8 “You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the Lord, have created it.”—The words of the Prophet Isaiah from Isaiah 45:8
As a new year begins, what would you like to see happen more than anything else in the whole world? Interesting question, isn’t it?
How about you? What would you like to see happen during this new year more than anything else in the world? What’s your greatest desire? What do want most? What do you long to see happen? What springs up from deep within you as something you would really give everything to see happen?
It’s easy for me to answer that question. More than anything, I would like to see a great revival sweep across this land: from sea to sea, from the north to the south, from the tip of Maine to the farthest island of Hawaii. I long to see the Holy Spirit move across our land and bring conviction of sin, sincere repentance of sin, an overwhelming commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, and a complete resurgence of newness of life for the Church.
Revival means “a coming to life again.” Having read countless books that recall past great movements of God in our own nation and in other parts of the world, I desire to experience a fresh breath from God blowing across our land. Some writers have likened such a movement of God as a fresh spring rain that brings new life into the seemingly dead ground of winter.
This Gospel song from the late 1800s expresses the longing that I feel today.
There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing
Words written by Daniel W. Whittle in 1883
Music written by James MacGranahan
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
Will you please pray with me?
Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
More than anything else, O God, we long for a great outpouring of Your Holy Spirit on our land. Please bring a great, sweeping revival to convict us of sin, bring us to repentance, and fill us with new life.
In our nation that is torn apart by the strife of class warfare and the insidiousness of vicious politics, we claim Your promise of true and lasting peace. May You bring about Your purposes in us and through us. May we become salt and light in this troubled age.
Thank You, Precious Father, for the steadfastness of your grace, mercy, and unfailing love. And, thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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