EXALT THE LORD, WHO HAS ESTABLISHED US

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB)

“Do it again, Lord! Lord, would you do it again?! And would you do it again with me?!”

Such was the prayer of a young student during a 1940s field trip in England. Visiting the home of John Wesley, a group of theology students touring various places of leading historical church figures had stopped at his home. The students were shown Wesley’s bedroom and on the floor were two knee imprints where Wesley had prayed for hours on end for God to send a revival to England and the United States.

As the students boarded the bus, Dr. Orr realized one of the students was missing and went back to look for him. Going into the bedroom, he found the young man kneeling in the same place praying fervently, “Do it again, Lord!”. The professor touched the young man’s shoulder and said it was time to go. Billy Graham stood to rejoin the students on the bus. I believe even then Dr. Graham understood fully what Oswald Chambers had written years before. “Prayer does not equip us for greater works—Prayer is the greater work.”

It was with that same passion and determination that Dr. Graham stood on the Capitol steps on Feb 3, 1952, challenging the political leaders to pray for spiritual revival in the United States. On April 17, 1952, Congress passed a bill designating a National Day of Prayer which President Harry Truman signed into law.

Thursday, May 5 will mark the 71st anniversary of the “National Day of Prayer.” The day was designated by an act of Congress and has been routinely acknowledged by the sitting President through a proclamation. The theme this year is “EXALT THE LORD, WHO HAS ESTABLISHED US,” based on Colossians 2:6-7.

Throughout the nation, various events will commemorate the proclamation through times of public prayer gatherings and private times of intercession. However, A.W. Tozer asked a powerful question years ago that is still relevant and worthy of pondering deeply on May 5.  “Do we really want God to intervene in our nation? Are we really ready to pay the price of fervently praying for God to intervene in our nation? To desire revival . . . and at the same time to neglect prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another.”

To answer yes to this question will require a deep transformation in our prayer lives. What would we have to give up to see God intervene in our nation? Can you imagine the difference in our nation, our churches, our families and our personal lives if we genuinely sought God’s intervention? Kanita Benson-Rutley with the National Day of Prayer Taskforce wrote, “Love looks like Jesus. While the natural response to the issues we encounter everyday would be to escape, God is calling His church to engage.”

We are facing unprecedented times of spiritual darkness, both in our nation and globally. Now is not the time to “neglect prayer and devotion” but to pay the price that John Wesley and others have done throughout history. We are reminded by Paul, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Billy Graham will always be known for his great crusades and his passionate invitations to come forward to accept Jesus Christ.  Equally important however was his call on the steps of our nation that cold, February day challenging our nation’s leaders to pray. It is a challenge desperately needed in this season of our nation.

“Friends, we are continuing to experience the Holy Spirit’s conviction for the need of prayer, repentance, and revival. As I’ve shared in the past, before every major outpouring and awakening of God, prayer has preceded and paved the path for revival – and God is using the National Day of Prayer Task Force to mobilize prayer and multiply collaboration; growing even stronger in the days of isolation during the pandemic.” Kathy Branzell, President, National Day of Prayer Task Force

Let’s pray this Thursday for revival to sweep the United States. For those of you who live in another country use this day to pray for spiritual awakening in your country. Then on Friday morning, we start all over again praying for spiritual awakening. Together, let’s pray as Billy Graham did decades ago, “Do it again, Lord! Lord, would you do it again?! And would you do it again with me?!” 

Spirit of the Living God,

Fall fresh on me

Spirit of the living God,

Fall fresh on me.

Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.

Spirit of the living God,

Fall fresh on me. –chorus by Daniel Iverson

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NASB)

God is great,