Today May 4, 2017 marks the 66th Annual National Day of Prayer in the USA and thousands of Christians nationwide will attend church and community prayer gatherings or dedicate time to praying individually.
This prayer gathering takes place by Presidential
proclamation under Public Law 105-225:The President shall issue each year a proclamation
designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the
people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at
churches, in groups, and as individuals.
The prayer theme this year is from the Old Testament Book of
Daniel, Chapter 9, “For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear Us... Forgive Us...Heal Us!”
For their open rebellion, GOD had removed His favor from the
Nation of Israel and allowed them to be taken into captivity by an enemy
nation. When Daniel discovers that Israel’s punishment would last for seventy years
he immediately entered into a period of prayer and fasting in sackcloth and
ashes on behalf of his fellow Jews.
- So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes. Daniel 9:1-3
Verses 1-19 of Chapter records Daniel’s prayer which includes:
- Confession of the Nation’s sin – we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.
- Acknowledgement that GOD is justified in His punishment, “Lord, you are in the right;… You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned.
- Repentance, but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us,..
- Petition for GOD’s promises of mercy – the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.
The citizens and residents of the United States have a
spiritual responsibility to pray for our Nation. But the people of GOD as the
family of GOD in the Kingdom of GOD also have a responsibility to pray for all
Nations, as GOD’s children are citizens everywhere. The Scriptures are clear.
- “….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. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.” 1 Timothy 2: 1-6.
- When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall. Proverbs 29:2, 16
GOD’s people everywhere have authority to go before our
Father and intercede on behalf of our fellow citizens and Leadership.
Current circumstances among the Nations today are not unlike
that of Daniel’s day; we have all turned to our own way making Daniel 9: 1-19 as good a model prayer for us as any.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything
in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 3:14-15
Let us pray!
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, and our LORD, YOU are a great
and awesome God who always keeps His promises of unfailing love to those who
love and obey YOU. Father, we have not obeyed and we have not
heeded the warnings of the servants and shepherds YOU have sent to us; we ask
for forgiveness on behalf of all Nations everywhere. We all have sinned and turned to our own way. Even so LORD, YOU have not dealt with us as severely as we deserve. YOU have been long-suffering and continue to extend grace and mercy, for which we are grateful. Let us never forget that it is not to us but to YOUR NAME the
glory belongs, for it is because of your love and faithfulness that we are not
destroyed. Help us to fully repent, turn back to YOU and turn away from our wicked ways. We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of
JESUS CHRIST our LORD and SAVIOR. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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