The prayer of a righteous man
Never doubt that one man can change a nation. In Deut 9 and
Isaiah 37 we see the course of history changed for Israel
In Deut 9 Moses lies prostrate for 40 days and nights and
pleads with God not to destroy the people of Israel
In Isaiah 37 Sennacharib King of Assyria threatens to attack Jerusalem
In both cases the concern that drives Moses and Hezekiah to
pray is the honour of God’s name. They remind God of his faithfulness and his
character and entreat him to deliver his people.
We are writing this on Pentecost Sunday, when this afternoon
at Arise Bristol churches across the city gathered in Bristol City Football
Stadium to pray for God to act in our city, an event birthed through the
faithful prayer of one woman.
Let us take encouragement from these passages that ‘the
prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective’ (James 5 v16)
and can change the course of history, the destiny of a nation, the future of a
city.
We may have many challenges that face us today. Let us remind
ourselves that God is all powerful and all loving, that he has the power to
turn situations around. Let us draw inspiration from the examples of Moses and
Hezekiah and pray without ceasing – that God’s name would be honoured and that
he would grant our request for revival in our city and in our nation.
(husband and wife)