Raise Your Arms and Move the World

Today’s message was written by the Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkle, founder of Dial Hope.

One day a man noticed two boys with their faces pressed against a store window, their arms raised above their heads. Curious, he joined them. In the shop window there was an electronic display depicting the earth and its relation to the other planets. A sign read: Raise your arms and move the world.

The man raised his arms and sure enough… the world moved! When he dropped his arms to his side, the movement slowed down. When he walked away the thought struck him, when God’s people lift their arms in prayer, they will change the world!

With strife and hatred rampant in the world, it is all too easy to shrug off our responsibility to do something about it. “It all seems so hopeless,” we say. “What can one person do about it anyway?” But why would Jesus teach us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth,” if it were impossible? The fact is, God has promised to heal the world if God’s people humble themselves, and pray (2 Chronicles 7:14).

During this holiday season, pray the 23rd Psalm, pray the Lord’s prayer, pray 1 Corinthians 13. Pray in silence and listen to God speaking to you.

Let us pray: Lord, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Through the amazing grace of Jesus. Amen.