Psalm 88 Crying out for revival, restoration, and reformation in our nation

 Lord,

You are the God who saves us.  Hear our prayers day and night.  May your ear be turned to our cries, as we intercede for this nation and her troubles.  Sometimes it seems she is like one without strength, set apart with the dead, cut off and remembered not by her God.  Her sins are many and your wrath lies heavily on her.  Some of our closest allies view us as repulsive and our eyes are dim with grief at the strife and hatred within our nation. We cry out to you for help; do not reject us or hide your face from us, your people and your Church.  Show your wonders and your love to us.  When it seems your wrath has swept over us and your terrors have destroyed us, show us your mercy and hope.  When it seems this nation is surrounded like a flood by enemies within and without, show us your power and glory.  When it seems that our closest friends and neighbors have abandoned us, show us your presence.  Your Word tells us that you are close to the brokenhearted and you save those who are crushed in spirit.  Even when our individual circumstances or the chaos in our society feels overwhelmed with troubles, help us remember that our hope is in Jesus. Holy Spirit anointed Christ to bring Good News - release from sins, recovery of sight, freedom to oppressed, and favor of God on the people of God. Holy Spirit, pour out your presence as you did at Pentecost to bring this nation at this time your Good News.  Cause Revival and Reformation to move in your people, your Church, and this nation.  Bring her back to her first love, Christ Jesus; forgive her many sins; thwart the plans of the enemy to destroy her; and restore this nation to your favor and blessing.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen. 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 NIV)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah), because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].”  (Luke 14:18-19 AMP)

1 Lord, you are the God who saves me;

    day and night I cry out to you.

2 May my prayer come before you;

    turn your ear to my cry.

3 I am overwhelmed with troubles

    and my life draws near to death.

4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

    I am like one without strength.

5 I am set apart with the dead,

    like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom you remember no more,

    who are cut off from your care.

6 You have put me in the lowest pit,

    in the darkest depths.

7 Your wrath lies heavily on me;

    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

8 You have taken from me my closest friends

    and have made me repulsive to them.

I am confined and cannot escape;

9  my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, Lord, every day;

    I spread out my hands to you.

10 Do you show your wonders to the dead?

    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?

11 Is your love declared in the grave,

    your faithfulness in Destruction?

12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,

    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

13 But I cry to you for help, Lord;

    in the morning my prayer comes before you.

14 Why, Lord, do you reject me

    and hide your face from me?

15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;

    I have borne your terrors and am in despair.

16 Your wrath has swept over me;

    your terrors have destroyed me.

17 All day long they surround me like a flood;

    they have completely engulfed me.

18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor—

    darkness is my closest friend.

February 23, 2021 Prayer - God of Revival

God of Revival,

We've seen what you can do and your power, majesty and glory.  You can break prison walls, move mountains, raise and heal brokenness; all things are possible with you.  Today we pray for a great outpouring of your Spirit upon us and upon this nation.  Holy Spirit, revive, renew, restore, and reform your People and your Church so we can be Light and Salt for a world that desperately needs You.  Come, awaken your churches, your cities, your counties, your states, and this nation to the Goodness of who you are and to your Righteousness and Love.  We pray in Jesus's name, Amen. 

"Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." (1 Chronicles 29: 11 NIV)

“The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.” (Ezekiel 38:20 NIV)

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." (Matthew 5:13 NIV)

"God of Revival"

by Brian Johnson & Phil Wickham

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdvmbtPGcY

Verse 1
We’ve seen what You can do, oh God of wonders
Your power has no end
The things You’ve done before in greater measure
You will do again
 
Pre-Chorus
There’s no prison wall You can’t break through
No mountain You can’t move
All things are possible
There’s no broken body You can’t raise
No soul that You can’t save
All things are possible
 
Chorus
The darkest night
You can light it up
You can light it up
Oh God of revival
Let hope arise
Death is overcome
You’ve already won
Oh God of revival
 
Verse 2
You rose in victory and now You’re seated
Forever on the throne
So why should my heart fear what You defeated
I will trust in You alone
 
Bridge
Come awaken Your people, come awaken this city
Oh God of revival pour it out, pour it out
Every stronghold will crumble, I hear the chains hit the ground
Oh God of revival pour it out, pour it out

• © 2019 Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
• Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
• Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
• Bethel Music Publishing

February 1, 2021 Prayer - Clouds of Glory and Darkness - Choosing Revival

God of Glory,

Thank you for your power and glory that you have exhibited on this earth, especially in the life of Jesus Christ and in the ongoing work of Holy Spirit.  Thank you that your Glory is upon your children and that you hear our prayers.  God, we see that there are two "clouds" over us right now - a cloud of your Glory, Light, and Life, and a cloud of deep, think, darkness.  For every one of us - as individuals, communities, local churches, families, etc. - help us to choose carefully which cloud we want to be under. Help us to respond to the call of the prophet Elijah and reject the following of idols of this world, but to follow the Lord our God. Help us to humble ourselves, pray, seek your face, and turn from our sin and wickedness so you will hear us, forgive us, and heal us. We are at a crossroads; help us to look, ask for the ancient pathways - the good way - and then to walk it in peace.  Fill us with a hunger for your righteousness. Turn us from wickedness and evil desires and help us to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.  Give us an insatiable drive to be in your presence in prayer and your Word, in worship and in service.  Purify us from nonchalant and mediocre Christianity and spiritual double agency.  Holy Spirit, empower us to chase after the ways of the Lord with full fervency. Thank you that you know those who are Yours and we want to be completely and fully Yours. Pour out your Spirit on all people so that we see reformation in your Church, revival in your People, and a Third Great Awakening in this land. Pour out your Glory we pray, in the powerful name of Jesus.  Amen. 

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,

    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV)

"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”  (Jeremiah 6:16 ESV)

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6 NIV)

"God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”...  Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Tim. 2:19, 22 NIV)

"And Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.' And the people did not answer him a word." (1 Kings 18:21ESV)