Search Me, Heal Me, Lead Me

Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. NASB

Our dear NDP prayer partners, I am going to do something this week that I usually try to avoid in my messages. I am going to use the words “I” and “my” where I often us “we” and “our.” I always view the National Day of Prayer Task Force as a team, a squadron of prayer warriors battling against the enemy together, not “my” ministry but the Lord’s. I am grateful to get to be a part of this amazing ministry of thousands of people that God has assembled for His prayers, plans and purpose. In these past days of death, division, and devastating pain across America please know that we weep and mourn together as Scripture says we must do. Coming together to grieve over the pain that fills our nation right now is our priority as the family of God. Keep praying, keep loving, together!

These past days I have turned to my brothers and sisters of various skin tones. My heart hurt so deeply over the death of George Floyd, but I did not want to make a horrible situation worse by saying the wrong thing, or even saying the right thing the wrong way. There is MUCH to be done together in the next weeks, month and years but I personally felt that I needed to lean in, listen and learn from others before I said or did anything else but pray, which I have been doing constantly.

Over the past several weeks as so many people have been praying 2 Chronicles 7:14, “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” I would hear people call out various “wicked ways” that exist in America, but my heart ached over two in particular, pride and prejudice. I believe that until we turn from those wicked ways God cannot and will not heal our land. You cannot heal a wound that is still being fed with infection. Since I cannot speak for anyone else and I am not anyone’s judge, I knew the only place to begin was with me. I began to pray Psalm 139:23-24 asking God to search me, to take a deep look at my heart, soul, mind and strength and convict me of any wicked way; any pride or prejudice, any hurt or hate, anything that did not bring Him glory or reflect His Word, will, and ways. I continue to pray and ask the Spirit to remove sin from my life and to heal and fill that space.

We all have an important part to play in God’s plan to heal our land, and it begins with Him creating a clean heart and clean hands in His people, individually and collectively. Philippians 1:6 promises that, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” We are not perfect people, but when we pray and submit to His will and work in us and then through us, we are being perfected, drawing nearer to God every day, abiding in Him so that His love can flow through us.

Will you please join me in praying now? Make this prayer personal, change and continue it in any way the Spirit leads you.

Lord, Jesus please forgive me for my wicked ways that block Your love and glory in my life. Convict me of every sinful word and way that is in me. Change me in Your love and grace and do not let me make excuses or turn a blind eye to things You want to remove from me and transform in me. Lord please remove pride, prejudice, and fear that I might not have even recognized; responses or emotions that have been reactions in my life. Replace all of these with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Lord, please heal me and heal our land.

Serving Him with gladness,

Kathy Branzell

President

National Day of Prayer Task Force

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