By James Wilson
California’s Admission Day – September 9 – is the day Nehemiah completed a fifty-two day building project of restoring the city wall around Jerusalem after the Jews returned from their Babylonian exile. It is a great day to call the state – at least the people of God in the state – to a day of repentance constituting a re-focus on the God who has so blessed California. Once upon a time the people knew.
The preamble to the California Constitution says, “We, the people of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution.” If we trace the timeline from September 9 back fifty-two days we land on July 20, the anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon. Neil Armstrong said on that day, “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” When he became a believer in Christ Armstrong came to believe his own words even more fervently than before. Here hangs a tale.
When representatives of California, Oregon, and Washington met in Olympia last June our shared intention was to address a supernaturally driven drought in our three states in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 terms. We shared a strong affinity Nehemiah – the leader who taught his people to stand their ground with a sword in one hand and a mason’s trawl in the other – prepared to build and defend what they built at the same time. As we prayed and worshipped together we discovered a shared conviction that fifty-two days of prayer and fasting – from July 20 through September 9 – was the best way to launch what we named a Trifecta of Repentance. California would hold her day September 9; Oregon on the 10th, and Washington on the 11th. Alaska and British Columbia have come aboard as partners; their days will be celebrated on September 12th and 13th. Approaching a Biblical crisis with a Biblical remedy would indeed be a small step for (each) man and a giant leap for mankind on the West Coast.
I have visited Fiji and Hawaii’s Big Island where ecologically dead reefs were resurrected after periods of prayer and repentance. I have seen a polluted stream restored in Northern California and dry rivers erupt from underground springs after intense prayer; droughts have twice been broken in the past two decades when humble prayer begged God and meteorologists predicted continued dryness. It is well known in prayer circles that certain sin patterns literally pollute the land – as when Abel’s blood cried out – while sustained repentance can move God’s heart to restore normal rainfall just as it is written in 2 Chronicles.
The plan is this: California Christians will hold Solemn Assemblies from Noon to three in Room 437 and from three to five in Room 127 of the state capitol. We will repent for the historic sins of shedding innocent blood, covenant breaking, sexual sin, and idolatry. It will be a joyous yet utterly solemn undertaking because we know the call to repentance is not a call for punishment but for privilege – the greatest privilege ever bestowed. Mixed in with the repentance will be reconciliation activities with Native Americans as well as Black, Asian, and Hispanic people. The most important – and the most joyous dimension – will be the moment when the log has been removed from our eyes as we abandon these sins and we can once again focus our attention on the loving gaze of our Lord. What He does or delays on the drought – the physical and the spiritual – is His business. It is our business to re-dedicate our lives to living in His company.
Delegations from Oregon and Washington will join us in California. Some of us from California will accompany these delegations as we all move on to Salem for the Solemn Assembly outside the capitol in what is called David’s Tent on the 10th. We will continue on to Olympia on the 11th for their Solemn Assembly in the large hearing room in the capitol basement. We will pray with the people of Alaska and British Columbia on the 12th and 13th as we make return to California.
As we build this west coast wall of prayer and repentance we focus on three things. This is only the beginning, we stand on each others’ shoulders, and we serve the God of More. Anyone reading this posting is more than welcome to join us – in prayer from wherever they may be or by coming to Room 437 at Noon and/or Room 127 at three PM on Wednesday, September 9 in the California state capitol in Sacramento.
James A. Wilson is the author of Living As Ambassadors of Relationships and The Holy Spirit and the End Times – available at local bookstores or by e-mailing him at
praynorthstate@charter.net
