We are calling our brothers and sisters to a penitential period of prayer this fall — and we are starting an intentional effort this Thursday in Niles. Our state and nation need Christians to intercede in prayer, asking Almighty God for His mercy and healing.
Please consider joining a corporate prayer event near you on Thursday:
At 6:30 PM
Christ the King Reformed Baptist Church
7339 Waukegan Road
Niles, Illinois 60714
In Mark 9:14-29, Jesus healed a boy from an unclean spirit and raised him from spiritual death to life. The disciples had tried unsuccessfully to purge the demon tormenting the young man. And when his father asked Jesus to heal his son, Jesus responded, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately, the father cried, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Just as this young man was possessed by a harmful, unclean spirit, our culture is being harmed by the spirit of this age. The consequences for our friends, neighbors, family members, and communities are devastating.
What is the lesson we can learn from this passage, and how can it be applied to our land today? We must believe God for who He proclaims to be in His Word, and through faith, trust that He is faithful and just to forgive our sins if we confess them. (See 1 John 1:9)
Just like the father in this story, we must cry out, “Lord, I believe you can heal, restore, and transform our nation; help my unbelief!” We should humbly seek God in prayer, repent from our corporate and individual sins, and cry out for His healing hand.
After these prayer gatherings this week, we should continue to pray intentionally and fervently, in private and with our family members.
Pray for gospel transformation in individuals, churches, communities, our state, and the nation. (See HERE for other suggested prayer bullets.)
We may not feel like we can effect change, but James 5:16 teaches us:
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
God’s Word tells us that fervent prayer avails much! Add to that John 5:14, which reminds us:
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Pray for a move of God in our land over the next 40 days.
