Thousands of fans fill the arena. Music blares so loud that I must keep my radio pressed to my ear so I don't miss a call. Some fans sing along to the latest hit. Some dress to imitate the scantily clad performer on stage. Many scream and raise their hands toward the stage in adoration.
This is the scene I watch every weekend.
Every weekend my heart aches.
I want to tell them that there is more to life than this! Every week I watch the youth of this nation praising the gods of entertainment, sex, and selfishness. My heart longs to take each person to coffee and listen to their story. What would it be like if these thousands knew Jesus? What would it look like to have an arena full of Christians praising the Lord instead of praising the latest voice on the radio?
It would look something like this:
Saturday I joined 30,000 believers in Reliant Stadium for The Response, a time of prayer and fasting for a nation in crisis. The arena was already full of people by the time I arrived late. I took one look and tears filled my eyes. This is what an arena full of people who love the Lord looks like.
"Lord, You are the source of every good thing, You are our only hope. And we stand before You today in awe of your power, and in gratitude for Your blessings; in humility for our sins.
Father, our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government. And as a nation we have forgotten Who made us, Who protects us, Who blesses us, and for that we cry out for Your forgiveness.
We pray for our nation’s leaders, Lord -- for parents, for pastors, for the generals, for governors -- that You would inspire them in these difficult times. Father, we pray for our president, that You would impart Your wisdom upon him, that You would guard his family. We pray for our military and the families who love them. Father, especially for those special operators who lost their life yesterday in defending our freedoms.
You call us to repent, Lord, and this day is our response. We give it all to You. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen and amen."
Thank you, Jesus.
This is the scene I watch every weekend.
Every weekend my heart aches.
I want to tell them that there is more to life than this! Every week I watch the youth of this nation praising the gods of entertainment, sex, and selfishness. My heart longs to take each person to coffee and listen to their story. What would it be like if these thousands knew Jesus? What would it look like to have an arena full of Christians praising the Lord instead of praising the latest voice on the radio?
It would look something like this:
Saturday I joined 30,000 believers in Reliant Stadium for The Response, a time of prayer and fasting for a nation in crisis. The arena was already full of people by the time I arrived late. I took one look and tears filled my eyes. This is what an arena full of people who love the Lord looks like.
Governor Rick Perry's prayer during The Response
"Lord, You are the source of every good thing, You are our only hope. And we stand before You today in awe of your power, and in gratitude for Your blessings; in humility for our sins.
Father, our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government. And as a nation we have forgotten Who made us, Who protects us, Who blesses us, and for that we cry out for Your forgiveness.
We pray for our nation’s leaders, Lord -- for parents, for pastors, for the generals, for governors -- that You would inspire them in these difficult times. Father, we pray for our president, that You would impart Your wisdom upon him, that You would guard his family. We pray for our military and the families who love them. Father, especially for those special operators who lost their life yesterday in defending our freedoms.
You call us to repent, Lord, and this day is our response. We give it all to You. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen and amen."
Thank you, Jesus.
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