December 02, 2019
What do you do when you are in crisis? When the people around you are suffering? Or rebelling? When the nation you live in is spiraling downward spiritually and under the righteous judgment of God?
If you scan the Bible, you will discover that the men God used had an immediate and singular response.
They prayed.
DANIEL’S PRAYER
Daniel is a perfect example. When his nation was in bondage and great turmoil, his response was untypical of most but amazingly effective.
So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)
Like Nehemiah and Moses and the men and women most greatly used by God, he cried out to the only One who could help. If you study their prayers, you will find they all contain similar components.
O LORD, the great and awesome God (vs. 4)
O LORD, the great and awesome God who keeps HIs covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments (vs. 4)
I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed … we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets ... (vs. 5-6a)
Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame … You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. (vs. 7-8)
O, Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain (vs. 16)
For Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name … For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name. (vs. 17-19)
We are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. (vs. 18)
OUR PRAYERS
We cannot improve on this Biblical pattern. We should take this same approach with our great God as we cry out to Him for our lives, our families, our nation. We should do it fervently. We should do it by ourselves and with others. We should do it unceasingly.
And we should do it now.
January 23, 2025
We are sheep, pure and simple. We are wayward and foolish at every turn. But as we humbly come to the end of ourselves and gladly surrender to the Shepherd’s care, we begin to know the level of care and leadership we were designed to enjoy.
January 22, 2025
When you enter freely into the throne room because Christ has “given us an introduction by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:2) … never forget the price paid for your freedom and salvation.
Stand in awe of Him … and stand humbly.
January 21, 2025
We must cooperate with God in ways that make it so. We should be careful that it is nothing less … that we are creating an environment where people are encountering God and communing with Him. A place alive with His presence.
