Grab your Bible and a journal and be intentional over the next few weeks. This guide is from Pastor Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding Ministries, and has been slightly modified.
Journal Entry 1
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
What is one specific area in your life where you would like to grow?
What does spiritual renewal look like and what actions can you take?
Journal Entry 2
Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “A father is one who has children. Do you have any spiritual children? This is a mark of a growing Christian-that you are multiplying yourself (what God did in you) by sharing it with others. When you appear before the throne of God, will you be standing there alone? Or will you be standing with children you have “parented” in Christ?”
You can boldly share the Gospel with those around you, knowing that God will use your efforts for His glory.
What are ways that you can serve and bless your neighbors?
What, if anything, keeps you from sharing the Gospel with your friends?
Do your coworkers know that you are a Christian? How can you be more proactive in sharing your faith at work?
Why should you be motivated to share the Gospel with others?
What are some simple steps you can take to reach out to those who don’t know Christ?
Journal Entry 3
The church represents Christ to the watching world. How do we look?
Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “When we talk about our nation, we must first talk about the house of God-the church-for the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. We as a church must repent. How many churches across America are playing church, praying without fasting, witnessing without tears, giving without sacrifice? Is it any wonder we sow without reaping?”
In Acts 2:46-47 the early church is described and characterized by unity and adding new believers regularly. We must continue to pray for churches and pastors…that they would hold tight to sound doctrine and live holy lives befitting their positions.
Pray that God would bless, protect, and strengthen your pastors and their families. How can you encourage your pastor this week?
When was the last time you invited someone to church? Who can you invite this week?
What happens if a church deviates from the Word of God?
What actions do you need to take to ensure you hold fast to Scripture?
Journal Entry 4
When God brings revival to one location, it often results in other surrounding locations to experience revival.
Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “If you study the record of the church in modern history, you’ll see from time to time, in place to place, God has come down. I want God to come down upon the church. Don’t get the idea that America has to be changed before we can have revival. You, my friend, can have revival. You can have personal revival. You can have revival in your Sunday school class. You can have revival in your family. You can have revival whenever and wherever-you can be a one-person revival.”
What amazing things God might do in our cities and states if we seek Him in prayer!
Pray that God gives wisdom to local and state leaders. Do you criticize your leaders more than you pray for them?
When was the last time you thanked or affirmed one of your local leaders?
Pray that God would bless and prosper local ministries in your city and state. How can you support and/or get involved in local ministries serving your city?
Pray for local schools and colleges, asking God to move powerfully in them. How can you bless local schools?
Pray for unique challenges facing your community (Durango has one of the highest teen suicide rates in the state).
Journal Entry 5
What this country needs more than anything else is Jesus.
Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “There’s both a moral crisis and a leadership crisis in America. Leadership is crucial. There’s a saying that asks, ‘If the gold rusts, what shall the iron do?’ That is, if our leadership is not what it should be, what will the people be like? God is greatly interested in a nation’s political life. Some say He ought to stay out of the government, but the truth is, government must always look to Almighty God.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Notice the connection between praying for those in authority and the salvation of many. When there are godly leaders, it creates an environment where the Gospel can be freely proclaimed.
Pray the president would truly know God and leads the nation in a way that honors God. Are you praying for the president and vice president?
How does it encourage you to know that God is in control of all things, including the President?
Pray that godly people are appointed to high positions and that they honor the Lord. What are some specific issues (abortion, freedom of religion, etc.) that you are led to pray about?
Ask the Lord to appoint godly judges and to cause these judges to make wise decisions.
Ask the Lord to bring about a return to Biblical values to our country. What Biblical values have been lost by society over the years?
Journal Entry 6
As we pray for our own nation, we should also pray for nations around the world.
Matthew 28:19-20 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Pray that God would move powerfully around the world, bringing the Gospel to even the darkest places.
Pray for those who are being persecuted. Persecution is growing daily, but do not let that stop you from praying and standing boldly and courageously for Christ Jesus.
Pray that God exposes false religions. Do you know anyone who believes in a false religion? What truths about God do they need to know?
Ask the Lord to remove oppressive leaders who resist Christianity. What are some biblical examples of God removing ungodly leaders? How do these examples encourage you?
Do you long for the return of Christ? Are you living in readiness for the return of Christ?
Journal Entry 7
Our hope is not in ourselves, in politics or presidents.
Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “Some say it’s too late. Don’t be one of them. Don’t say revival is impossible. God’s power, His grace, are sufficient. ‘But Pastor, sin is pandemic.’ Yes, but Romans 5:20 says, ‘Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.’ God is omnipotent, and He is our Hope…Don’t look to some political party to save us. Tell both parties, ‘Repent and get right with God.’ We’re in a mess because we have wicked laws apart from God. We must have revival, and its source is Almighty God. Get your eyes on Him.”
As we pray for our nation, let us pray with hope and faith. Things may look bleak, but nothing is too hard for God. God can cause light to shine into darkness. He can soften hearts and open the eyes of the spiritually blind. He can even save the most wicked sinners.
Don’t despair when you look around. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
God is waiting…let us pray, repent, and return.