National Day of Prayer - a note Dan sent to his students

         You may or may not have been aware of this, but today is the national day of prayer, and if ever there was a year for us as a school to pray, this is that year. But I would like to encourage you to let today not be a single day of prayer for our country (and world) but rather let it be a mark of intensification of prayer. The need is great. Colossians 4:2 instructs us to "be diligent in prayer". The word for diligent suggests a militant commitment, like that of an active duty soldier to their task. In the Roman world, the soldier's duty was so significant that if they failed, or were negligent, it could result in a death penalty. This drove them by fear. We are not driven by fear, but by perfect love. Nevertheless, our commitment to prayer should be the same. Prayer as in warfare. It is perhaps not an exaggeration to say that our lives (and others) depend upon this. Also remember that in Ephesians 6:10-18, prayer is the final component of the armor of God as it is described. We are to put on the full armor (for spiritual warfare) "with all prayer and supplication..."

So how to pray?
         First, pray that God's name would be treated as holy by the world around. "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name."
         Second, pray for God's kingdom to come. I do have a little caution of awareness regarding this. Praying for His kingdom to come also means that we're asking for judgment on the world. I cannot help but ask for God to be merciful (Habakkuk 3:2), as I know that our world is due judgment for our rebellion against God.
         Third, pray for His will to be done. Sometimes we think that this could never include terrible or grievous things, but that is not necessarily the case. What is true is that He always works it for the good of those who love Him. So trust His will when you don't understand it.
         Fourth, ask God to grant what we need for each day.
         Fifth, ask God to forgive us and our country for our sinful ways. Some specifics are the evil of power seeking, killing innocent unborn, vile and perverse entertainment, murder and violence, and the general rejection of God.
         Sixth, Yes, ask God to deliver us from all of the evil that we see and know will one day come.

To the Lord's prayer, I would add this.

Prayer specifically for our leaders, as much for those whom we dislike as for those whom we like.
Prayer for the church. We are much more weak than we seem to realize. Pray for strength to be faithful in the days ahead. Pray that we are witnesses to a lost and dying world.
Pray for our military. They need prayer, and all the more in difficult times of international tension.
Pray for voices in the entertainment and media worlds to arise who will bring godly messages to us. Pray for the people of our country to hear these messages and for many to respond in repentance.

        I would add to all of this, let's always remember to worship and praise Him as we pray.  He is worthy.  And remember that He reigns!  THAT is good news!

In Wrath Remember Mercy

This is Dan again.
         When does a nation deserve the wrath of God?  Certainly, the scriptures are clear that you can reach a point of corporate sin that tips the scales so that you nations sin is "complete" (Genesis 15:12 speaks of the Amorites in this way).  But what sins bring that judgement?  It would be wrong to presume to understand all of God's ways or to suggest that there is a formula for how God' handles every situation.  However, it is worth paying attention to what happened to Israel so as to learn lessons from that nation.

         When did Israel earn judgment for their sin?  When they turned justice into their own selfish gain, denying the poor and the weak of the justice they deserved.  When they took advantage of the helpless, when they looked to everyone and everything except God for help.  When the nation Judah (the southern part of Israel) had lived like this for a long time, Habakkuk the prophet cried out to God about the injustice that he saw and asked how long God would allow this to continue.  God promised to deal with Judah's sin and rebellion, but Habakkuk struggled with God's method.  In the end, Habakkuk accepted that God would judge the people, and do so as He saw fit, but Habakkuk needed to trust God regardless.  His final chapter opens with these words. "Lord, I've heard the report about You and I fear.  O Lord revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy."  It is those last four words that I have stood out to me.

         America is due judgment.  We kill the most helpless (yes, I speak of abortion) and justify it because of the life and rights of the mother (who may already be a victim of a kind, and now by killing her child we do double wrong to her).  Our political leaders turn justice upside down and slander and destroy innocent people.  We take from one group wrongly, simply to redistribute power.  We enjoy all the things we like, on the backs of slave labor in other parts of the world.  We live immorally and then become outraged at anyone who dares to disagree with our lifestyle and choices.  Yes, we are filling up the measure of our sin.  And so I find myself praying as Habakkuk did.  "LORD, I've heard the report about You and I fear. In wrath, remember mercy.  You are God.  We are sinful.  We need Your mercy.  We deserve Your wrath.  In wrath remember mercy.  You did for Israel then.  I pray that you will for us now as well.
         In my last post I spoke of the urgent need for an earnest commitment to prayer.  This time I add this to my prayers.  Lord, remember mercy.  We depend on your mercy.