Unleash The Power

Dr. Carson was guest speaker for the 45th Annual National Prayer Breakfast. Among the overflow crowd of 4,000 elected officials and guests from 170 countries, including President and Mrs. Clinton, were Mr. and Mrs. Gore, who took the opportunity to thank Dr. Carson for helping save their son's life.

Achieving such acclaim hasn't been easy for Dr. Carson. Growing up without a father in inner-city Detroit, the doctor told a hushed audience Thursday how he once tore open the forehead of a fellow classmate while clutching a metal lock in his fist; how he tried to stab a youngster in the abdomen with a knife; and how he went after his own mother wielding a hammer.

When he was young his temper was out of control. Dr. Carson finally reached the end of his rope and after one outburst he ran into the bathroom of his house where he said, "I got on my knees and prayed."

Ben Carson learned as a young boy that he was totally and completely dependent upon Almighty God. He knew that he couldn't even control his temper without God's help much less achieve any of his dreams.

As Ben Carson concluded his speech to the audience at the prayer breakfast he credited his incredible turnaround so many years ago to his mother and God, whom he called his heavenly and earthly Father.

The God who has been at work in Ben Carson's life also wants to work in your life and mine if we will but let Him. We need to realize that we are dependent upon Almighty God and confess that to Him continuously.

Thirdly, we need to pray seeking understanding. As we walk with God we need for Him to give us understanding or we will become disillusioned and end up walking away or spending all of our time frustrated. God has said,

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. {7} Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. {8} "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. {9} "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:6-9 NIV)

There is a marked difference between my thoughts and God's thoughts. A situation can take place in my life and I can give you my opinion in a heartbeat. I am learning that my opinions and judgments are oftentimes wrong. What I need is understanding, and understanding concerning life begins and ends at the throne of God.

It doesn't matter the situation, if we do not have God's understanding then our walk with Him can be devastated by our erroneous conclusions. Mrs. Hanover can testify to what I am saying.

Mrs. Hanover had been praying for her husband to come to know Christ for years when he was suddenly killed in an automobile accident. She became so angry with God for not answering her prayers that she stopped serving him for more than five years. Her conclusion was wrong, God had answered her prayers, but she didn't know it.