If My People Who are Called by My Name,
will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
So said the Lord to the nation of Israel in the days of Solomon. Most Christians are familiar with this powerful promise. On Thursday, May 4, our nation will observe a National Day of Prayer. There will be prayer breakfasts and prayer gatherings throughout the land. Sadly, at the national level, such observances have nearly had to go underground, such is the effort to silence religious faith in the land, all in the name of “separation of church and state.” While it is postured as religious tolerance, in reality, it has become a weapon of religious “intolerance.” At least it is used that way to silence the need for a nation to repent and seek the face of God.
On Thursday, May 4, at 11:30, we will gather in our worship center to pray for our nation. I cannot urge you enough to make this an appointed time of prayer. Never before has our nation been in such dire need of prayer and repentance. I believe God honors all who seek Him, even those who do not know Christ yet, but believe that our times call for our nation to seek God. And I believe there will be many across our land praying. We who know the mighty hand of the Lord sought, all the more, to pray. As the biblical writer, James, writes, “The fervent and effectual prayer of a righteous person avails much” (James 5:16).
What can you pray for? Here are suggestions:
- Pray for a ceasing of the out-of-control lawlessness and crime in our land.
- Pray for the ceasing of limits placed on prayer and faith in the public arena.
- Pray for a return to biblical values in marriage and family.
- Pray for a return to teaching biblical values and morality in public schools.
- Pray for our nation to cease celebrating violence and evil in our media, films, and culture.
- Pray that those in government will pursue character and truth more than votes.
“Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40
Pastor Mike
