary defines prayer as: “A reverent petition made to God or another deity.”

On the other hand, a Buddhist Web site describes prayer as “a practice to awaken our inherent inner capacities of strength, compassion and wisdom rather than to petition external forces.”

However, if I were to come up with a universal definition of prayer, I’d say it’s a form of communication with a transcendent power beyond ourselves that has the ability to impact our lives.

Eighteen years ago, prayer changed my life. I faced a problem in life that was beyond my ability to solve. Although I wasn’t practicing any particular religion, I was raised with a belief in God.

I realized the problem I faced could only be solved by God, so I prayed: “God, I’ve never done anything to deserve help from you, but if you could help me now, I’d be very grateful.”

The next day, the problem was solved in such a miraculous way that the only logical explanation for me was that it was an act of God.

The interesting thing about this experience was what really impacted me wasn’t the fact that my prayer was answered, but that God loved me enough to answer my prayer. I realized at that point I was at a crossroad in life.

Today, my prayer life is important to me in maintaining my relationship with God and exercising my trust in God.

I have to admit, I get into some difficult situations where my prayer is basically, “God, help!” But prayer isn’t a good luck charm to get things to go my way.

Trying to do things myself comes naturally. Going to God when times get tough comes easy, too. For me, my challenge in prayer is to trust God at all times.

Prayer plays a vital role in the lives of many Americans, and it’s part of the fabric that makes up the tapestry of our culture.

In the first half of the twentieth century, a group of congressman gathered annually for a prayer breakfast. The purpose was to bring together the leadership of the United States in recognition of the moral and religious values upon which our nation was founded.

In 1952, President Eisenhower was invited to speak at this breakfast, and this birthed what’s now the National Prayer Breakfast, celebrated by all branches of government.

The Ellsworth community will celebrate this event with a National Prayer Luncheon Feb. 23 at 11:30 a.m. at Dakota’s Club.

Our honored guest speaker will be Chaplain (Col.) David Cyr, Air Combat Command Chaplain. The title of his speech is “They Would Not Compromise.”

The Chapel Community is subsidizing the cost for the base, and your cost is only $1. We have limited seating available at this price, so see your squadron representative or call the chapel at 385-1598 as soon as possible to purchase your ticket. The final deadline, if tickets are still available, is Feb. 15.

It would be a blessing to have you celebrate with us as we pause to reaffirm the moral and religious values upon which our nation is founded.