Anybody can gripe and complain about America’s sad condition. But prayer can bring a turnaround.
Many Christians today are discouraged about the condition of our country. We are divided politically, stagnant economically and failing morally—and weird weather patterns, gun violence and global financial fears have darkened the gloom. Some people have thrown up their hands and prayed, “Lord, rapture us out of here!”
But God isn’t wringing His hands over Europe’s bank crisis or Obama’s health care plan. I’m not ignoring the seriousness of our dilemma, but losing hope is not the solution. God’s plan is salvation, not judgment. He invites us to agree with Him for that miracle—and when He answers by fire from heaven, America could be changed in a day.
So instead of condemning America to hell or heading for the hills, I’m praying for miracles of grace. Here is my short list of prayer goals:
- Spiritual awakening on college campuses. Today’s younger generation is biblically illiterate, largely fatherless and skeptical of church and TV preachers. That’s a bleak scenario, but my Bible says, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20, NASB). When the hippies of the 1960s embraced drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll, God unleashed the Jesus Movement—and it marked a generation for Christ. He can do it again.
- Transformation of our inner cities. Some urban neighborhoods in the U.S. resemble bombed-out cities in the Third World. The devil thinks he owns these places, but God is empowering Nehemiahs to reclaim and rebuild the ruins. I expect this miracle to happen largely through African-American and Hispanic churches. I’m expecting to hear good things out of Detroit, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas and Baltimore, to name a few.
- Supernatural visitation among Native Americans. They were the first residents of this land, but today they are the least evangelized. Evangelism backfired in the past because of racism and insensitivity. But God longs to reveal His Father’s love to the Native community. I expect a wave of revival to sweep from Native believers in northern Alaska to reservations in Oklahoma to urban centers like Denver, Phoenix and Albuquerque, N.M.
- A wave of repentance among Christian men. So many churchgoing men today are bound by regret, sexual sin, addiction and the shame of divorce. But God has promised to restore the hearts of fathers to their children and children to fathers (see Mal. 4:6). Any genuine revival will be accompanied by widespread transformation of families.
- Another Pentecostal outpouring among Roman Catholics. In the late 1960s, an unexpected “God moment” at a Catholic college in Pittsburgh sparked a worldwide movement that brought millions of Catholics into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The fires of that awakening have died out, but God can do it again.
- A release of courage and compassion among Christian women. The biblical story of Deborah teaches that when times get tough, God often raises up brave women to meet the challenge. This has happened before, when women affiliated with the Holiness Movement in the early 1900s challenged rampant alcoholism to protect families. In this decade I expect to see the greatest mobilization of women in history—to fight social injustice at home and to engage in mission work overseas.
- Renewal of denominations. Visionary leaders today are scrapping dead traditions and forming new wineskins. Tired and ineffective programs are being eliminated, and denominations are becoming leaner but more fruitful. The result could be the greatest season of church planting in our history. Please don’t bash the church—pray for fresh wind of the Spirit to revive us!
- A Holy Spirit visitation in the military. The terrorist threat is real. That’s why we need generals who pray and soldiers who fear God. I’m asking the Lord to touch all branches of our armed forces so we will have His protection if disaster strikes.
Our nation is caught in a great spiritual struggle, but the Lord has plans for our redemption. Please don’t lose hope. Stop cursing the darkness and pray instead.
J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years. He now serves as contributing editor while devoting more time to ministry. You can find him on Twitter @leegrady or online at themordecaiproject.org. His newest book is 10 Lies Men Believe (Charisma House).
J. Lee Grady is an author, award-winning journalist and ordained minister. He served as a news writer and magazine editor for many years before launching into full-time ministry.
Lee is the author of six books, including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe and Fearless Daughters of the Bible. His years at Charisma magazine also gave him a unique perspective of the Spirit-filled church and led him to write The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale and Set My Heart on Fire, which is a Bible study on the work of the Holy Spirit.
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