This resolution of Daily United Prayer is based on An Humble Attempt, originally put forward by Jonathan Edwards in 1748. Its design is to encourage God's people in the duty of united extraordinary prayer; setting aside some time every day to pray for the revival of His church and the advancement of Christ's kingdom in our homes, in our churches, in our nation, and in the world.
"But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy." Ezra 3:12.
As we noted earlier in the week, the corporate prayer meeting has become a foreign concept to many in the church today. It is a sad state of affairs. I feel that every effort to recover the prayer meeting (including United Prayer) is a rebuilding effort. It's like this passage during the days of Ezra when the temple was being rebuilt. They just started to lay the foundation of the house of the Lord and had a long way to go. But note the response. The older generation (those who were the "ancient men") wept with a loud voice. But there were others that shouted aloud for joy. This same mixture of emotions can often be found in our own rebuilding attempts. On the one hand, those of us who remember sitting in powerful prayer meetings from a bygone era can weep and lament over how much we've lost; and that the glory of this current rebuilding effort is "as nothing" compared to the glory of the former house (Haggai 2:3). But on the flipside, there is also much to encourage us. Though it be a small start, we can still rejoice. For according to Haggai 2:9, "the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts."
God is always in the work of rebuilding. Let us not allow the pining of the "good ol days" so paralyze us to inaction in the present. No matter how small the step, even if it's just the foundation, let us learn to shout aloud with joy in the strong assurance that God will "shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:7. It is nothing for the Lord to help with many or with them that have no power. We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go.
DAILY UNITED PRAYER unitedprayer.net
Mon-Fri @ 12pm EDT // Sat @ 10am EDT
We invite you to join our dedicated and earnest group of praying participants of all ages from around the world that meet every day over Zoom to pray. At the start of each prayer call, a different individual will bring a brief Scriptural meditation. Here's the most recent:
