Leading up to November’s election, we joined our spiritual family in a three-day fast and solemn assembly. We worshipped the Lord and petitioned Him for the Church in America and our nation. Thousands of people participated with us online. It was exciting to do this together as a family.

As racial tensions, attack on law and order, terrorism and war, economic uncertainty and political frailty all seem to be building, we realize the Lord is inviting us to come before Him to petition for mercy.  We come before Him because He likes us (SS 2:14). We come before Him because He’s told us to in time of crisis (Joel 2:12–20).

Before the Lord returns, He said He will shake the things that can be shaken as He establishes His unshakable kingdom (Haggai 2:6–7; Heb. 12:26–29).

When more shaking comes, what will Christians do?  We will quickly realize if our congregations have built a place where we can encounter the Lord together and come before Him in prayer or simply a place where we do activities (Mat. 21:13).

God is putting a spirit of prayer upon the Church across denominational lines and across national borders. Could He be doing this to prepare the Church for what lies ahead?  Could He be doing this to give the Church a place where we can come before Him and cry-out for mercy? You bet.

Joel 2 says that if we come before Him in repentance, fasting and prayer as a community, He will avert national and personal crisis. Habakkuk 3 reminds us that God will judge the nations for their sin, but the righteous can petition for mercy!

While these moments in our history seem more like dress-rehearsals than extreme crises, they matter just as much.  God wants to release His blessing but waits on our response to Him.