Today Decides Tomorrow

Recently, my husband and I took a drive to a nearby town. We needed a change of scenery, and we ended up taking a walk on the campus of Chico State University. With the beautiful landscape and old architecture, it was divine for someone like me. I noticed throughout the campus various flags and buildings inscribed with their motto: Today Decides Tomorrow. Obviously, it means something different to them, but it resonated deeply within me in this time we’re currently experiencing in our nation.

Since the beginning of the year, God has been speaking to me about prayer and the power of our voices. Prayer has always been an important part of my day, but there’s been something new for me with praying and declaring out loud. At the start of the year, I learned that 2020 is the Hebrew year of 5780, and in Hebrew 80 means breath or mouth. It’s been said that this a year, more than ever before, where it’s important to be careful about what comes out of our mouths and to be intentional about declaring things into our future. Proverbs 18:21 states, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

Over the past few months, several scriptures have stood out to me as significant in this time of shut down and unrest. I wasn’t on a search for them, but they seemed to have just shown up in my regular reading.

Isaiah 33:8 — The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are despised; there is no regard for man.

Psalms 11:3 — The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?

The “righteous” simply means those that live in faith and dependence on Jesus. So, what can believers in Jesus do?

We can pray! We can lift our voice! Our voices may be silenced elsewhere, but they are not silent to God! It says in James 5:16 that our prayers are powerful and effective! When we pray, justice and peace will dwell in our land. Isaiah 32 and 33 spell it out so clearly.

Isaiah 32:16-18 — Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Isaiah 33:2, 5-6 — O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.

So, let’s pray for an abundance of salvations across the earth and that God will be the stability of our times!

Billy Graham said this, “To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.”

I would agree. Today decides tomorrow. We must grieve for our nation and all that is happening and rise up in prayer for a better future. I am committing to pray for these things each day, and my alarm is set as a reminder to stop whatever I’m doing and pray and declare out loud.

Will you join me (in whatever way that may look for you)?

There are loads of resources online if you need a starting point. Here are a couple books that I’ve used regularly:

The Power of a Praying Nation by Stormie Omartian

Praying the Bible – The Book of Prayers by Wesley and Stacey Campbell

Strike the Mark by James Goll

Or, join Franklin Graham in Washington D.C. for a prayer march in September!