Dear One and Only Heavenly Father,
I come, submitting
myself to you in prayer for this divided nation, the authority that you have sovereignly
given it, and the effects this nation has and will have on your world. As I do
so, may I keep my focus solely on you, Oh God. May I truthfully plea for your
sovereign will be done as you have revealed to us through your Word.
I pray the divided
people of this nation. Oh, how divided the United States are! Oh, how we need
you desperately. This country has turned its back to you. May we the people
turn back to you, Oh God! We harbor hatred for each other and justify it, but
you are the only good judge. May this nation be a nation that repents and runs
to you rather than from you. And, Oh! How you can forgive us so! But, not so if
we the people do not repent and turn from our ways.
I pray for the
rioters and those that harbor hatred towards an imperfect authority. May they
be physically safe as they insist their own way. Yet, far more important than
that, may we see your perfection and realize how foolish and selfish we are.
Oh, how our arguments and excuses falter before a just and true God! May we the
people guide the imperfect authority that you have perfectly set it place. For
who can know the Father’s will? With love and care, may we do our part to help authority
walk in your way rather than rebel against. For, isn’t rebellion what we did to
you? Yet, how easy it should be to serve you since you are perfect! How
imperfect we are to think we are better than another imperfect man. Grant
humility and peace in you to us as a nation.
I pray for the
police department and those tasked with keeping the peace. May you keep them
safe and grant them wisdom to do what is right and pleasing in your eyes. May
justice be dealt with Godly wisdom and loving mercy.
I pray for the new
authority of this country. Guide them in your way, Oh just and true King. Should
such authority figures use the authority you have granted them for their own
selfish means, may we remember that though man means it for evil, you mean it
for good! How awesome are your works and great are your deeds!
I pray for all
other nations and the effect that our nation has on theirs. Father God, I ask that
rather than be a fear, or disheartening upon the world, that we would demonstrate
the fragrance of your love and grace through how we deal with international
situations and how we do business. May you implore business men to be merciful
and gracious in their dealings rather than selfish and fearful of financial loss
or risk. May we put our trust in you who clothes the lilies and feed the birds.
May we be a country that does not withhold mercy and grace towards nations
because we fear personal loss. May we extent such mercy and grace to other
nations because we are secure through our trust and faith in you, Oh Lord! Yet,
I know that before this may happen, we must be a nation that repents and runs
to your forgiveness.
Lastly, I pray for
your people, the saints, in this dark nation. And, how dark this nation is! How
desperately we must be lights. May we cling to you in our darkest hour tightly
so that we may not fall into the ways of this sinful world. Do not let us go!
Remember your people in this country. May we not fall to the temptation of political
hatred, for hatred is still hatred no matter what side we’re on. May we not
forsake the command of the church to preach your gospel into all the world.
And, this nation is certainly part of that world. May we be the ones to show
this nation how to accomplish peace. How to repent. May we be patient when we
attempt to love others, for we are naturally, sinfully impatient creatures. May
we not be afraid. Make us bold when we preach your Word. Make us preach your
Word! May your mercy and grace overwhelm us – your forgiveness humiliate us.
May we desire to praise your name forever. Oh, how we yearn for this time to be
over, yet everything is accomplished in your perfect timing. We yearn for peace
and rest. You give it! Just as we have repented and you granted your
forgiveness, may we go out and tell others that you offer such eternal
forgiveness for those who repent and trust their lives to you!
This sinful world
that you love tires us. Give us strength to love as you do.
And above all, I
plea,
Come, Lord Jesus!
In
the Name of Jesus Christ, Our Risen Savior,
Amen.
