It is Time

If we are truly honest, we have to admit it.  It is time.  It is time to recognize the mess the world is in.  It is time to recognize the mess our country and our day-to-day lives are in. 

We wonder why.  But as Christians, we partly know why.  In our moments of weakness, we feel helpless.  And now it is time.  As Christians we know it is time to do something about it.   And so “The National Day for Prayer and Repentance” came to be.  It happened today and it moved me.  There had to have been some excitement and joy over this in heaven today. 

A piano playing softly in the background at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.  A coming together.  The Speaker of the House and two rows of Congressmen standing in the front as prayers of thanks and requests for strength for their service pour out.   Giving thanks for the overturning of Roe v Wade.  Prayers for protection for the babies in the womb.  Prayers for law enforcement.  Prayers for strength for people of faith who take a stand because they have biblical views.  A man wrapped in a Ukrainian flag praying in his native tongue, then again in English.  Praying hands touching the Ukrainians in attendance.  An Asian pastor wrapped in a prayer shawl, praying and crying and begging for forgiveness for Taiwan.   A retired congress woman reading from a well-worn Bible.  People from all walks of life. 

Recognition of accountability for our sins.  Confessions of our nation’s wrong-doings.  And there are many.  Thanks for our religious freedoms.  Thanks for the many blessings bestowed on us.  Praise and glory to our almighty God.  Prayers for our nation.  Asks for revival throughout our land.  Asks for strength and victory.  Honest confessions of how our country tossed God to the curb.  A powerful hymn:  How Great Thou Art.  A lump in the throat.  A round of applause.  Applause for our God.  Our mighty God.  Because we love Him.  Because we praise and worship Him. 

Repentance.  It is powerful.  It makes a difference.  God requires it of us.  We need it.  We tend to focus on our self-centered requests to God.  Often we forget the rest of it.  We forget that we are all sinful.  Being Christians does not make us exempt.  We try to live a good life and do as we should.  We tend to judge those who are evil and do bad things because we don’t do those things.  Let’s be honest.  We think we are better than them.  We think they need to repent, not us.  We forget that we, also, fall short.  Maybe we don’t even do any very bad things, but perhaps we omit doing some of the things that we should do.   

When is the last time you repented?   When is the last time our nation and the world repented?  Much as we try, we are imperfect beings.  We live in imperfect nations comprising an imperfect world. That’s why we need Jesus.  And that’s why it is time. 

It’s time to put down the remote, the cell phone, and the bag of chips.  It’s time to put down the video controller and page through the Bible.  It’s time to bend those creaky knees and clasp those arthritic hands.  It’s time to get right with God.  We need to do it for ourselves, for our nation, and for the world. 

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Luke 15:10 NIV 

It’s time to spread some joy in heaven before the angels.  If we all did so, imagine the excitement there would be.  Imagine the difference God would make in our messed-up world.       

If you would like to see what moved me today, you can watch it right here:  National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance