And We Pray for Our Nation! Part Two

Can there be any doubt that our nation, a nation whose founding was established to

achieve freedom and liberty from oppression, is in such desperate need of prayer? We see the efforts to rewrite our history so as to remove any references to the faith of our founding fathers, to the truth that until just the past few decades has been the core value for the vast majority of Americans.

Despite these efforts, the truth will remain. This nation’s foundation was based upon faith in the truth of God’s Holy word, upon the principles of our Judeo-Christian legacy which has been handed down to us through the centuries. Our “founding fathers” were determined that this faith would be the only foundation upon which our new nation would be built.

When I took typing in my high school class in 1955 or 1956, (yes, the typewriter, the

great-grandfather to the computer keyboard, existed in the good ole days), one of the practice

drills was to repeatedly type “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their

country!” From Google, I learned that this phrase was created by Charles E. Weller, a typing teacher. It doesn’t say when he created this phrase, but it had the precise number of characters to fill a single line on a typewriter.

But I digress. I just wanted to bring into focus that NOW is indeed “time for all good

citizens to come to the aid of their country”! And that the best way to come to that aid is for

Christians to get down on their knees – literally or figuratively – and PRAY FOR THEIR

COUNTRY! Without prayer that will lead to repentance, the freedoms and liberties established

by our nation’s governing documents will be taken. Perhaps not tomorrow, or even next year, but that

time will come!

It is NOT too late to stop this slide into what otherwise will surely become the

wearing out of God’s patience. When this happened in ancient Israel and Judea, devasting

judgement soon followed. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, his protégé and partnering evangelist,

encouraged him to pray: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help

them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them”. Pray this way for kings and

all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness

and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved

and to understand the truth”. I Timothy 2:1-4 NLT

To help us to know how to pray, I enlist the aid of Pastor Alan Jackson, the senior

pastor of a large Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, Christ-honoring church in Tennessee. There

are many others who are faithful “prayer warriors” but time or space will permit me to include

only Pastor Jackson whose prayers have inspired me and helped me to want to become a

“prayer warrior” on behalf of our nation, on behalf of those who have been elected or appointed

to have a leadership role within our wide range of government for our nation, our states, our

counties, our local cities, towns and villages.

"I am the salvation of the people, says the LORD. Should they cry to me in any distress, I

will hear them, and I will be their Lord forever."

So here are some of his prayers that I share with you. I have found them to be an inspiration and a help for me to pray for our nation. (I perhaps have taken some liberty to add a few points, to express what came to my heart as I read his prayers.)

Yes, it can be hard to pray for people we don’t agree with about important things,

especially when those people have authority over us. But that is exactly what we are called to

do. We are to pray that they will make choices and decisions that will honor God. We are to

petition the Lord for these things and intercede for those who do not know to pray for

themselves. Then, we are to express our gratitude to God for any good thing that happens on

their watch.

Why should we pray specifically for those in authority? So that we will be able to live

peaceful, quiet, and godly lives. Most importantly, we should pray that they will understand the

truth from God’s perspective and come to a saving knowledge of Him.

Abba Father, we are a people, a nation, in desperate need of repentance, deliverance

and revival. Open our eyes, our ears and our hearts to what we have allowed to happen that we

may REPENT and receive Your forgiveness. And in Your mercy, please forgive us.

We ask You to raise up those to lead us in our generation, men and women who know

You and seek Your will, men and women who are gifted and empowered by You to lead through

these difficult days. We pray that You will raise these people and establish them securely in

You, in Your authority, in Your power and in whatever position of influence that You have given

them.

Heavenly Father, bless them with Your wisdom and enablement. Lord, grant us leaders

who fear Your name. Deliver us from those who deny You or oppose Your purposes. Deliver us

from those that would lead us on destructive paths. Raise up voices to speak the truth. Open

wide doorways for the proclamation of the gospel and grant us the humility to submit to You.

Heavenly Father, direct our leaders in authority over us, and protect them from

deception. In Your great power and wisdom, establish us as a people with a heart for You.

Awaken us! You are our strength and protection. Only You secure our future. In You we put our

trust.

Let the Name of Jesus be lifted up, once again, across our land—on school campuses,

in corporate offices, throughout the halls of government, throughout the halls of justice, within

our homes, within our churches. May the right praises of God break forth, praising the name of

Jesus! In Jesus name.

Almighty God, You raise up leaders and You bring them down. We ask You to raise up

righteous and honest leaders throughout our nation, leaders for every level of government,

leaders who value Your Word and who seek Your counsel. Bring forth men and women who

have cultivated godly character and the ability to lead. May their voices be heard and may we

have the courage to stand with them. Silence those who would lead us on destructive paths.

Let the fear of God increase in our homes, our churches, in schools, universities, courtrooms,

and halls of government. Especially in the White House! We turn from our sins and rebellion.

Look upon us with mercy. Our hope is in You. You, and You alone, secure our future. In the matchless Name above all Names, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And one more prayer, from a different source - The Word Among Us.

O Lord, with heavenly care, hear and attend to the pleas of your people, we pray, that

we may see what must be done and that through Your presence, power, grace and mercy gain

the ability and the strength and the boldness to do what we have seen must be done. Through

our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.