The God Nobody Knows

Today in churches, on the front steps of city halls, in public parks, and homes Americans will observe the 64^th National Day of Prayer.  In spite of my reservations about mixing patriotism and prayer, I’m planning to participate.  No, I will no’t just pray “God bless America!”  I do pray that and I am thankful that He has ‘shed His grace’ on this great nation. Today, however, I will pray for this broken land, asking Him to reveal Himself in new ways, to draw us to repent, to turn our hearts to the Father.

The theme set for this day is “Lord, Hear Our Cry,” and we will turn our hearts and minds to Him who is higher than all governments, authorities, and human beings.  I Kings 8:28 is the source of the theme: “Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”   We need to cry out to Him!  For so many, even in America where churches dot the landscape, God has become the ‘God Nobody Knows.’  Paul visited Athens and saw their shrines but also their spiritual darkness.  He spoke in that city saying, "I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with. “The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! … The unknown is now known, and he’s calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him before everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:23-32, The Message)

My prayer today is that He will make Himself known – to me and through me, that His Mighty Spirit will blow through this land, awakening the Church to her task of telling the Gospel, loving the lost, helping the sick, insisting on justice, and working for equity.  Would you join me in that hopeful prayer?  And, as the Spirit moves, the Light will spread from this nation to the corners of the earth!  Too grand a vision? Not at all.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." (John 3:16-17, NLT)

May He break our hearts for our sins, for the world torn by war, for the poor who lack life’s basic needs, for those who live under the cruel hand of evil men. “Lord, Hear Our Cry!”

Dr. Jack Graham, the chair of this Day, offers this prayer.
Heavenly Father,We come to You in the Name that is above every name—Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Our hearts cry out to You.Knowing that You are a prayer-answering, faithful God—the One we trust in times like these—we ask that You renew our spirits, revive our churches, and heal our land.

We repent of our sins and ask for Your grace and power to save us.Hear our cry, oh God, and pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may walk in obedience to Your Word.We are desperate for Your tender mercies.We are broken and humbled before You.

Forgive us, and in the power of Your great love, lift us up to live in Your righteousness.We pray for our beloved nation.May we repent and return to You and be a light to the nations.And we pray for our leaders and ask that You give them wisdom and faith to follow You.Preserve and protect us, for You are our refuge and only hope.

Deliver us from all fears except to fear You, and may we courageously stand in the Truth that sets us free.We pray with expectant faith and grateful hearts.

In Jesus’ name, our Savior. Amen

Today, at Noon, wherever you may be, would you take a few moments to pray?  “Lord, Hear Our Cry.”

Here’s the word from the Word.
"Make this your common practice:  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.  The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (James 5:16, The Message)