“Therefore, let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
Selah”
(Psalm 32:6–7 ESV)

If there is anything we need in our country in this hour, it is prayer.

2020 may go down in history as one of the most challenging years of the 21st century. Lord willing, the next 80 years will pale in comparison if the Lord does not decide to return.

In light of these incredible times, let us seek God while we are able.

Psalm 32 tells us to seek the Lord in prayer while He may be found.

There are a couple of important observations that arise from that passage.

First, there is an acknowledgment that God can be found. At the time of the writing of the Psalms, the nation of Israel enjoyed the presence of the Lord. The Glory of the Lord filled the temple in Jerusalem. The daily office of the Levitical priests was a daily reminder of the presence of God, and the forgiveness of God, in the midst of His chosen people. During the days of Jesus, the Lord had chosen to reveal Himself in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. Instead of a physical temple, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity took up occupancy on earth, uniting Himself to human nature in the Person of Jesus. When the Lord ascended to the right hand of His Father, the promised Holy Spirit was sent to indwell every everyone who would put their trust in the gospel. Now the temple of the Living God is the collective hearts of men and women who have chosen to believe the gospel. The very Spirit of the Lord intercedes for us when we pray as the apostle Paul reminds us:

“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:26–28 ESV)

God can still be found in this world.

But it may not always be so. And our responsibility is to seek the Lord in prayer.

On September 26th, Franklin Graham will be leading a prayer march on the National Mall. While many won’t be able to join in person, we can join with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, in prayer.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has produced a 30-day prayer guide to help us bring the important issues of our nation before the Lord.

The first day is a prayer for God to open hearts across America to receive the good news of Jesus Christ.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 ESV)

Let this be the cry of our nations, but may it also be the cry of our churches. Let us ask the Lord to continue to do the work He started within us and continue to cleanse our own hearts so that we can reach out, in grace, to those who the Lord will make ready to hear the good news.

Will you take some time today to pray this prayer?

The Needed Hour of Prayer

Praying for Unity

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