James 5:17-18 ‘Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
Lord, I know prayer is powerful. I have prayed at times that it would not rain on graduations or family picnics. I have prayed that it would stop raining in areas of flooding, but I have never prayed that you would withhold rain to turn the hearts of Your children back to you. I have prayed for revival in Your church, but now I see that I have prayed with selfish motives. I wanted You to move, but without personal discomfort. Elijah had to suffer right along with everyone else when You withheld the rain. Have I really been willing to “suffer” to bring about revival? I think not. O Lord, please forgive me!
Lord, is revival in the church what You are trying to accomplish in this nation with all of the massive storms? We have in the past few years had mass flooding in the West and now in the South with the great Mississippi overflowing its banks to record heights all along its route to the Gulf. We have had devastating hurricanes and tornados from which we are still trying to recover. There have been record snowfalls in the North and West, and record cold temperatures in the South. Are You using the poor economic climate to bring Your children back?
All through our human history when You have blessed and there is peace, we become comfortable and arrogant and turn away from You. Then You bring disaster to turn our hearts back. We finally cry out to You and repent and You restore. Lord, may I never cease to stay close, obedient, and thankful, and may Your church be revived whatever it takes!
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