​Thank you to those who prayed for our National Day of Prayer event this past week in the center of downtown Grand Rapids. God gave us great weather, a good crowd and, most importantly, the blessing of His presence.

After an inspiring time of worship, we asked leaders from the Seven Mountains of Culture to share appropriate scripture passages and then asked local pastors to lift these areas of culture up in prayer. So, for example, we had a local mayor, a state representative and a trial court judge each share scripture relating to their governmental roles, and then a pastor covered that entire area in prayer. The same was done for business, education, arts and entertainment, media, religion and family.

People were clearly touched by God's presence. Here's a few comments that people posted on social media: 

"What an inspirational, Spirit-led evening! Crowds praying for repentance, revival, and reconciliation! Moving forward together in Christ!"
"National Day of Prayer in Grand Rapids. The SUN showed up. And so did the SON!"
"Great in every way!"
"Powerful time!" "

Toward the end of the event, Grand Rapids First Church Pastor Sam Rijfkogel summed it up well. He said we will look back at May 5, 2016 as a major milestone in our pursuit of revival in our region, that God will certainly be responding to our united prayers. To which we say, "May it be, Lord! All for Your glory!"

Many asked what's next for The Grand Awakening. Please pray that we will clearly hear God and boldly follow His leading.

So you can get a better sense of what happened, below are a few more pictures of the event, most taken by photographer Tom De Vette. To see even more, click here.

Most of our family last summer

The Wall Street Journal has been running a series of articles under the title “2050: Demographic Destiny.” The team writing these articles—looking at the facts—has concluded that world economies are in trouble. But, contrary to what we have been conditioned to believe, our economic woes are not due to overpopulation. In fact, just the opposite: the authors point out that our problems stem from the reality that the number of working-age people in developed nations is shrinking. At the same time, due to lengthening of lifespans, the number of people over 65 is skyrocketing, adding to society the burden of increased medical expenditures for this age group.

So why are the number of working-age people shrinking in our world? Because of what demographers call “low fertility rates.” Translation: women are not having enough babies. It takes 2.1 babies for each female during her lifetime to achieve zero population growth in any given nation: one baby to replace her, one to replace her mate and .1 babies for those who don’t ever reproduce in the future. The average number of children born to women in a nation is called the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of that country.

So where has America been on the scale of Total Fertility Rates? From 1940 through1969, the TFR in the U.S. exceeded 2.1. In fact, from 1945 through 1964 the TFR was more than 3 children per female in America. But, starting in 1970, we have been below 2.1 children per woman. Most recently, the TFR is at 1.86.

Looking at demographics from another perspective is the median age of our population. That is the age where 50 percent of the population is on either side of this number. In 1970, the median age of the U.S. was 28. It is now close to 38! In marked contrast, the median age in the U.S. in 1850 was 18.9. In Muslim lands like Afghanistan, the median age today is about 18. In dying Japan, the median age is 46! Europe is similar. In demographers’ eyes, these cultures are dying off.

But the U.S. is not far behind. In the last two years in America, in the white population group, deaths have outnumbered births because of insufficient numbers of children born.

So what does this have to do with us? Quite a bit, it turns out.

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We know—at least in theory—that man apart from God and His Word, inevitably shoots himself in the foot, producing more evil than good. Much truth from God is counter-intuitive: we obey because He is our Lord, not because we totally understand the why. But later on, He often shows us the reason for our obedience.

We need to ask: if the world around us is not bearing and raising children, what about us? Are we listening more to God or to our culture in this important area of life? Does God have anything to say about this area of life? How do we view children? Are they a blessing, or a burden; a privilege to bear and raise, or a pain? 

God’s perspective on this issue is clear. One of the first commands to Adam and Eve was for them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with people. He repeated this to Noah after the flood. God has never cancelled this command. Based on what we say above, we can no longer use the excuse that our world is already full and God would have us be “prudent” by minimizing the number of children we have. Psalm 127 makes it clear that children are an unmitigated blessing and that a man is blessed whose quiver is full of them.

Is not Jesus to be Lord of every area of life? Are not our childbearing abilities incredible gifts from Him that, as we yield them to Him, He (not impersonal biology) through us can create a new child made in His image that has the ability to grow up and impact our world for Christ and live eternally? Why do we feel we need to make these important decisions based solely on our projected financial condition, personal preferences, and our perceived ability to manage a large number of children? Is not God’s call His enablement?

Bottom line, brothers and sisters, should not we as Christian married couples be open to God for the children He wishes to bless us and the world with unless, of course, there are significant medical or other issues that make such clearly unwise and thereby wrong?

A brief, personal story. Marcia and I had three lovely daughters and were ready to call our family “done.” Then, somewhat “accidently,” #4 came along—another sweet daughter. In our minds, that really was plenty of children! I was absolutely sure we couldn’t afford any more, nor would more fit into our car or our house.

But then God began to mess with Marcia and me. In her heart, Marcia began to desire another baby. So she prayed that God would either change her heart or mine. As a result of her prayers, God began to show me the many scriptures that describe how God sovereignly opens and closes the womb and how children are an unmitigated blessing. I eventually came to the very challenging conclusion that He would have us go “cold turkey” on birth preventative methods. Yes, we would obey Him. But, at the same time, I was comforted with the knowledge that an all-wise and all-merciful God could see what was obvious to me: we couldn’t handle any more kids!

So, when a couple of months later, Marcia patted her tummy and—with a smile—said that she didn’t feel so well, I was distraught. What had we done? I am now ashamed of my ungodly response. Because that little child in her womb was our first son David who is now a university professor impacting hundreds of students and others with his life. And then came along Suzie, John, Scott, Laurie, Daniel, Angela and Nathan. (Not to mention the 26 grandkids!) Each of which is an incredible person and, in his or her own way, pursuing Jesus and impacting their worlds for Him.

And, yes, God did provide a bigger house, a 15 passenger van, and even college tuition for each of our children! Matthew 6:33 is still in the Bible!

Was it easy? Are you kidding me? But where do we read in scripture that this life is supposed to be about my ease and comfort? And imagine the impact God will produce through these children that He created for His glory. As someone said, children are messages we send to a time we ourselves will never see. They are missionaries to the future.

​“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

How wonderful it would be if our governmental leaders really possessed the power to restore our nation to vibrant health. Yes, leadership is important, and God has truly ordained government. But does government—even when staffed by highly competent and trustworthy people—have the necessary tools and leverage to restore America to true greatness?

To best answer that question, we first need to agree on what the problem is that has reduced our nation to its present chaotic state. Listening to some of our current candidates for President, you would think our only problem is the perceived incompetence of our current leadership. If true, the solution would be relatively simple: replace those in power with others who have the courage and skill to lead us with optimism and hope.

However, as followers of Christ, we know the real problem with America runs much deeper than inadequate political leadership—the heart of our problem flows from our sin natures. Sin has permeated each of us so that, apart from Christ's redemptive work in our lives, we inevitably will live selfishly for ourselves, and our nation will be the worse for it.

One of my heroes, William Wilberforce, came to this same conclusion more than 200 years ago. In his book, A Practical View of Christianity, Wilberforce says that true Christianity alone has the power to bring life and health to a nation. But what interferes with it working, says Wilberforce, is what he calls “the disease of selfishness” which finds its way into all classes of society, from rich to poor.

Former President John F. Kennedy apparently also understood the need for selflessness if our nation were to prosper. In his inaugural speech, JFK challenged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

The goal for selflessness is clear. But how can we pull it off?

Individuals can pretend to be selfless for only so long. Sooner or later, our flesh—our sin nature—will rear its ugly head, and chaos will return in force. A more permanent change requires transformation of our hearts and lives by the power of the Gospel. Only through revival of the church and spiritual awakening will we ever really experience true selfless love for our neighbors that alone can bring joy and health back to our nation.
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So those of you who are tirelessly praying and working for revival and spiritual awakening in your communities are engaging in the most critically essential activity possible. Let us not despair, but keep going in the power of the Spirit for His glory and the blessing of our nation! 

When we take a serious look at what prayer really is, we should stand in awe. Think about it! In prayer we enter the Holy of Holies and interact one-on-one with the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Yet who totally understands prayer? The most knowledgeable theologian must concede he has much more to learn about the subject.  At the same time, God’s ears and heart are open even to the cries of young children who have scant knowledge of God’s deeper truths.

It’s been my observation that while virtually every follower of Christ prays, most of us will concede our prayer life is less than it should be.

Are you on that page? If so, let me offer a couple suggestions.

First, it helps to get a clearer understanding of what prayer really is. I thank my friend Dave Butts, head of the National Prayer Committee and author of many books, for enlightening me on this issue. I particularly was helped by his recent publication Forgotten Power: A Simple Theology for a Praying Church.

Dave has defined prayer as “the communication part of the most important love relationship we have.” In Forgotten Power, Dave makes the case that prayer “is the way God has chosen to accomplish His will on the earth.” Perhaps an analogy will help unpack this idea. How do people come to saving faith in Christ? We may witness, but it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and draws them to the Savior. While God doesn’t need our help in bringing people to Christ, He chooses to partner with us, impacting eternity and giving cause for us and the angels in heaven to rejoice.
The same is true about prayer. God is sovereign and really doesn’t need our prayers. But, in His sovereignty, He has chosen to partner with us through our prayers. By His Spirit, he leads us to pray for things that He has planned to do. The result? God moves heaven and earth in response to our prayers, and we experience joy.

Jesus put it this way: “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23-24)

So we need to ask: could it be that some of God’s intended blessings for His people never arrive because no one was willing to follow the Spirit’s leading to pray for it to happen? I believe Scripture would support answering this question in the affirmative. The Bible is full of “if” statements, including the one most of us are very familiar with in II Chronicles 7:14. God will not hear, forgive and heal unless we do our part of humbling ourselves, praying, seeking His face and turning from our wicked ways.

The importance of prayer is further underscored when you consider that Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, but He repeatedly—through word and example—taught them how to pray. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon put it this way, “I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”

Prayer warrior George Mueller also taught much on the subject as he, through prayer, brought in the resources necessary to feed, clothe and house over 10,000 orphans in England during his lifetime. He never directly asked people for money and still survived very nicely without a regular salary for 68 years!

Mueller understood that sometimes we don’t feel like praying. We still need to pray! He put it this way: “It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were of no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer; whilst the truth is, in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying; for the less we read the word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.”

So, with this better understanding of the importance of prayer, what can you do to improve your prayer life? I suggest you work on both the quality and quantity of your prayers.

As to quality, when you know something you are considering praying about is: (1) consistent with the Word of God; (2) something that will bring God great glory; and (3) something the Holy Spirit is putting on your heart to pray for, then don’t quit praying about it until He answers.

That certainly is the encouragement of Jesus in His parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18. In verse 7, Jesus says, “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?” (emphasis added). In Luke 11, Jesus commends our persistence—even our impudence—as we approach our Heavenly Father. He does not chide us for being in His wonderful face with our needs. He loves us!

To increase the quantity of your prayers, consider that Christians in other parts of the world and followers of Christ in prior eras have had a habit of praying for two or more hours daily. In comparison, we American Christians look rather pathetic. While praying for hours might be too huge a first step for you to take, I encourage you to purpose for the next 40 days to add even 15 or 30 minutes per day more to your prayer times and see if that doesn’t grow your prayer life and bring you greater joy in your walk with Jesus.
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Finally, what if even 5 percent of the Christians in your community began to cry out, both individually and corporately, in desperate prayer for God to move powerfully in revival and spiritual awakening? Would our Father not hear and would not that move His hand? And would not our joy then really be full!