Sometime around 2020 / 2021 I came across the idea of praying for a 'pandemic of righteousness'.
In context the United Kingdom was in mind, but the idea could be applied to other areas of interest as well.
More recently I realised legalism would pose a danger to that because legalism if counterfeit righteousness.
In Matthew 5:20 we have Jesus pointing to a 'righteousness which surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law'.
The other day I was looking at Hosea 10:12 (NIVUK).
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unploughed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
I saw a connection between the 'showers of his righteousness on you' mentioned and the 'pandemic of righteousness' I referred to.
From this verse in Hosea we can get some practical steps to prepare for a 'pandemic of righteousness'.
Sow righteousness for yourselves
My mind goes to Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers
What are you sowing in your life?
Who are you allowing to influence you?
Reap fruit of unfailing love
The words 'unfailing love' brings to mind the nature and character of God.
In 1 John 4:8 we get a fundamental definition of God - '... God is love ...'.
In Deuteronomy 7:9 we read '... he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love ...'
Fruit needs full sunlight and warmth to mature to its full potential.
See: Fruit Basics - Positioning
Are you basking in the sunlight and warmth of God's unfailing love?
How do I do that when life sucks you ask?
Worship - remind yourself of the nature and character of God in the face of 'apparent' evidence to the contrary.
See: Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Break up your unploughed ground
What hard ground is there in your life which needs breaking up?
General names for this would include issues such as trauma and fear.
A common manifestation of these issues is unforgiveness.
Undealt with issues like these will prevent you benefitting from the sunshine of God's love Matthew 6:14-15 '... if you do not forgive others ...' .
Seek out places and retreat centres with a Biblical approach to inner healing.
You don't want to be told you have a problem, you want the solution
John 8:12 '... Jesus said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."'.
Some suggestions (recommend finding a church with courses using this material)...
Freedom in Christ - 10 Weeks of Truth, Turning & Transformation