Today should be a day to pause. To be still. To mourn. To yield.
On social media, many will be driven to try and say something profound and definitive about what happened at the US Capitol yesterday.
But God has already spoken. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, clearly.
"...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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
It's hard to say it any better than that.
A good friend, a trusted voice in my life, reminded me this morning of Nehemiah's response when he learned that the walls of his capital city, Jerusalem, were broken down. Nehemiah 1:4 says, "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."
I believe that's what we need now, more than an endless parade of profound and definitive Tweets: a response of mourning and fasting and praying.
Let it start with me, and you; but let's invite others.
Another friend outlined three solid principles (I wrote about this HERE):
- Set a time for prayer. Prayer, not a discussion. Take time to listen.
- Meet regularly (be faithful to the appointment).
- Invite others.
Don't wait. As the sign says, it's time to yield.