• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection A prayer for today

A prayer for today

Posted on October 24, 2020 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


The Year of our Lord 2020 has been a difficult one on so many levels. We have suffered a pandemic, rioting, and political acrimony throughout this year.

Going into an election, it is easy to give in to the fear caused by what might happen if our preferred candidate does not win in a little over a week.

We have many reasons to be anxious and fearful. This is why this short prayer embedded into Psalm 85 made an impression on me.

“Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?”

Psalm 85:6, CSB

If ever the church in the United States needed revival, it is now.

Many churches that would call themselves evangelical have taken the lure of cultural relevance and have been dragged away from the gospel by that culture.

With the advent of COVID-19, fellowship has been difficult and fear of contracting this disease has caused isolation. Even healthy churches have struggled to encourage their members.

But we can be encouraged that for 2,000 years, even when the majority of the church went off the rails and succumbed to corruption and neglect, God has ever maintained a group of believers who have born witness to His faithfulness.

Our faith is not in the church organization but in the Head of the church, Jesus Christ. He has remained faithful to us even when our faith has wavered.

The psalm reminds me that the condition of the society around us should spur us to renewed fervor in seeking God for revival.

To ask for revival is to ask to be made alive.

Make us alive in the midst of so much death and destruction. Make us truly live so that we may see you working in the chaos around us. We ask for this so that we may have joy in the face of difficulty.

Amen


Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: alive, joy, revival

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

I have the opportunity to go to Istanbul, Turkey this summer to minister to Syrian refugees. If you would like more details about this trip, please use this link Mark McIntyre - Istanbul, Turkey Please note that this trip is fully funded, but I would appreciate your continued prayer. The trip will take place June 27 - July 6, 2025.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Stewardship

On the real meaning of stewardship

If you’ve spent any time in a church, there is a high probability that you have been exposed to the word stewardship. It is a great word and a great concept, but too often it is used only in reference to finances and giving.

Blank Check

A check that won’t bounce

During a recent Bible study where we were discussing the resurrection of Jesus I thought of the analogy of writing a check. Jesus claimed to have power over death, he claimed that he would die and then rise again. Using the analogy of writing a check, Jesus wrote a large check to us when he promised that we could be raised to new life.

Voddie Baucham

The importance of a man in the house

Voddie Baucham discusses the importance of having a man in the house.

Blessed are the meek; they get it all

This post is number 6 in the Sermon on the Mount Series and examines the familiar Beatitude, “Blessed are the meek.” which is found in Matthew 5:5. The benefit conferred upon the meek is that they will inherit the earth. The word translated meek (NIV, ESV, NKJV) can also be translated, mild, tame, gentle, kindly or […]

Wax seal

The softening of the Gospel

Under the Gospel, our hearts experience the softening that allows for a proper understanding of the role of the law.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
July 2025
SMTWTFS
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031 
« Jun    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2025 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in