“I’m not a big fan of auto racing,” Stan began, “but every once it a while I watch it on television because I just love to watch the pit crews.”
“The pit crews?” I responded. “You like to watch them?”
“I do,” Stan replied. “I think it’s just amazing how quickly they can change four tires, fill the car with fuel, do whatever else they need to do, and get it back on the track with such speed. Amazing!”
“I’ve never paid much attention to that,” I said, “but I’ll take your word for it.”
“Good,” Stan replied. “And, as you can probably guess,” he continued with a smile, “there’s a spiritual point about pit stops and why they should either be avoided or be real short.”
“And,” he continued, “I think it’s important to see that going into a pit applies, not just to individuals, but to entire nations.”
“Entire nations?” I responded. “How so?”
“That’s what it says in the Book of Psalms,” Stan replied. “And, it seems to me, that all I have to do is look around and see the truth that there are lots of pits which we, as a nation, have made; we have chosen to fall into them and we seem to be having difficulty getting out.”
“If that’s true,” I said, “is there a solution?”
“Trust me,” Stan replied, “it’s true. And I think the only way out is through the love, grace, and mercy of God.”
Continuing, he said, “That’s why every single day, often more than once, I pray for our nation.”
“What do you pray?” I asked.
“I pray that the Father in heaven will draw us to Him and open us to take the steps necessary to get out of the pits which we have made and chosen.”
Continuing, Stan added, “I pray for confession, repentance, revival, conversion, and transformation for our nation.”
“That’s a big list,” I replied.
“We’ve got a big God!”
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The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made. Psalms 9:15.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that I can come before you in prayer. I pray for our nation. You know how far we have strayed from you. You know the pits we have made and in which we have chosen to dwell. On behalf of our nation I confess and I ask for your forgiveness for choosing the pits over you. I ask you to move in the hearts of the people to bring us, as a nation, to confession, repentance, revival, conversion, and transformation. Please, Father, open us to want to know you and all you have for us. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: We all dig pits into which we fall from time to time. Do you agree with that? Why or why not? Who is it that leads us to dig pits? Who is it that leads us to fall into those pits and want to stay there? Who wants us to get out of the pits? Is there a solution for getting out of pits? If so, what is it and what would it look like to get out of the pits we have dug?
Waiting for the Train 