Thy Kingdom Come
I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and nowadays, I keep praying the same thing.
And maybe you’re praying it with me. During coronavirus, virtually every time I lift my voice in worship or in intercession, this is what I’m praying; I’m praying, “Oh, God, it is so obvious, so clear, right now you’re shaking the nations. Kingdoms are in upheaval; the islands are trembling; the nations are as dust in your hand. And you have our attention, Lord. And we don’t want to miss what you want to say. And so, as you say it to the nation, and to the world, I am cupping my ear Lord; I am listening. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and please, I don’t want to miss that, Lord; let me be a part of it. For the sake of Jesus, Amen.”
Well, friend, I hope you are praying the same way. We would all agree that this pandemic is unprecedented. Nothing has ever happened in the world like this before – never has the global church been so connected during such a pestilence; we are all experiencing and we’re all thinking and, Lord willing, praying the same thing. We’re all reading 2 Chronicles 7, that if we would but humble ourselves, and turn from our idols – you know, things that have a tight grip on our desires and dreams; if we would but confess them, our sin, and seek his face, God would heal our land. So, let’s not squander this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – yes, that’s what this plague is, as it were; it’s is an opportunity to get clean before the Lord; be bold for Christ; believe Him more and trust Him with all that we may have lost, and with our fears of the future.
Because God is shaking the nations. And He is shaking our hearts, too, isn’t He? Kingdoms are in upheaval, and so are our livelihoods. The islands are trembling, and so are our hearts. But are we responding? Are we getting actively engaged in bringing about His will on earth, as it is in heaven? Are we telling people about Christ? I know my husband has become more bold in talking about Jesus with his old high school buddies. And as some of my old friends from back east from high school days have reached out to me to see how I’m doing. Some of them are outside the kingdom, and what a prime time it is to talk about how brief and fleeting this life really is. They feel the shaking. Their lives are in upheaval. Their hearts are trembling. And I think these old friends are reaching out because they’re looking for answers. And it’s one way I can partner with God in bringing healing to our land. Bringing revival and renewal.
Look, I don’t want us all to get to heaven and God say to us, “Remember that thing about coronavirus? Remember you thought I was up to something big? Well, I was. So, why didn’t you join me in bringing about my will on earth as I planned it in heaven? Why didn’t you make the most of that opportunity?” Oh, my goodness. We don’t want to hear that, right? Hebrews chapter 12 says, “See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused him… shall we escape if we turn away from him… Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Wow!
Oh, friend, join me, would you?, in partnering with God to bring about His will on earth as it is in heaven. And let me pray alongside you as you do. Today, visit joniandfriends.org and let us know your prayer requests on our “Help and Inspiration” tab. Because we need to stand in prayer and action together as God shakes the nations and as He keeps shaking our hearts.
