On this National Day of Prayer, pray for your country and leaders. It’s the best way to put your trust in God for the uncertain future.
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SHAUNA: I’m Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope and welcome to the National Day of Prayer.
JONI: I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Christians who have committed to pray for America in these crazy, uncertain times. No wonder followers of Jesus are hitting their knees—there’s just so much at stake, not only in our world, but in our nation. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a president be the recipient of so much earnest prayer, have you? I mean, no matter what you think about President Trump, he is our leader. He’s our chief executive, our Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces. And his appointments to the Supreme Court, as well as his other initiatives, they’re impacting our nation in a powerful way. But this man and his administration need our prayers. And since 1 Timothy 2 tells us to pray for all those in authority over us, let me share just a few ways you can pray for our president and his cabinet, our judges, educators, elected officials, military officers, school boards and law enforcement officials.
So right now, would you join me in standing in the gap, in intervening between God and those he has put in authority over us? Let’s pray for these men and women of God. Let’s pray that these men and women be God fearing and recognize that they are accountable to the Lord for their decisions and for their actions. Let’s pray that this will sober them and humble them. Let’s pray that our leaders be granted wisdom and understanding. And if they don’t know Jesus, then join me in praying that someone in the halls of power will befriend them and present them with the Gospel and a loving Christian witness. And if our leaders are followers of Jesus already, let’s pray they’ll be encouraged in their faith; that they not become proud, or act apart from the Lord. Oh, how we need humble leaders, so let’s pray that our elected officials recognize their own inadequacies and lack of understanding, because Washington DC and state capitols and court houses are places of power and power—if not yielded to God, can breed corruption. So, let’s pray that our president, our judges, our congressional leaders, state assemblymen and women, let’s pray they seek the will of God, doing things for our good and safety, and not for puffing themselves up. And let’s pray Lord Jesus if that does happen, we ask that they might be convicted of sin and that they heed their conscience and not cauterize it.
And Lord Jesus, we pray for the many good churches that are in the vicinity of the United States capitol and state capitols. We pray that these churches will reach out to elected officials and invite them to Bible studies and prayer meetings. And Lord Jesus, it is so difficult for our lawmakers to navigate the complexities of crafting good legislation. Give them wisdom; give them your heart; give them your words. And right now, Lord Jesus, we pray for the chaplain to the US Senate, Barry Black; give that man a mighty influence among senators, and make the Gospel winsome through him and his team there in Washington.
And Lord Jesus, we pray that these leaders will value and regard the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Christ. We pray that they’ll show true regard for the elderly and the poor, homeless and disabled, newborns with chronic conditions and, of course, those who are unborn, as well. Lord may our national and state leaders make strong the safeguards that protect the lives of the weak and the vulnerable. Oh, Lord Jesus today on this National Day of Prayer, this is how we pray. And Lord I want to take this opportunity to thank You for my listening friend right now who joins me in this prayer, as together we close in the name of Jesus and for the sake of our great country and peace in our world. We pray all these things in your mighty name on this National Day of Prayer. Amen.
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