This monologue from Paul Harvey from 1965 describes what we are facing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJc8Mzg0C-c
For such a time as this . . . http://patburt.com/
Heavenly Father, we begin by PRAISING You. You are Holy. Sovereign. Omnipotent. We place ourselves at your mercy but we ask knowing our prayers are heard by you for they are ENSURED by the blood shed at Calvary.
1. Father, we humble ourselves under your mighty hand. We beseech you to send a HUNGER for your word across this land. We pray for the day people will beg for the word of the Lord to be read. Allow us to see this to be a part of it it hunger for it. We ask you to bring deep conviction of sin, spiritual brokenness, a holy fear and genuine repentance among YOUR people. There will be no revival without our humility and repentance and only YOU can bring this about in us.
2. We Pray for deep cleansing, genuine repentance, and spiritual power to engulf the shepherds of our flocks and other Christian leaders. Renew our Christian leaders. Give them direction. Lead them by your spirit. Father, Put your whole armor upon them: fasten on the belt of truth around their waists, and wrap their chests in the breastplate of righteousness, shod their feed with the readiness to preach the gospel of peace. Give them the shield of faith, so they might extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one which will surely come; and place the helmet of salvation upon their heads, remind them they possess the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. May you do all of this so that they may STAND.
3. We pray today for all of those who work in ministry and Christian service both paid and unpaid. From pastors and worship leaders from Secretaries to Sunday School Teachers. Our deacons, our trustees, our church board members, any and all who sit on committees. Strengthen them. Uphold them. Show them the fruits of the labor and reward them. Put within them a teachable spirit and a desire for excellence in ALL they do. May they serve selflessly and humbly remembering they are serving YOU a Holy and ALMIGHTY God and Father remind them that YOU will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart [1Co 4:5] .for that day will disclose it [1 Cor 3:13] for YOU will discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not. [Mal 3:18]
4. We Pray for a mighty move of conviction and salvation upon communities of cultural influence. We pray for our national leaders our political leaders that they would be saved and as born again believers they would yield themselves servants to you. We pray for Hollywood actors and producers, educators, teachers, and college professors, news and media people, talk shows hosts, comedians and the music industry everyone that has influence over our culture our minds our childrens minds. We pray they will all come to repentance and knowledge of the truth and that they will use their positions and talents to GLORIFY YOU. For your word says This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5. We Pray for YOU to bestow spiritual hunger in your people and draw them to fervent intercession for this nation and for their church. Give them genuine faith and the fervent desire for prayer.
6. We Pray that you will fill your people with a passion to see people saved. Father, just as Paul said I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart that his people the people of Israel would be saved so I pray today that I and that THESE people that ALL people who hear me would have a great sorrow and unceasing anguish in our heart for those who are lost around us. Make this a burden we cannot bare but have to share. Make us believers and FULFILLERS hearers and DOERS of the Great Commission that WHILE we are going about our lives we would make disciples .that we would make followers of Christ .of our family of our neighbors of our friends of that co-worker we barely know of that stranger sitting next to us in the restaurant. Give us a BURDEN today Oh Lord.
7. We Pray today for your people to have a passion for missions and starting churches. Prepare the feet of those who will take the message of salvation abroad. Clear their path and strengthen their way. We lift up those whose desire it is to plant new churches in THIS land. Give them vision spark a fire deep within them to reach their community for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
8. Father pour out your Spirit like a mighty purifying flood. Purify our motives as we pray for revival. If there be anything of self remove it. Lay it low. Father, we claim a revival greater than the Great Awakening of the 18th century greater than the Great Revival of 1857 and 58 Greater than the Wales revival of 1904. We ask for a modern day PENTECOST in this country .beginning with YOUR people. As a result this revival you will send we pray for the salvation of the lost. Open their eyes. Remove they scales that blind them. Soften their hard hearts towards the Gospel. Show them their sin. Make them uncomfortable in their sin. Make them miserable because of their sin show them that YOUR WRATH rests upon them because of their sin and show them their need for a savior. Show them that this Savior is Jesus Christ your only begotten son whom you sent and that if they will just believe they will have everlasting life for you sent Him into the world not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. We BELIEVE today you are who you say you are and that a revival of the land is coming. We claim your promises.
In Jesus Name
Amen