Day 4 | Loved Ones, Our Nation, Divine Protection
If you are like Sister Teri and I, you don’t have to be reminded to pray for your “unsaved loved ones”. Generally, they (our loved ones) are first on the list and rightly so, as they are closest to our hearts. But as you continue to fast and pray, do it in “FAITH BELIEVING!”
Our nation needs REVIVAL, a real heaven-sent revival of repentance and turning from SIN, without it, we are headed for a downfall like we have never seen. Some can remember WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, more of us can remember the Vietnam Crisis, many more can remember 9-11 and the Twin Towers crumbling like Lego blocks. But, as a Nation, we only paused for a moment, then headed back down the same old path. Let’s PRAY for REVIVAL!!!
With all that is going on in our nation, we need to seek God’s “divine protection” for ourselves, our “loved ones”, our state, and our nation.
Our nation needs REVIVAL, a real heaven-sent revival of repentance and turning from SIN, without it, we are headed for a downfall like we have never seen. Some can remember WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, more of us can remember the Vietnam Crisis, many more can remember 9-11 and the Twin Towers crumbling like Lego blocks. But, as a Nation, we only paused for a moment, then headed back down the same old path. Let’s PRAY for REVIVAL!!!
With all that is going on in our nation, we need to seek God’s “divine protection” for ourselves, our “loved ones”, our state, and our nation.
- Pray for unsaved loved ones (Acts 16:31).
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- Pray for our nation (Psalm 33:12, Exodus 19:5-6).
Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
- Pray for divine protection (Psalm 91, Psalm 3, Isaiah 54:17, Isaiah 58:8).
Psalms 91:1-16 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Psalms 3:1-8 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
Prayer for Compassion
Then we can pray a prayer like David Mains prayed years ago. He was once pastor of the Circle Urban Church, an inner-city church in Chicago, and one day, in the course of his ministry among such great need, he prayed, “Lord, let me see the world as you see it, and break my heart with the things that break yours.”
Do you know: he really meant that prayer, and the next day he found himself weeping so much, he had to ask God to stop.
I encourage you – trust the Lord on this one. If you find your heart a little calloused this morning about the needs of so many around us, then be honest with Him. Tell Him, “I’m sorry that I’m not sorry. Would you please soften my calloused heart? Would you please break my heart with the things that break yours?”
From a sermon by C. Philip Green, Real Compassion, 10/22/2009
Do you know: he really meant that prayer, and the next day he found himself weeping so much, he had to ask God to stop.
I encourage you – trust the Lord on this one. If you find your heart a little calloused this morning about the needs of so many around us, then be honest with Him. Tell Him, “I’m sorry that I’m not sorry. Would you please soften my calloused heart? Would you please break my heart with the things that break yours?”
From a sermon by C. Philip Green, Real Compassion, 10/22/2009
A National Prayer of Repentance
Joe Wright is the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita, KS. On January 23, 1996, He was asked to be the guest chaplain for the Kansas State House in Topeka. He prayed a prayer of repentance that was written by Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. According to an article in the Kansas City Star from January 24, 1996, his prayer stirred controversy, and one member of the legislative body walked out. Others criticized the prayer.
The controversy didn't end there. Later that year, in the Colorado House, Republican representative Mark Paschall angered lawmakers by using Joe Wright's prayer as the invocation. Some members there also walked out in protest.
Paul Harvey got a hold of the prayer and read it on his program. He got more requests for copies of it than any other thing he had ever done. Here’s what he prayed:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that’s exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that:
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state. Grant them Your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will... Amen!!"
By Troy Borst/http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/kansasprayer.htm
The controversy didn't end there. Later that year, in the Colorado House, Republican representative Mark Paschall angered lawmakers by using Joe Wright's prayer as the invocation. Some members there also walked out in protest.
Paul Harvey got a hold of the prayer and read it on his program. He got more requests for copies of it than any other thing he had ever done. Here’s what he prayed:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that’s exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it a choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the airwaves with profanity and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state. Grant them Your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will... Amen!!"
By Troy Borst/http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/kansasprayer.htm
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting