I attended the 50th Prayer and Action Summit which Community Transformation has been doing for over 12 years now. We had representatives from many different spheres of influence in our community who are leaders in their particular field. What a thrill for me to see so many men and women who are influencers in education, government, arts and entertainment, business, media, family and of course religion. Because this group consists of committed believers of the Christian faith, we can lay aside our denominational affiliations, etc. and come together to pray and strategize for ways to improve our community.

I sat at the table with other believers who were assigned to pray for our media. I am probably the only one who actually has a media influence, but nevertheless our prayers were targeting all levels of media and those who play such a vital role in our country of influencing the very culture through what they say and report. 

We have seen the extreme abuse of that privilege, which has only seemed to escalate in recent years. For many years, we heard the facts presented in a fairly unbiased way and allowed those who had strong opinions to voice them through “opinion columns” or portions of the program that were specifically designated as such. That is no longer true. 

Without belaboring the facts, our media, particularly the “news,” has become such a propaganda machine that it is no longer possible to watch without being aware that each outlet has those in a place of leadership who many times are allowing the facts to be twisted or misrepresented to emphasize their own agendas.

I visited Cuba many years ago and was amazed at the outright slander and lies that their national paper printed daily about the United States. Even though the common people were aware that what Castro was doing was oppressive and heavy-handed, many did think that most of what was printed about us was true. Some of it was so ludicrous I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Billboards were prevalent everywhere and most of them were the same – “death to America” was one I remember seeing often.

Probably the strongest petition that was made at our table was for truth to come forth. In order for that to happen, we have to have people who not only love truth but can discern when there is something else motivating the reporting of the “facts.” On all levels, we need those men and women who are willing to stand for truth, raising up a high standard of righteousness in order to bring down the strongholds of evil that are trying to destroy our beloved nation. We need men and women who have integrity, wisdom and boldness. We need people who will grieve over the wrongs and the unrighteousness that many of us know will be the ultimate downfall of this country if allowed to continue.

After we prayed for those who are in the sphere of media, we focused on our own hearts and asked the Lord to bring conviction into our own lives where we personally need to repent and change. Even within much of the church, people are not lovers of truth, but have compromised and justified their actions for any number of reasons.

I personally believe we need and have been crying out for another Great Awakening. Over 100 years ago, when God began to sovereignly move because of the accumulated prayers of the saints who were interceding for our country, the media not only began to report it but as it grew and started affecting whole communities and regions, it became the main topic of the news and conversation. Bars closed, jails had no one in them so the police formed gospel quartets. Churches were full of believers and seekers. Hardly a family was not affected by this amazing spiritual awakening.

It will probably look very different today, but we still need God to intervene in the affairs of mankind. It is the responsibility of those of us who do love the truth and know how to pray, to give ourselves even more fervently to intercede for this country. I do not believe it is too late nor do I believe that we are under God’s judgment at this point in time. His love never fails and His mercy continues to be extended to us as a country. 

I do believe we are in a very critical time and that the scales could tip in either direction, depending on the church and how we respond. Without a doubt we are ripe for judgment but I do not believe that is our only option. If we will personally pray and seek to take care of anything in our own lives that we know is contrary to what pleases God, we will then be in a place where the Lord can come and intervene in the affairs of mankind once more. “If My people (you and I) who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)