February 27, Day of Prayer for Colleges

Today, February 27th, is a day of prayer for college campuses.

It happens to also be my dad's birthday, and my boss's birthday.) Thus it is a memorable day I should not fail to sieze for prayer.

It is more than 200 years old as a day of prayer. According to the Collegiate Day of Prayer website [https://collegiatedayofprayer.org] it was begun during the Second Great Awakening (1780s) in the United States, and continued for many years, and revivals were common throughout the times these "concerts of prayer" continued.

By 1815, the Concert of Prayer for Colleges had become a regular feature on the New England campuses of Yale, Williams, Brown and Middlebury. By 1823, almost every major denomination and university in America had embraced the practice of a concerted day of prayer for colleges. By the end of the 19th century, these repeated student awakenings had radically transformed the culture and moral climate of many of our largest universities.

This year, I have joined in, pledging to pray for UVa, PVCC (both colleges in my hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia), and the National Sun Yat-Sen University of Taiwan.  

Father in heaven, you have created all things for your glory.  You have sent your Son Jesus to restore this state of glory.  He, however, did not appear to us as being glorified when he was rejected by His own (the Jews) and sent to the cross to die, while they yelled, "We have no king but Caesar!  Crucify him!"  

Now it appears that the whole world has gone over to this secular god and worships at the altar of worldly knowledge, rejecting the knowledge of God.  Father, I pray today you might open anew the altar of heaven to the eyes of your people, that we may see your glory as Jesus did, and suffer with Him outside the gates, that is, outside the gates of our safe churches, and on the grounds of the colleges and seminaries which nearly all reject Jesus 

Lord, open our hearts to pray and intercede for the students and others at UVa and the other universities in this generation.  Bless your people who are working and studying at the colleges, and send a work among them that may lead to revival, small or large, may souls repent and turn in faith to Jesus Christ.  Open their eyes, Lord, through our witness. 

Make me also a willing, ready, present witness to the souls here in Charlottesville, both at UVa and Piedmont. Make the Haga family a powerful witness at National Sun Yat-Sen University in Tiawan, and bring many to faith.  Forgive my reticence to go out and preach and witness as I know you desire me to do.  Embolden me today to repent and henceforth go out faithfully, every Thursday and/or Saturday I am able to go.  May you speak your grace to the people here through me and others who serve you, including Bill Bray, the Bullettes, and all my friends in UBF everywhere.  

In Jesus' name, amen