As the clock struck twelve, the crowds had only one thing on their mind—getting to the place of prayer. The whole city was shut down, businesses closed their doors, schools dismissed class early, and even the legislature had called it a day. The year was 1905, and from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., the eyes of the city were looking to God for his guidance. The mayor of Denver had declared a day of prayer, resulting in more than twelve thousand in attendance in downtown prayer meetings.
During this same time, over two hundred businesses closed for three hours of prayer in Portland, Oregon. In Burlington, Iowa, many stores and factories closed to allow their employees to go to prayer meetings. There seemed to be a yearning and anticipation for a fresh move of God sweeping through people of every social and ethnic level. Churches were bulging full of people praying and seeking God. The news of the great Welsh revival spread through the land like wild fire, causing a hunger to be aroused in America. The result of this great move of prayer was powerful. Many denominations recorded a significant increase in their membership. Things were beginning to be stirred and get in place for the soon coming Azusa Street Revival in 1906.
Nearly fifty years earlier, a similar movement of prayer took place, bringing our country to its knees. It all started in 1857, in Manhattan, New York, area, with an individual named Jeremiah Lanphier, who had a burden from the Lord to start a noon prayer meeting. He advertised and promoted it, which soon brought a steady increase in attendance. Before long, prayer meetings began to spring up in almost every public building downtown. The local newspaper’s publicity thrust a landslide of prayer, beginning a movement that spread throughout New England
The revival that followed had no boundaries going out in every direction changing lives. Shortly after the revival had begun, the country found itself in the middle of the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. Yet, due to the moving of God, many of the men who lost their lives had been prepared for eternity through God’s grace and mercy.
The effects of this revival touched even the White House. President Lincoln, being concerned about America and how it had become too successful and self-sufficient, full of pride, gave his Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer. On April 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln said, “It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” The results of this great revival not only carried on, but also lasted for many years. It had begun in a passion for prayer and was sustained with faithfulness of prayer!
Mathew Henry once said, “When God intends a great mercy for his people, he first sets them a praying.” We must find the place of prayer! Revival has never come through great preaching or successful programs. We must set ourselves to prayer, seeking to be changed by the power of God. Only when we have touched the hem of his garments will we see a visitation of God!
As the people of God, we stand in the gap on behalf of the land before the Lord. We must cry out to our heavenly Father asking Him to stay this viperous virus. 2 Chron. 7:14 says if we humble ourselves, pray and seek Him and turn from our wickedness then god will be moved by our crying out and move in our behalf, healing our land. He is faithful to fulfill what He has promised.
Let’s Press In in Prayer!
Death tolls are rising, unemployment lines are getting longer while people are becoming more hopeless as the days go by. In the midst of this sweeping virus across the world, an out of the blue, earthquake shakes Idaho Tuesday afternoon adding to our fear-soaked society. There’s a need for God’s people to stand in the gap for the land.
The Dusty cobblestone streets of the small Guatemala town were sparse and gave the appearance of a ghost town. It was as a mountain of fear that gripped this small town as the news of the looming coronavirus stood before them. Temporary paper signs were posted on most business and restaurants throughout the narrow streets. Fear was now blocking this community keeping them from the promises that were in their hearts. Those that did venture into the streets were distant and sober looking reminding me of a Story of Gods people as they were on the brink of crossing over into the land of promise.
Paul speaks to the Christians in Corinth letting them know that on this side of heaven we are handicap in our spiritual eye sight and understanding of Gods totally will. We read in 1 Cor 13:12 where he says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known”. It reminds me of trying to shave in the morning after the hot water has been running for a while and the mirror becomes all fogged up. You can’t see clearly anymore so you take a couple of wipes with your hand bringing a slight moment of clarity making for a few more needed swipes with the raiser before it gets fogged up again. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see correctly a hundred percent of the time? It definitely would help us not get in some of the messes that we seem to find ourselves in along the way. The more we pursue God the clearer our spiritual vision will become.
I love when God gives you that kiss from heaven, the orchestration of divine appointments, letting you know that He has complete control of every part of your journey. And If we’re not careful we can nonchalantly shrug off these God moments with thinking they are just natural circumstances. Losing the incredible joy of knowing the creator of the universe loves you enough to wrap around your situation the warmth and comfort of the evidence of His love and value for you.
After the prescribed days had passed for the ceremonial purification for childbirth.(Lev 12:1-8) Mary and Joseph now venture with their new born baby, Jesus to the temple. (Luke 2:22-24) It was a day of celebration and anticipation as they come to dedicate this holy child to God. This was a day that can only be described as a “Divine appointment” involving multiple individuals that could only be orchestrated by a loving Heavenly Father. All of which, had their own circumstances filled with hurts and struggles, yet there was an expectancy grounded in God’s faithfulness.
I heard a story about a little boy who was handed an orange by a man trying to be kind. The boy’s mother asked, “What do you say to the nice man?” The little boy thought and handed the orange back and said, “Peel it.”
There’s nothing like entering the stage of life where God blesses you with children. It is an incredible season, yet the transition between only having to worry about yourself to the wake up call of now having a baby that doesn’t understand patience and timing can be eye opening to say the least. I remember in that season how the nights that I was beyond tired was when our sweet cuddly bundle of love turned into a screaming creature from the dark side. That sweet little crying baby never understood anyone else’s needs, only that they wanted their bottle now and that you’re not moving fast enough!
The atmosphere was so pure and crisp, yet the light snow was an indication of the major snowstorm that was invading the upper altitudes where I had arrived days earlier. I had made a pilgrimage back to the mountain’s where I had grown up and made memories over forty years ago.
I can still remember the feeling of needing to climb the mountain and get to the summit. I was just entering high school and we had recently moved to the mountains of Idaho. Every afternoon around four our ranch would be in the shadow of the Sun moving behind the mountains and for someone that had lived much of their life in the plains of the potato fields, this was foreign and even brought a claustrophobic feeling. Therefore, I determined to get through the first week of school and then get up early on Saturday morning and climb to the summit of the towering mountain to get another perspective.
When my brother and I were in high school we wanted to get a couple of Black and Tan hound dogs to raise and train, but we knew we must first convince our father to let us have them. I remember that night well; my father was tired and wanted to go to bed so we maneuvered in at this most vulnerable time with a double team strategy. We then popped the question on him with smiles from ear to ear, “can we have two hound dogs”? It was a quick “No” at first. Yet, it only provoked a more passionate plea of “Please, dad just two pups”? We debated back-and-forth continuing late in the night asking for his permission. We pled our case and kept pursing his approval. I remember he kept saying, “No”, we don’t need anymore barking dogs”. But even though he was tired, we kept knocking on the door of his heart until he finally said, “OK, and good night”. Looking back to those times I believe he might have regretted that decision, but in the most part it brought some memorable times together and also strengthened our relationship with him.
Bill Virgin Blog - Leave room for Cream 