The Return

​Abraham Lincoln proclaimed, “It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” On April 30, 1863, Lincoln's National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer was observed.  Two days later, Lt. General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was mortally wounded in a freak accident where he was shot by his own troops.  The loss of this powerful Confederate leader changed the course of the war.[1]

Recognizing again, the grave spiritual condition of our nation, on September 25 and 26th, God-fearing believers from all denominations, backgrounds, races and ages gathered in Washington D.C. to rally around the mission for revival by individual, national and global repentance.[2]  The goal was to make a truthful accounting of personal and corporate (national) sin. To rectify these sins required acknowledgement, ownership, humility and prayer for God’s assistance, spiritual courage, and grace to identify spiritual deficiency with a remorseful spirit evidenced through pleading for His mercy and forgiveness.
 
Meditation
Joel 1:14--Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land at the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
 
The solemn assembly of believers at The Return focused on repentance; seeking “an intensely personal encounter with God; fasting; mourning with a broken heart before God over spiritual degradation; seeking God’s favor and reprieve from imminent judgment; and, an opportunity to be reminded that although our sin deserves punishment, by repenting, God (who hears), may respond with mercy, compassion and blessing.[3]  
            
It is hard to swallow that 157 years separate two great calls for repentance, especially given the rapidly growing dissension and deep divide which characterizes the United States.  Praise God that He put it upon the hearts of Jesus-followers across the nation to gather.  May we see His hand work supernaturally in the heart of His children to bring true and ongoing revival.  If the church awakens and functions as God intends it too, the impact will be powerful.  

While The Return occurred, Franklin Graham led a prayer walk beginning at the Lincoln Memorial that drew over 100,000 participants from across the country.  Prayer walkers passed directly by revival seekers.  Clearly God was at work in the hearts of His people.  May these actions start a movement the likes of which this age has never seen for the glory of its awe-inspiring Creator.
 
Inspiration
Disunity is a major hindrance to much prayer, and the history of revival in the church proves that deep pervading unity in the Spirit can lead to spiritual refreshing and blessing.—Wesley L. Duewel in Touch the World through Prayer

©2020 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 


[1] https://newsmaven.io/americanminute/american-history/lincoln-s-day-of-fasting-2-days-later-course-of-civil-war-took-a-turn-stiC6wNwF0WfMSJWubJvAA
[2] https://www.thereturn.org/mission/
[3] Ibid