Restore O Lord

This 40-year-old Graham Kendrick song forms the basis of my prayers this morning.

Restore, O Lord
The honour of Your name
In works of sovereign power
Come shake the earth again
That all may see
And come with reverent fear
To the living God
Whose kingdom shall outlast the years

‘Restore O Lord…’ Many good things have been done in God’s name throughout history… social reforms, national laws… revival in communities and individuals… I pray for God’s restoration…

‘The honour for your name…’ Older people complain that young people don’t have any respect… I’m more concerned that we have lost respect for God – both outside and inside the church. I pray for a greater reverence…

Restore, O Lord
In all the earth Your fame
And in our time revive
The church that bears Your Name
In Your anger
Lord, remember mercy
O living God
Whose mercy shall outlast the years

‘Remember mercy…’ Through the centuries so much evil has been done in God’s name… hatred, wars, slavery, executions… Yesterday I was described as  ‘practicing Christian’. I often mess up. I pray for mercy…

‘Bend us… purify the gold…’ I need to change… the hard and rigid needs to become pliable, the filthy and messed up must be washed and cleansed. I pray for positive transformation…

Bend us, O Lord
Where we are hard and cold
In Your refiner’s fire
Come purify the gold
Though suffering comes
And evil crouches near
Still our living God
Is reigning, He is reigning here

‘Shake the earth…’ Politicians think they have power to shake the earth; the church thinks that with its teaching, social programmes, debates or evangelism it can shake its earth; I think that I with my self-confidence, experience, skills and efforts can shake my earth. I pray for God’s shaking…

‘Whose kingdom shall outlast the years…’ ‘…For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.’ I’m so grateful that my God has timeless power… I pray for faith and hope…