Who Will Pray? - February 2023

Dear Church,

At the dedication of Solomon’s temple, God promised:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. [15] Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Since that day 3000 years ago, this promise has been fulfilled in all kinds of countries and cultures. For example, the revival known as “The First Great Awakening” in the early 1700s; while John Wesley and George Whitfield were preaching up a storm in England, Jonathan Edwards was at the forefront of this move of God in The United States.

Many found this revival to be completely unexpected, but not Jonathan Edwards: he had been praying specifically for this for years, believing to see God move in a fresh, powerful way through Churches and communities. In fact he even wrote a book to stir others to pray, with the catchy title of: “An Humble Attempt To promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer For the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ's Kingdom on Earth, pursuant to Scripture-Promises and Prophecies concerning the last Time.”

He wrote : “There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the Kingdom of Christ as by prayer”

So today 2 Chronicles 7:14 is just as relevant as ever; God is looking again for people to seek him and pray with hunger, humility and repentance. That’s why we set aside this week to fast and pray for revival in our community and country; for people to be awakened to spiritual realities, and for Jesus to become their Lord and Saviour.

Let’s continue with passionate prayer to see God move in our nation and in the lives of the people around us.

Prayerfully yours, Chris