We Need To Pray

Bible Reading: Psalm 85

“Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.” (Psalm 85:4-7)

This Psalm is a community lament written at a time when Israel had been unfaithful to God. It is a lament and a plea for God to restore His faithfulness, love and presence to be visible within them once more. It was a plea to see spiritual revival once again in their land, how we must pray in our situation day.

Christianity in our generation is on the decline. We do not have to look far to see secularism prevail. Amongst teens, there are very few who hunger and thirst for righteousness. There are very few who seek holiness. What has happened to our generation? Our sins have prevailed. 

Our churches have stopped faithfully preaching the whole counsel of Scripture. Instead, they have turned to entertaining music and games to pull people into the church. Worldly culture has invaded the church. As a result, sin and holiness have become indistinguishable. The church has become defiled by our insincerity and mockery. We have become insolent and ignorant of the truth of God. 

Not only that, the truth of God’s word is not being proclaimed. Who is shouting “repent!” and preaching holiness like the old testament prophets to our generation? We have failed to be examples of the truth even though we know we should be. Though we think we care, we don’t. Our hearts are stirred for a moment, but when we return home, our heart is empty once more like it always was. Even when we try, worldly temptations are too strong, and they pull us down. 

We do not understand what is at stake. Our generation. The future of the church. Will God abandon our generation and let it grow up in rebellion against Him? Will He destroy us in His wrath? That is what we all deserve. 

We must pray. And we must pray for a continual burden to pray. I am not strong enough. None of us is strong enough. We are sinful, swayed by the world. One moment we are living for God. On the other, we have entirely forgotten His works. Our hearts do not fully understand the matters at hand. 

Ask for a burden, ask for a revival. Cling to God’s faithfulness and steadfast love. Pray to God to restore our generation because our lives depend on it. Are we going to be a generation that loves and serves God? Or are we going to be a generation cursed because of our stiff-necked rebellion? We need God’s mercy. We need a revival. 

Let us pray the words of Psalm 85:

Revive Us Again

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

85 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
    but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.