Dear Denver (and America and the world),

We prayed for you. THOUSANDS of people on their KNEES praying for you in an Amphitheater. We prayed not because we are judging you and scared of your sin – we all have that disease too, we aren’t immune. No, we prayed that you would KNOW the God that we love to follow. We prayed that you would turn your eyes to Him. We asked that you would believe you are loved more than you can imagine. We asked, kneeling, that our best days as a nation would be AHEAD of us, not behind us. We believe that it is possible, because we follow a God capable of miracles.

Because I do have something that you don’t have – hope. I always think of one of my college Bible professors who said about the Gospel, “If I got to the end of my life, and found out the whole thing wasn’t true, I’d believe all over again.” I don’t remember anything else from his Old Testament class but that, but I don’t think he would be mad about it.
I feel the same way he does. Following Jesus makes life worth it. I know you may feel like it actually ruins all your plans – to believe that there is Someone out there who created you, who has plans for you, who wants a different life than you want for yourself. But Matt Maher quoted C.S. Lewis and I think you need to hear it: “Idols always break the hearts of their worshipers.” Whatever you think you want instead of Jesus? I can guarantee it will not be worth it.

Because I just feel like God has put this call on my life to tell you, all of you, that following Him is worth it. That maybe He isn’t out to ruin your party life; I actually believe that the life He intends for each of us is the BEST possible option. I really believe deep in my soul that following Him isn’t about rules, or what I can’t do – it is all about what I CAN do. It is about dreams, hopes, goals, fullness, JOY. He wants that for all of us. Oh, if we would only receive it.

I believe that He loves you. More than you can physically handle in your human body. More than anyone has ever loved you or will ever love you. You have to let Him, though.

I believe He has a call on all our lives – and that call is good. It is beautiful. It sinks into every corner of our being and draws us out of the depths into great light. Into abundant life. My heart literally HURTS for you to know that and experience it for yourself.

America, world, universe – us Christ-followers, the ones you criticize, mock, and shame, we cried out for you. Because we CARE. Because we long for you to have what we have. I know we don’t always say it or show it in the best ways; we are broken too, you know. But we know that our brokenness leads us into further intimacy with the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and He is coming back for us. I want you to be a part of that celebration. I want you to KNOW Him. You are invited to the party, will you come?

Louie Giglio talked about the first person to be saved after Jesus was resurrected. It was a sick man, sitting by the gate of the temple. Louie said, “No one sits by the gate tonight – everyone is invited in, by the NAME OF JESUS.”

My prayer for you today is that the LORD will show himself REAL and BEAUTIFUL to you. That He will descend from the Heavens to know you in your sin, struggles, and weakness…and convince you that in Jesus, you are righteous, holy, loved, and saved.

He throws a better party than anyone I know, and you are invited, friend.