With the British Chambers of Commerce reporting that the United Kingdom has already entered a recession and may face a prolonged downturn, many people are looking for divine intervention as they turn to prayers.
The Church of England has seen higher traffic on its website in recent weeks, particularly on its "prayers for today" and debt advice sections.
"Prayer for the Current Financial Situation," which asks God to "be a tower of strength" and to help people receive His "gift of peace," has received some 8,000 hits and has raised traffic to the church's site by 28 percent. And with more people turning to God for help rather than consulting debt advisers, the church's debt advice web page has seen a 71 percent increase in visitors.
The website offers guides, "common sense advice" and "helpful Bible quotations" to help people assess their personal financial situation and address their money problems along with stress. It also offers advice to churches that want to develop debt ministry and articles on how the Church of England has been speaking to the issues surrounding the credit crunch and household debt.
"Lord God, your will is to bring hope and a future to all your people. Trusting in your steadfast love, we ask your guidance as we work out a household budget. Help us to learn to let no debt remain outstanding, except the debt to love one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen," states one of several prayers on the website.
John Preston, the Church of England's national steward, who wrote the debt advice, said he was "delighted" the content was resonating with people, according to Agence France-Presse.
"I think that people aren't necessarily going online to seek religion, but as they are browsing, their thoughts turn to it," he noted. "We know that many people do pray, but things are made so accessible by having it online. Instead of having to go somewhere, and find something, we just provide some words that people can go through wherever they are."
This week, the International Monetary Fund issued a warning that the unemployment rate in Britain will rise from 5.4 percent to 6.0 percent and that the world economy "is entering a major downturn in the face of the most dangerous financial shock in mature financial markets since the 1930s," according to its latest World Economic Outlook.
However, the IMF expects Britain to bounce back strongly in 2010.
Meanwhile, in the United States, stocks continue to tumble as the country is likely sliding into recession.
President Bush is scheduled to make a statement on the economy on Friday to calm the crisis.
"He will assure the American people that they should be confident that economic officials are aggressively taking every action to stabilize our financial system," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. "The Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC all have the necessary tools to address the problems we are facing."
RSS
believer,
Very true. Time is short. He is going to do what He can to get our attention before it's too late.
prophet, great post but unfortunately rather than a few years it was more like a few months and in some places nothing changed in the first place, but I do hope that considering all the other wake-up calls God has sent our way here in America that maybe this one will really wake up His Church in America and we will repent and turn back to Him and we'll experience a National Revival and then a Great Spiritual Awakening in our nation.
It kind of reminds me of Israel's history in the Old Testament. They would be faithful to God, everything would be going their way, then they become complacent and begin falling away, taking God for granted, even worshipping idols. Then something bad would happen, and they'd go scampering back to God, destroying their idols, promising to follow God, and so God would deliver them. And they would be fine for a while, then they'd start worshipping idols again and such. Then something would happen...again...and they'd go scampering back to God.....again....
After 9/11 everyone was so "God bless America" and people were flocking to churches, and everyone was talking about being unified in our cause. And just a few short years later we're right where we were a year before 9/11. And now we're going through this crisis, and once again, everyone is scurrying to God asking for His blessings...
Prayer. Something they should have been doing already. It's sad that the only time people turn to God is when things are going bad, but when things are going great He's the last thing on their mind. They don't even give thanks to God when He blesses them.
And I wonder what they're praying for? For God to give them lots of money? Or for God to give them the strength to endure. Because it's only going to get worse. God warned us that we would endure hardships. He never said that Christianity was a vacation with someone at your beck and call, waiting on your every want.
The true test of a Christian is this....if you lose everything (money, house, car, family, etc, etc) will that affect your relationship with God? If it does, then you still need to grow. I'm not saying that in a mean way. We're all in different stages in our Christian walk. I am encouraging those who are younger Christians to seek to grow more mature. So that, no matter what the circumstance, to know that God is still God.
" 11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:11-13
The good part of a financial crisis...it crystallizes
our spiritual priorities into alignment with God's
priorities--individually, & hopefully as a nation.
Let all the preachers of America, whether they ride a
car or jet plane, let them all read the book of James
chapter 1 and do accordingly. We are faced with a
financial crisis, and God will not honor the prayers without putting compassion into action. Only God knows,
how many preachers have lost millions in stocks. This
is a testing time of our practical faith. God will answer our prayers, when we meet the condition that He
has placed in front of us, according to the word of God.
mike, plus I know of no Pastor who is saying all we need to do is tithe and God will do the rest, what most Pastors I know are saying is we need to pray that God would forgive us for our selfishness and self-centered thinking and behavior that has contributed to this financial dilemma we're in.
mike, if I send you my address will you send me that money I'm supposed to get to buy my multi-million dollar homes and luxury cars, because apparently you know something I don't about my pay as a Pastor?
so what is the answer? give your 10% & your financial crisis will disappear? pastors do not have any financial experience. their solution is the malachi verse. give your 10% & the doors of heaven will open? but the only people who do not worry are the pastors themselves - they do not work yet they have multi million $$$ homes & luxury cars.