Turn on the news, listen to the radio, read the paper, scroll through news feed and what do we find?  Shootings, drugs, transgender laws, wars, robberies, lawlessness, murder, riots and so on and so forth.  Wickedness in our world is on a rampage.  We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s just the end times, and God said it would be this way.”  You’ve probably even said it yourself.  But I’m afraid some Christians hide behind that well -meaning phrase.  God did say it and it is true, but that doesn’t mean we are to be okay with it.  Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.  Some Christians think they’re not going to change anything because that’s the way it’s supposed to happen.  This is where the desensitization begins.

     According to tradition, when an Eskimo hunts a wolf, the first thing he does is coat his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze.  Then he adds layer after layer of blood.  He then puts his knife in the ground with the blade up.  The wolf follows his nose to the source of the scent and begins licking it, tasting the fresh frozen blood.  He begins to lick faster, more vigorously until the edge is bare.  Harder and harder the wolf licks the blade.  His craving for blood becomes so great that he doesn’t notice the razor sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue.  Nor does he recognize when his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his own warm blood.  His tongue has become desensitized.  His appetite continues to crave more until in the morning light the wolf is found dead in the snow.

     When we dismiss sin casually or lack the passion we need in our prayer lives, we become numb.  At a time when we need to pray more, pray harder, pray longer, and pray more fervently, too many Christians have become like the wolf, they begin “licking” the busyness of their lives, the pleasures that God has given us, even the ministries He’s called us to, and while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying our lives, we need to be careful not to become desensitized and sacrifice our prayer lives.

     We need more Daniels.  Daniel 6:10b…he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime. Daniel was past 80 years of age at this time yet he still was on his knees thanking God and seeking His help!  We need more Davids.  Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.  We need more Ephaphrases.  Col. 4:12  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

     How deliberate is your prayer life?  Have you become numb and desensitized?  Has your prayer life become dead and powerless?  I want to challenge us to pray harder, Psalm 62:8, Pray longer, Luke 6:12, pray more often, Eph. 6:18, and pray more fervently, Col. 4:12

     If we would pray like we’re supposed to and quit licking the busyness of our lives, we would be able to see the power of God and experience the excitement for the things of God not only in our lives but around the world!

Source of Eskimo Tradition: www.dailywisdom.gospelnet.com