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Intention
Godly roots will be restored as God’s bride awakens to her place in His heart.

Scripture

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”—Ephesians 5:25-27

See also Revelation 3:19-22.

Reflection
Revelation might just be the least explored book in the Bible. But Revelation is not just a book for theologians. It is perhaps the most vital book of truths to explore today—full of real practical spiritual guidance in these end times.

For example, in chapters two and three, the risen Christ speaks to five of the seven churches, telling them to repent. At the end of these letters to the churches, He often adds: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” That’s you and me today.

For example, how can we not read about the lukewarm church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) without looking in the mirror at ourselves and our nations? The remarkable godly roots of Australia—and those in my own nation of America—will not survive lukewarmness.

There is a resistance to repentance in every one of us. We were born children of wrath; Jesus transforms us into children of God. Repentance, as a vital part of our prayers, begins to remove any residue of our old selves so that we become clean vessels of His Holy Spirit.

Perhaps most helpful in the book of Revelation—apart from reading the very good news of chapter 22 where we shall see His face—is Revelation 19:6-8. It declares:

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying’ Alleluliah! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

That’s great news! The Bridegroom is coming soon. He sees us already as His bride. We already—right now—have a place in His heart. He will help us clean up, through repentance, to present ourselves worthy to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Knowing that this priceless, eternal honour is just in front of us, we can gladly press on with our simple acts of righteousness each day. We do so in awe of Him, wanting to be cleansed in order to please Him. And we are that much more motivated to reach the many who don’t yet know him through key initiatives like the GO 2020 campaign.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, open our eyes and hearts and minds to see Your plan for our lives with You in eternity. Help us to see ourselves as Your bride needing to be cleansed to get ready for Your soon return as our Bridegroom. Seeing Your plan, may we be all the more bold to bring many into Your Kingdom in this hour. Restore, replenish and revitalise the godly roots You planted in Your precious nation of Australia.

31 Days Prayer Points
1. Pray for five people and share the Good News of Jesus with them.
2. Pray that God would use His people to reach one billion people this May.
3. Pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, both in Australia and globally.

Pastor Jeffrey Daly is the founder of the National Day of Repentance, which encourages personal and national repentance in all nations, and has most recently sponsored a Global Day of Repentance.

www.repentday.com / www.globalrepent.com

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DATES: 1st– 31st May 2020
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Daily devotions brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.