Campus pastor gives convocation message on prayer

Dwayne Carson, a campus pastor and the director of the Office of Student Leadership at Liberty University, spoke in Monday’s convocation on the need for prayer. “I believe in the power of prayer because I believe in a living God who says casts your burdens on me,” he said.

Carson used Colossians 1:9 to demonstrate five major focuses of prayer. First he encouraged students to ask the Lord to direct them and help them find a purpose for their lives. “Total dependence on God brings trustworthy direction from God,” he said.

Next he cited Psalm 119:33, which says “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.” He said asking the Lord to teach them His principles is a way to form core values and learn how to live.

During prayer, he said, students should also ask the Lord to use them so that they may be productive. “None of us are saved by works but we have been saved to work,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to ask God to use you.”

Carson said students should ask God to show himself to them. Using Psalm 9:10, which says “those who know your name will trust in you, for you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you,” he explained how the more a person knows who God is, the more they can have the strength to rely on Him.

Carson then made his final point: to pray for the Lord’s help, saying this will allow students to grow in patience and longsuffering. He closed by encouraging students to not only pray through these areas for themselves, but also for friends and family.