It was a Day of Humbling Ourselves
I heard about Franklin Graham’s call for a prayer march in Washington D.C. on Saturday, September 26th. I also heard that Jonathan Cahn, a former Jewish rabbi and now, Messianic Jew, called for a day-of-prayer rally in Washington D.C. I knew I would dedicate my Saturday to joining others in prayer, so it was a bonus when my God-loving, prayer-encouraging friend called for prayer on the lawn of her home on the lake here.
About 75 people came together for this cool, beautiful day of sun-shining, birds chirping, flags waving, and time of reflection and prayers for our country. It was similar times as this in 1863 when 300,000 died and over a million injured in the bloody Civil War. Out of that tumultuous time, President Lincoln made a Thanksgiving Proclamation that set apart the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.” I pray that we also turn our hearts and our voices in repentance, praise, and thanksgiving to our sovereign God amidst the losses we have experienced during this global pandemic. In our gathering, we prayed prayers of repentance, forgiveness, for healing, for our national, state, local leaders and our teachers. Our morning was rounded out with belting out “God bless America” with a final prayer of us asking God to show us, individually, what we can do to help America find peace again.
It just so happened (actually, it just so was orchestrated by God), that this day, September 26th, on the Jewish calendar is a special Shabbat devoted to repentance. Shabbat literally means “return”. Repentance is sincere regret for past wrongs and a commitment to return to what is right and good.
Scriptures prove that God despises the works of the enemy and the darkness he perpetuates in our world. The more we lean toward the darkness, the further we get from God. Think about the compromises we have made. The Ten Commandments have been removed from public places. Prayers can no longer be prayed in school, sports, or school events. “Christmas” has become “holiday”. Right now – people can go to casinos, stores, malls, restaurants, and assemble in group meetings, but in many states — they cannot attend church. Over 60 million babies in America have been murdered for convenience sake. Sexual immorality is taught in schools. “Family” has been redefined. We have driven God out of our ways, our public squares, and out of our lives. But, there is still hope. It is up to God’s people – those of us who are willing to STOP and pray.
That is what yesterday was about and so it is today. No longer, should we simply hear the words in 2 Chronicles. It is time we act on them. King Solomon had successfully finished the temple and the Lord appeared to him. The Lord wanted him to know the key to avoiding the heavens being shut with no rain, or locusts being sent to devour the land or a plague being sent among His people was 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If MY people, who are called by MY name, will HUMBLE themselves and PRAY and SEEK my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will HEAL their land.” I sincerely believe we must open our eyes to the potential wrath of God on our lands as we continue to place Him outside our hearts, our homes, our schools, and our government.
It is time for us to fight the good fight of faith by praying, seeking God’s face, and getting our acts together when it comes to standing in the gap for our country. God will hear from heaven when we get serious and refuse to cower to this world that is intent on removing God from everything that this country was founded upon. It is the enemy’s goal to take God and us out. But we know the end of the Book – and he loses. Let us show up to unequivocally show whose side we are on. “As for me and MY house — we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24.15.