Restoration

Isaiah 35 New Living Translation (NLT)Hope for Restoration35
​ Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
    The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
    and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
    as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
    the splendor of our God.
3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
    and encourage those who have weak knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
    He is coming to save you.”
5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
    and unplug the ears of the deaf.
6 The lame will leap like a deer,
    and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
    and streams will water the wasteland.
7 The parched ground will become a pool,
    and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
    where desert jackals once lived.
8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
    It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
    It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
    fools will never walk there.
9 Lions will not lurk along its course,
    nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
    Only the redeemed will walk on it.
10 Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
    They will enter Jerusalem[a] singing,
    crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
    and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Bold prayers.  Bold proclamations.  Bold expectations.

The Word tells us that we have not because we ask not.  What does it look like for a group of people to really boldly rush the throne of God for a region?  We pray for other countries and other people groups, but it is becoming very apparent that our local areas are in dire need for the bold prayers to revive and renew our own land.  We have allowed the world to dictate what is acceptable and our expectation to see the move and might of God in our own areas is sadly very small.  What does it look like to pray in unity and boldness?  

There is a movement beginning in Kansas City asking churches to begin covering each day of the year.  It is probably one of the most important things that we can do for our city.  We need to involve EVERY church in the city, we need to give opportunity to all of the members of the "C" Church of Kansas City to come together and pray specific prayers, pray scriptures over our city.  It is time we come together in a new unity that creates the space and expectation for God to really come and display his glory.  There is also a group coming together and allowing God to lead through worship and prayer.  PrayKC is uniting the church of Kansas City, and they have another evening coming up on January 17th.  Will you join in with us and unify this city?

My prayer today is for the hope of restoration over our city to come in like a lion.  That our wastelands will rejoice and singing and joy will abound.  I pray that the LORD would display His glory, the very splendor of our God would fall over this city and that we would be changed for eternity.  That our eyes would be opened, our sick healed and His Holy Spirit would flood the fountains and waterways.  That our Highways would be names Highway of Holiness, that evil-minded people would not be able to travel on them.  Danger would be removed because the Spirit of the LORD resides in our city.  That the good news would be on the lips of everyone who claims Christ as their savior.  That we would no longer worry about the 'weird factor' and not missing the opportunity would be more pressing.  In Jesus mighty name I pray.

What is your big, bold prayer for today?