Interceding for our Nation

Prayer Points:

Prayers:
       Bless, O Lord, all the people of this land, from the highest to the lowest, particularly those whom thou has appointed to rule over us in church and state -- President George Washington

       It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy scriptures and proven by all history that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. -- President Abraham Lincoln

       Almighty God, who has created us in your own image, grant us grace to fearlessly challenge evil and to make no peace with oppression.  That we may use our freedom, help us to employ it in the upholding of justice in our communities and throughout the world.  All this to glorify your holy name and through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and rules with you and the Holy Spirit -- one God, now and forever -- James Martineau

       We thank thee, Almighty God, for the rich heritage of this good land; for the evidenced of Thy favor in the past; and for the hand that hath made and preserved us a nation.  We thank Thee for the men and women who, by blood and sweat, by toil and tears, forged on the anvil of their own sacrifice all that we hold dear.  May we never lightly esteem what they obtained at a great price.  Grateful for rights and privileges, may we be conscious of duties and obligations.
       On this day we thank Thee for the inspirations that breathes in the memory of Abraham Lincoln, and we pray that something of the spirit that was in his may be ours today.  Like him, may we be more concerned that we are on Thy side, than that Thou art on ours.  In our hearts may there be, as there was in his, malice toward none and charity for all; that we may, together, with Thy blessing and help, "bind up the nation's wounds, and do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."  Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -- Peter Marshall, Chaplain to U.S. Senate.

Devotion for July 4

Fear God and honor the government.. ."  -- l Peter2:17(LB)

On this Independence Day, we should be on our knees thanking God for all He has given us. The United States has been a country in which everyone has an equal opportunity. Thank God for a country where there is no caste or class to keep a man from going to the top. If a man has a will to work and study, he can go ahead regardless of his back-ground. In addition, thank God, He has given us freedom of religion. Whatever you may believe, no one can close your church because your religion does not, coincide with his. A few people meeting in a small, out of the way shack worshiping God as they believe in Him have the same right to religious freedom as the people who worship God in the great cathedrals on the avenues of our greatest cities.
Prayer For The Day:
Thank you, God, for allowing me to live in the greatest, grandest, and most free land the world has ever known.
-- Rev. Billy Graham

IN GOD WE TRUST

O God, our Help in Ages Past, our Hope in Years To Be,
Look down upon this PRESENT and see our need of THEE
For in this age of unrest,with danger all around,
We need Thy hand to lead us to higher, safer ground,
We need Thy help and counsel to make us more aware
That our safety and security lie solely in Thy care
And as we FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, make our way and purpose clear
And in our hours of danger
may we feel Thy Presence near. --  Helen Steiner Rice

Mighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people minded of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry; sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit wisdom those whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law; we may Show forth Thy praise among the nations of earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in he day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
--NATIONAL PRAYER FOR PEACE,


"If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek myface and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hearfrom heaven,forgive their sin and heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14

God sees the desperation in our culture. He knows our needs and He's given us a solution for rescue.

If - the condition
my people - corporately
who are called by my name - the Church
will humble themselves - submit to His will and pray - ask for His intercession
and seek my face - desire for His sovereignty
and turn from their wicked ways - confess and repent then I will hear - God's commitment
I will forgive - His response
and I will heal their land. - That's His promise.
-- 2 Chronicles 7:14

How will we respond?

There has never been a more desperate time for God's people to rise up in unity and fall down in repentance. Only then can we stand firm on God's promise to redeem, restore, and revive our broken nation. -- By The National Day of Prayer Task Force

Prayer For Community Walk

       Loving Father: On this National Day of Prayer we unite together as a community of faith to honor and glorify your name. We love you and worship you! Thank you for blessing our nation with your' goodness and mercy.
       Lord Jesus: We pray that our nation will see that "you are the way, the truth and the life." We recognize that you are calling us to join you in prayer for our community, and we seek to follow your leading during this Prayerwalk. Bless our feet as we represent you in this Community. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." Thank you for this opportunity to walk with you. Help us to love you and our neighbors "with all of our heart, soul and mind."
       Holy Spirit: Ignite with your holy fire a blessing upon our nation. We pray, for a powerful spiritual awakening to come that will bring our nation closer to Christ. Raise up prayer ministries that will make the Church a vessel for healing and revival.
       Almighty God: Bless our feet as we now set forth on this Prayerwalk, and as we declare these blessings: -- Written by Pastor John Anderson for National Day of Prayer

REVIVAL IS COMING!

       Peter Wagner, professor of Church growth in the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary, sums up what is happening: "A prayer movement that greatly surpasses anything, perhaps in all of Christian history, is rapidly gaining momentum."
       What has been most striking about the recent prayer movement is the unusual amount of cooperation and unity of purpose across denominations and theological traditions. Evangelicals and charismatics, mainliners and pentecostals, protestants and catholics are joining together in public prayer gatherings focusing on conversion to Christ rather than conversion to their particular denomination or faith tradition. Such unprecedented unity through prayer has convinced David Bryant, executive director of Concerts of Prayer International, that a great move of God is close at hand. "There's a work of spiritual revival hovering and ready to break open," he predicts. -- From One Divine Moment, the Asbury Revival by Robert E. Coleman

       If there has ever been a country ripe for revival, it is the United States.  It is time for God's people to get desperatelly hungry after Him, because the fires of revival must first ignite the Church before its flames can spread to the streets.
       I am weary of  trying to accomplish God's works with the hands of man.  What we need for nationwide revival is one thing and one thing only:  We need to have God show up. -- Tommy Tenny, The God Chasers


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This beautiful prayer was shared by Max Lucado after 9-11. It is just as pertinent today as it was then. I share it with you once again on this special day.

Dear Lord,

       We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, "What a horrible dream."
       But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.
       There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)
       We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.
       And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, "Do it again, Lord. Do it again."
       Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.
       Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.
       And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
       You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
       Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed our morning, so the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.
       And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock. But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
       We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.
       And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.
       Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.
       And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you've used her to heal a hurting world.
       Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
       Through Christ, Amen. -- Max Lucado