I believe God has great plans for America; however, our country may need to walk through some very hard things in the days ahead. I pray this message will give you insight about how, together, we can seek God to change the course of our nation: Time is running out for America. Our country has been on the path of self-destruction for decades and is now on the verge of complete moral and economic collapse, with threats of attacks and war as well. Our nation hangs in the balance, and as God's people we must take action now before it's too late.
We have pushed God and His righteous ways out of our government, our classrooms and our culture. Even many churches have watered down truth, while hidden sin continues to be exposed in the pulpits and pews. Is it any wonder that God has been lifting His hand from our nation?
What can we do?
If we will listen, we will hear God's cry for the soul of this nation. The problems of this country are deeply rooted, and if we want real change, then we must go to the root of the problem.
We need a deep cleansing and work of God's Spirit, beginning with the pulpits of America—the spiritual leaders of our land.
It's been said that as the pulpits go, so goes the church, and as the church goes, so goes the nation. It's true—before we will see a true great awakening, the church must lead the way in genuine repentance and engage in daily "nation-changing" prayer on a massive scale.
How do we begin prayer that will change the course of our nation?
First, the biblical solution is God's people coming to Him humbly in unity, repentance and prayer (see 2 Chron. 7:14; Acts 2). This needs to happen churchwide, with the pulpits of America leading the way.
Prayer that changes a nation must be:
Pure: We must not pray with hidden sin, for it is the prayers of the righteous that accomplish much. Second Timothy 2:22 says: "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Passionate: We must pour out our prayers like rain until God pours out His Spirit like rain on this nation. "It's the effective fervent [passionate, intense] prayer of the righteous that accomplishes much" (James 5:16).
Persistent: We must press in. We must keep praying and not give up until we see God crown our efforts and prayers with success. Elijah heard the abundance of rain coming on the land, and he prayed persistently until he saw it begin (see 1 Kings 18: 41-44).
If we will pray this way, God will change by the power of His Spirit the things the church has tried to accomplish for decades—if the churches across our land will become houses of prayer. Right now, pastors must hear God's call to urgent prayer.
We know as Christians we should be salt and light, taking a stand for truth, influencing laws, legislation and the leaders of our land. But foremost on God's heart are the multitudes of people racing toward an eternal hell.
This awakening is about much more than laws, legislation, politics or the economy; it's about all the lost souls and prodigals in our nation. When the hearts and souls of our people are changed, then everything else will begin to change.
Now is the time for "the priests ... [to] weep between the temple porch and the altar" (see Joel 2:17)—for those in the pulpits to set aside their own agendas and humble themselves before God in true repentance for the condition of our churches and nation.
Now is the time for us to fall to our knees in fervent prayer, for fivefold ministers to lead our churches in diligent prayer to turn America back to God. We need to pray for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the love of God to sweep across our land, from the West Coast to the East Coast. We need to pray for a fundamental rebirth of this nation in righteousness and truth.
God is America's only hope, and as the church we are accountable to be God's voice, to be salt and light and to help lead this nation. Our voice must be united, strong and clear for all to hear.
Time is running out, and God is waiting on us. America is waiting on us.
About the author: Cindy deVille is the co-founder, with her husband, Darrel, of Shekinah Today Ministries. She is a prophetic minister and intercessor who "has a strong desire to see the church return to her first love." The deVilles publish an e-newsletter titled Today's Prophetic Perspective, in which they share with the body of Christ what they believe God is showing and saying to them. Their Pray, America! Pray! campaign is a national call to repentance and a compassionate cry for America to return to God.
