Hey Church!

One month before his death, Charles Spurgeon wrote these words to his congregation: 

“There is a cloud of blessing resting on you now. Turn the cloud into a shower by the heavenly electricity of believing prayer.” And, in a separate letter: “Our country requires a divine visitation, and the promise of it only needs to be pleaded to be fulfilled.” 

Curious a thing as it may be to us that the Sovereign King would so restrain Himself as to withhold revival until His subjects are united in voicing their desperation, He has so ordained prayer to be the “heavenly electricity” that tears His storehouses of blessing open. Are you so desperate? Or are you content with your worldly wealth and pleasures? Is the status quo of nominal Christianity proving itself powerful enough to heal our nation? Or do you acknowledge every Christian’s need for a mighty peal of thunder to startle them awake? 

In preparation for worship this weekend, spend as much time as you can in prayer! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything that stands between you and the fullness of His presence. Where there is sin, repent; where you find idols, smash them; when you recall His manifest kindness and provisions, give Him thanks; where there are needs, make your requests known to your gracious Heavenly Father; if any root of bitterness has broken your relationship with God or others, confess it and ask that you might apprehend His infinite wisdom to see as He sees. 

It may help you to make a loss/gain list. Seriously! In the losses column, write down anything you believe the Lord wants to remove from your life. Perhaps a habit or fight to lay down, a relationship with a person or material thing that needs to be severed, or any number of momentary pleasures it’s time to forsake. Now, in the gain column, write down what you imagine God might want to give to you in response to your obedience. Just a few that are promised to you are a better prayer-connection with God (1 Pet. 4:7), freedom (2 Cor. 3:17), joy (Gal. 5:22-23), confidence instead of anxiety (Is. 32:17), spiritual power (2 Cor. 12:9), soul-satisfaction (Prov. 19:23), a sound mind in place of fear (2 Tim. 1:7), discernment (Heb. 4:12), protection from the evil one (Ps. 5:11), and true, unshakable peace (Phil. 4:7). Put just one of those promises on the scale opposite one thousand worldly things you may be asked to surrender, and which is the weigthier fortune? 

It may not be easy, but it really is that simple. 

“Choose you this day whom you will serve…” (Josh. 24:15)