The Response – Answering the Call to Prayer for the Nation
I’m taking a break from the regular blog series to talk about something that’s of great importance to me.
I have long believed the ills of this nation are linked directly to our turning from God. The more He has been pushed from public life and public discourse, the more severe our ills have become, both in number and in degree.
This year alone, the nation has been gripped by unusual weather conditions ranging from drought to flood; record breaking cold waves and record breaking heat; failing crops, high energy costs, and unemployment. Anyone reading the Old Testament honestly cannot read prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and others and not see similarities between the Israelites who were on the brink of exile and our current society.
In that age, politics were not the solution to the problem.
Nor are politics the solution today. Washington is not our source of salvation or even long-term help. Only God is.
Throughout those prophecies, God extended to those people a way out. An avenue of escape. All they had to do was turn to Him in humility, repentance, and confession and they would receive His great and liberating mercy.
The same mercy is available to us today.
But we must turn from our sins as individuals and as a nation and we must turn back to God.
It is toward that end that The Response: a call to prayer for a nation in crisis was organized.
The event is inspired by Chapter 2 of the Book of Joel and scheduled for August 6 in Houston’s Reliant Stadium.
“With millions of Americans losing their jobs, their homes and hope, we believe as a nation we must fall to our knees and seek God’s forgiveness, blessing and provision,” said event spokesman Eric Bearse. “Since the founding of our Republic, our nation’s leaders have turned to prayer to help guide the nation. Such a time as this requires a spirit of humility, and a willingness to seek Godly solutions to the many challenges that confront us.”
Christian leaders from across the country have organized a Christian--themed prayer service that will last from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Houston.
“Our event is open to every American, and we will pray for every American,” said Bearse. “We will go to Houston in a spirit of unity, and humble ourselves before the One who paid the price for our sins, Jesus Christ. Anyone is welcome to be a part of this spiritual experience, and all who attend are sure to feel the presence of God in a powerful way.”
The online event is free of charge.
It’s too late to get to Houston unless you’re already there. But you can participate in the event live from the web site at www.theresponseusa by clicking here. The web streaming event begins at 9 a.m.
I hope you’ll join me.
