Without question, for the Sons of Confederate Veterans to be successful in it’s mission, our greatest need is God’s blessing. And, I believe God stands ready, able, and very willing to bless our most worthy Cause. However, for God to bless our work, the Sons of Confederate Veterans must be on “Blessing Ground.”
In 1971, I entered William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as a Bible studies major, to begin preparing for the ministry. I had only been a Christian for a short time and felt that God had called me to preach. There were a number of other “preacher students” attending for the same reason, and almost every week one of them would get the opportunity to preach in one of the smaller churches in the area. Then he would ask us to pray for God’s blessings on the services. Of course, I would promise to pray for the Lord’s richest blessings on him and the church that Sunday. Yeah, right! In my heart I hoped he would fall flat on his face. I was jealous, I was envious! He was going to preach and I wasn’t. I wanted to preach. I wanted the Lord to bless me. But, I wasn’t on “Blessing Ground.”
The worst part was on Monday when he would give us a glowing report on how great the services were. I would say the right things, but inside I was angry. This went on for some time, until the Lord decided He had enough, and jumped all over me. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I was miserable. When the Lord starts whipping you, you know you’re being whipped. I finally realized how wrong I was, repented, and really started praying for anyone who had the opportunity to preach. I prayed hard and long for the Lord’s blessing on the message and the church services. Then on Monday, when they told us of the great services they had, I felt happy for them. In fact, I even felt that my prayers may have had something to do with God’s blessing. Now, I was on “Blessing Ground.”
Then, the Lord gave me the opportunity to preach and conduct services in a small church near the campus. The church not only asked me to come back the following Sunday, but in a few weeks called me as their pastor, and requested my ordination. Almost forty years ago the Lord taught me a lesson, and He taught it so well I’ve never forgotten. If we want God to bless us, we must be on “Blessing Ground.”
This truth applies not only to each of us as individuals, but to our Confederation and the Country. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God tells us, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” This verse, often called “God’s recipe for revival,” also tells us how to be on “Blessing Ground.”
My prayer today is that every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans would support, encourage, and pray for every other member, especially for those in positions of leadership, and for those members with whom we disagree, feel anger, or have hard feelings. I believe the Lord our God wants to bless the Sons of Confederate Veterans, individually and collectively, but the Sons of Confederate Veterans must be on “Blessing Ground.”
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans
The CSA Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Collection is here! Now is the opportunity to honor the contribution of each state in the Confederacy, as well as acquire a valuable keepsake from this significant and profound period of historical observance.