Songbook for repentance
Songbook for repentance
by Joel Howard
The circumstances in our world right now indicate a desperate need for revival and repentance. As revival and breakthrough start to hit our churches and homes, how do we steward them? And how do we seek more? As I sing the Psalms as a musician and songwriter, I am struck at how God has given his church a songbook for repentance and revival in the Psalms:
Psalm 94 puts lyric and music to the prophetic words of old:
In Joel 2, we are given the call to cry out and weep before the LORD.
The Bible gives us the WHAT but the Bible also gives us the HOW. Once you get your church together, and as you lead your family, your marriage and children to the feet of Christ in prayer, use the Psalms to guide you in HOW to cry out to God.
My good friend Rev. Jon Mitchell often opens a prayer and repentance gathering by declaring a Psalm to set the tone. He is using the Psalms as a springboard and as a script of how to lead us into prayer. Similarly, at home, I often start the day by leading my children and wife in a scripture memory verse from the book of Psalms. Don't think your children can memorize scripture? Think again! My five year old has picked up some of the verses quicker than I have!
As you lead your home, your marriage and even your own walk of repentance before God, consider activating your use of the Psalms. There's 150 of them - pick one and watch how God inspires and anoints your life! Share the revival stories with someone else and watch the fire of God's work spread to bless even the whole nation - and beyond!
by Joel Howard
The circumstances in our world right now indicate a desperate need for revival and repentance. As revival and breakthrough start to hit our churches and homes, how do we steward them? And how do we seek more? As I sing the Psalms as a musician and songwriter, I am struck at how God has given his church a songbook for repentance and revival in the Psalms:
Psalm 94 puts lyric and music to the prophetic words of old:
"Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?" (v. 16, ESV)
In Joel 2, we are given the call to cry out and weep before the LORD.
"Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast...gather the people...let the ministers of the Lord weep." (v. 15-17, ESV, abbreviated)
The Bible gives us the WHAT but the Bible also gives us the HOW. Once you get your church together, and as you lead your family, your marriage and children to the feet of Christ in prayer, use the Psalms to guide you in HOW to cry out to God.
My good friend Rev. Jon Mitchell often opens a prayer and repentance gathering by declaring a Psalm to set the tone. He is using the Psalms as a springboard and as a script of how to lead us into prayer. Similarly, at home, I often start the day by leading my children and wife in a scripture memory verse from the book of Psalms. Don't think your children can memorize scripture? Think again! My five year old has picked up some of the verses quicker than I have!
As you lead your home, your marriage and even your own walk of repentance before God, consider activating your use of the Psalms. There's 150 of them - pick one and watch how God inspires and anoints your life! Share the revival stories with someone else and watch the fire of God's work spread to bless even the whole nation - and beyond!
