autumnal prayer

Father,

I write you with a torrent of needs in mind. I see the enemy sifting at friends. He is releasing death and discouragement upon your people. Lives are being stolen and replaced with doubt. Finances are being removed and replaced with uncertainty.

I sense those that were once strong in you, now weakened due to the doubts sent by the enemy. They need clarity of mind through you. They need your salve, so their spiritual vision may not only be restored, but granted an increased clarity.

Countries are being torn apart. Neighboring people groups are terrorizing one another. Disasters follow upon disaster upon disaster, so much so that we wish not to hear or see the news of them.

Our governments are weakened morally and financially. Leadership only sees their microcosm and strategizes to keep instead of helping others. Our judges are corrupt defining laws by their own wishes. Justice is not sought, but pushed away, into obscurity.

Yet is this time of darkness we know you remain true and stable. You are unchanging, despite what we see or fail to see. I know not what or how to pray, so I give back to you the prayer of Habakkuk and ask that your justice come.

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.

Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah

His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.

His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.
Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.

He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble.

The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed.

His ways are eternal.

I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.

Were you angry with the rivers, O LORD? Was your wrath against the streams?

Did you rage against the sea when you rode with your horses and your victorious chariots?
You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. Selah

You split the earth with rivers; the mountains saw you and writhed.

Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.
Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows,

at the lightning of your flashing spear.

In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.

You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one.

You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot. Selah

With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,

gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding.

You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.

I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound;

decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.

Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the heights.

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk 3:1-19 (NIV)