The Sinner's Prayer

In my previous post "Pray for the Laurie Family", did you notice Pastor Greg Laurie asked those who were ready to pray the sinner's prayer to say the words out loud? In all the times I've seen an altar call or heard a pastor offer this prayer, I have never heard those who responded make their commitment verbally. During the prayer here, I wondered if any of those standing were new to the service and were caught by surprise since all other experiences I've had with offering this prayer the individual was asked to "pray these words in your heart".

If Christians are trying to follow a Biblical example of how to attain eternal life, we should look for examples in the Bible. In Romans, Paul writes a letter to the Christians in Rome about his concern for his fellow Jews who have not accepted Jesus as Lord.

Romans 10:1-10

1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.

6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down),

7 or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."

8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Is offering the sinner's prayer a good example of following a Biblical guide to attain eternal life?

Pray for the Laurie Family

Please pray for the family of Pastor Greg Laurie as they face the death of their son, Christopher Laurie. Chris died on July 24 in a car accident in Southern California.

Greg Laurie is the pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA and the leader of the Harvest Crusade which introduces thousands of people to Christ every year.

Chris leaves behind his daughter Stella and his wife Britanny, who is expecting another daughter in the fall.

Unbroken

Jeremiah 18:1-6

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,

2 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you."

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.

4 But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,

6 "Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel."

The LORD God is my potter. If I remain soft and pliable to His ways, He is able to do good things through me. However if I become hard to Him, He can break me to accomplish His will.

It's easy listening to Satan tell me God made me a smart and strong woman and I can make my own decision without asking permission from anyone. If I continue down the path of selfishness, I can always count on paying the price later.

I have been broken before, and I pray for my will to be broken every day.

Unbroken

Fallen to pieces
(I am undone)
The things you said
(Manipulation)
I trusted you like a fool
While you made all the rules
So you searched me out
And you took me down

To be unbroken, what would that be?
If words that were spoken, had not shattered me
If I was unbroken, I’d never know
The beauty of hope, and how far grace will go
To be unbroken
To be unbroken

The things you found
(To use against me)
Have lost their sound
(When mercy ensoothed me)
I fell to the Father’s feet
His words washed all over me
And all the scars you made
Watch them fade away

To be unbroken, what would that be?
If words that were spoken, had not shattered me
If I was unbroken, I’d never know
The beauty of hope, and how far grace will go
To be unbroken
To be unbroken

I’ve tasted bitter, tasted sweet
Embraced the victory, and some defeat
I’ve tasted bitter, tasted sweet
I found the beauty in the place they meet

To be unbroken, what would that be?
If words that were spoken, had not shattered me
If I was unbroken, I’d never know
The beauty of hope, and how far grace will go
To be unbroken
To be unbroken

Unbroken by Zoe Girl