I thought I was shock-proof but yesterday proved me wrong. I watched a newscast last night showing a Planned Parenthood executive eating lunch and talking about selling organs and body parts from aborted babies as though she was discussing the price of tomatoes on the open market. I almost gagged. Then, as it settled, I wept. My husband moaned. I looked at him, “What have we come to?” If you wish, read here.
This morning I went on my favorite free photo website and searched “praying people” for an image to use. I found Muslim’s praying, Buddhist’s praying, Hindu’s praying – I didn’t find one photo of a group of American-looking people in corporate prayer. THAT disturbed me. Then I searched “rock concert” and found this:
(So, let’s just pretend this is an image of corporate worship & prayer! Note: I added the scripture! 2 Chronicles 7.14)
I realize there are plenty of bandwagons one can climb on – but, today I’m going to climb on the head wagon and hold steady the reins. This wagon is called S-I-N. Contrary to what a lot of people believe, there really is a right and wrong. A black and white. A good and evil. And, by George, we as Bible-believers better buckle our straps and prepare to confess what we believe.
In the Old Testament there are many examples of corporate confession:
Numbers 12.11 Aaron said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed…”
1 Samuel 12.19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”
Ezra 9.6 And Ezra prayed “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to You, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens… (Please click on the link to read the entire prayer.)
Nehemiah 1.5-11 I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against You. We have acted very wickedly toward You. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws You gave Your servant Moses… (Please click on the link to read the entire prayer.)
Daniel 9.4-19 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong… (Please click on the link to read the entire prayer.)
In every instance of corporate prayer, God listened. God heard. God responded. Yes, I know and realize these are OLD testament prayers but how much more TODAY will God hear His people pray? He calls us a royal PRIESThood – chosen, holy, and, special. He hears us when we cry out to Him.
People, we are desperate for God’s grace and mercy in this world today – will we join together and fall on our knees and offer prayers of…
corporate confession.
xo
Linking up with:
- Three Word Wednesday
- Coffee for your Heart
- Women with Intention Wednesday
- Purposeful Faith
- Tell His Story
- Holly Barrett’s Testimony Tuesday
- Faith Barista
Your post has caused me to say, amen, amen, amen. You have captured my hearts cry to return to the root of all the evil going on in the world and expose it. If we call it sin then we can fight it by sharing the gospel because the gospel will change a dark wicked heart into a pure heart. Great post.
Thank you, Betty. One never knows when Holy Spirit whispers words how they will be received!
Old Testament or no, it’s all inspired and YES, we need to participate in prayer round the world! So sad, what we are becoming. Thanks for inspiring me to become more a part of this today.
(P.S. next time, I can send you a pic of worship – I just got back from watching my daughter minister vocally in a large church camp. Plenty of worship and prayer going on there – you would be encouraged!!)
Thank you Gigi!!! I’d love to see the pic.
As I was reading what you wrote today tears began to well up in my eyes. Most definitely Holy Spirit. My husband loves repeating this story. Some years ago in Charlotte there was a bad drought. Someone, not sure who, I’m thinking it was some of the city officials suggested the city have a gathering at Memorial Stadium downtown. They would have a time of prayer for rain. The date was set and that evening it began to rain. All this was on the news. People are so quick to forget what God can do and don’t believe what 2 Chronicles 7:14 says.
Carol, as long as there is breath, there is HOPE.
Romans 1:28-29
And, I will add verses 29-32. God have mercy.
I love the 2 Chronicles verse you chose for your picture, Susan; one of my favorites. I think many of us (myself especially!) forget just how powerful prayer is. This is a good reminder for me not to diminish the importance of prayer as not a privilege but also a responsibility. Thank you! #womenwithintention
Wendy, it is a RESPONSIBILITY, thank you for reading.
Hi, susan – next to you twice today! meant to be. your words are hard and your words are true and I’ve been feeling the same way. as Americans i always want to be the “good guy” and we’re not. the fact that it’s not surprising to God is somewhat a comfort. but praying is what we need to be doing, amen and amen. so thanks for this and bless you muchly (ps have you shared homemade remedy for constipation – my friend’s pain meds from a broken wrist are doing a hardy number on her plumbing) (:
Sue, neighbors all-around! Blessed! I’m going to email you.
Hi Susan – your heartbreak and passion really shine through in this post. A very very timely wake up call. I loved this bit – “In every instance of corporate prayer, God listened. God heard. God responded.” Thank God – He gives us a way out of our mess. Thank you for your words and inspiration.
Tracey, thank you for visiting and your encouragement.
Susan,
What a timely and sobering word! Truth. How we all need to run to the Lord and pray, individually and corporately! Blessings to you today!
Lisa Murray
Lisa, glad you visited. It is sobering truth!
Thank you, Precious Lord for hearing our prayers. I’ve been talking to our Lord, asking him to forgive our land. To help us to be Brave, to keep filling us with His Hope. Thank you, Susi, for your heart in this,. Dear Precious Lord, open our eyes out heart to you.
Me too!
That verse has become the one I pray the most these days. Oh, that we would humble ourselves and turn back to our God!
I love this prayer because it says it all, doesn’t it? It reminds me of how the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf when we don’t know how to pray. When I look at the world today, the words often escape me because I fear we have strayed so far from God’s best for us. It’s not even one particular sin or another but rather the condition of our hearts. All of our hearts.
What promise we have knowing that He does hear. He does heal. He does forgive. He does answer!
Thank you for this important reminder today that God is still God no matter how badly we mess things up. May He continue to fill our cups to overflowing as we seek to honor Him with all that we say and do.
Thanks for sharing!
Heather, you are right. Sin is sin. Mine is no greater or smaller than my neighbor’s! Thank God for the shed blood of Jesus Christ!