I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise.
Habakkuk 3:2-3 NLT
“A revival may be expected when Christians have a spirit of prayer for a revival. That is, when they pray as if their hearts were set upon it. When Christians have the spirit of prayer for a revival. When they go about groaning out their hearts desire. When they have real travail of soul.”
Charles G. Finney
This is the beginning of a song sung by Habakkuk over the nation of Judah before the Babylonians took them in to captivity. It seems so relevant to us today. As we gather to worship, let’s consider where we are going as a people:
- God has done so many great things for us. We have lived in the most peaceful and prosperous time in the history of humankind. Some of us have seen revival and miracles galore. Most of us are unreasonably and undeservedly blessed.
- We are living in a day of deep need for so many. Do we need a recounting of the state of our world or how rapidly the circumstances have changed for the worse? I think not. We have all prayed and proclaimed and begged for the virus to go and the world to resume, but the mess continues. What is going on? How then should we pray? What should be the focus of our attention as servants of God.
- My prayer is that God will move powerfully again, both in our land and around the world. Recounting the wonders of former days serves to make me hungry for more. He can and will do it again. Revive your work, oh God!
- It’s time for God to move, not because we have pleased Him, or because we have learned to pray so perfectly, or because we think our nation to be so special. Our claim to His glory is in His mercy alone. It’s not time to berate the church, or argue theology. It’s time to cry out for mercy!
- What is it we want? We want God to move. He can do it any way He sees fit. He doesn’t have to fit in my box from times past or church growth seminars for days future. I’m not praying for my church to grow, our budget to expand, or even our country to be blessed. I want God’s glory to be seen abroad and the earth to ring with His praises. I want to be part of the moving of God. How about you?
Let’s do this! Lord, in your anger, remember your mercy.
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