This is the third and final article from our recent Are You Ready? video series. In the first two articles we looked at how God warns and deals with nations in great sin, then at what God has been saying to America about the economy, natural disasters and what's to come if America does not change. We saw that America is like a prodigal raging down a path of self-destruction. Today we share what we believe is God's solution for America—what it will take to turn our country from its current path of destruction back to God and His restoration. Where Does the Solution Begin?
What is the answer to changing the course of this nation? Will new legislation do it? Will a new political leader or party do it? Will a restored economy or revamped economic system do it? Where does the solution really need to begin?
The Fruit or the Root?
First, we must understand that the problems we are seeing in America are actually the fruit of a root problem. So, right now, changing a law or new political party or person is like putting a Band-Aid on a deep-rooted cancer that must be dealt with. At this stage, there is no legislative or political solution; the problem is too deeply rooted. For example, we can spend a lot of time and effort praying for or fighting to change certain legislation—and it may change temporarily—but it soon pops up somewhere else because we did not deal with the root of the problem, which is the soul of our nation. It is important that we deal with both the root and the fruit.
The Soul of a Nation
God wants to go to the root of the problem, the soul of this nation. God sees and is crying out for the prodigals and multitudes of souls racing towards hell and eternity. He wants to rescue them and bring salvation to the multitudes and to our nation. If their hearts and souls change, then their actions will change, their ways will change and their fruit will change. Then we will see a nation change! This depth of change will require a divine move of God.
God wants to bring a great visitation, great awakening and reformation. But these things don’t come just by us praying for God to bless our economy, or change legislation or a political party. These things come when souls are shaken under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, when the love of God is so heavy and strong on them that they can’t resist it. That’s what it's going to take to bring a nation to its knees. That’s what it’s going to take to turn this nation. Nothing else is going to work. It is going to take a move of God for this nation to turn back to Him.
If we look at the revivals of the past, we see that the ones that brought great change, transformation and reformation were those that included the call to repentance and prayer. This is what God wants to do. This is the solution. It is a holy solution. It is not a political solution or an economic solution. Until the church gets on her face and knees, nothing is going to change; it is only going to get progressively worse.
Where It Must Begin
God is calling the pastors and Christian leaders across our nation to their knees, to humbly unite and lead the church in massive repentance and prayer. See this word from 2010, How Will the Great Awakening Begin? Repentance is first, then prayer—from the pulpits to the pews. Then we will see it move to the multitudes, and sweep across our nation.
3 Keys to Changing
Three keys are needed to begin changing a nation:
1. Genuine repentance: Search our hearts, O God, and see if there be any wicked way in us (Ps. 139:23-24).
2. Daily prayer: God is calling His house to be a House of Prayer (Mark 11:17).
3. Unity: Pastors, Christian leaders, and all of God's people need to be in one heart, one mind and one accord—as the early Christians were in the upper room right before the Holy Spirit birthed the New Testament Church. True unity will require great humility—starting with the pastors and leaders in God's house. We also see this reflected in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people will humble themselves and pray" (emphasis added).
How to Change the Course of a Nation
We have God's instructions calling for widespread repentance, prayer and unity, beginning with pastors and the fivefold ministry, but has God specially instructed us to how to pray? Yes. On the National Day of Prayer in 2009 a powerful prophetic word called "The Course of a Nation" included this:
"Tell them the course of the nation is in their hands, if they will but pray. If they will pray and press in, not just one day but every day, they will see everything change. If they will cause their prayers to pour forth like rain, then I will pour down My presence upon this nation. I will pour down upon My church. I will pour down upon My people. And that which many have tried to do through the decades and have failed, I shall do and I shall turn by My Spirit. I will change this nation."
God also instructed in this way: "Do not pray with hidden sin, with unforgiveness and hatred in your hearts, because it will hinder your prayers. For the fervent prayers of the righteous accomplish much." (See Jas. 5:16.) He also said He's waiting on His church to be doers of His Word. Read the full word here.
Prayer: Pure, Passionate and Persistent
With this in mind, our prayers should, in three words, be pure, passionate and persistent.
Our repentance must be genuine and pure.
Our prayers must be passionate and persistent (daily) until will see everything change.
In Summary:
1. God is calling the fivefold ministry to their knees in repentance, prayer, humility and unity.
2. Church leaders across the nation must begin to lead God's people in genuine repentance and daily prayer (see our Top 5 Prayer Guide). We see this as a churchwide, united effort across denominational lines.
3. We must pour out our prayers like rain every day until God pours out His Spirit across this nation and we see everything change. If we will do this, then we will see God move by His Spirit and change this nation.
God Is Waiting on His Church
If the leaders in God's house, beginning with the pastors, will hear God's voice, and embrace and run with His plan, then we will see America on her knees. We'll see a great awakening and outpouring from coast to coast, as we see prodigals come home and multitudes come to Christ. Then we will see a nation healed and restored for God's plans and purposes in the earth.
God is counting on us to seize this moment, for what we do or don't do as His leaders and people will determine the course of this nation. Either we'll have the greatest awakening we've ever seen or the collapse and destruction of America. We must act now!
Together, we can change a nation.
About the author: Cindy deVille is the co-founder, with her husband, Darrel, of Shekinah Today Ministries.
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