Today is the National Day of Prayer in the United States. I beg you to take time to pray during the day today. In fact, take that time right now. I’ll give you a moment of silence . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dear God and Father,

This day many in our nation will pause to spend time in prayer for the United States. As I join them, I think of much we have to be grateful for. We still live in a country of freedoms. We still have liberty to worship You, to approach You as individuals, and to assemble in churches to praise You, as we encourage each other, and as we learn from Your Word. We can still read Your Word privately in public places. We can still individually bow our heads to You in prayer in restaurants, in homes, and in schools. We pray that these freedoms continue. Please defeat those that would remove these liberties.

As I consider the moral climate of our nation, I am saddened by our crimes against each other and our crimes against You. We are living for self and for sin. We are neglecting the poor. We are celebrating sinners and disparaging saints. We are looking to academia, entertainers, athletes, media, and politicians to guide our morals instead of learning from You. Please forgive us.

Forgive me for the part I have played in this rebellion, whether by my inaction, my silence, or my involvement.

When I look at the nations around us, I grow fearful. Many threaten to destroy Christian people. Laws violate human rights and Your morals. Nations like North Korea are flexing the muscles of militarism and nationalism which are often catalysts to war. Russian forces are attacking neighboring Ukraine. Please be with our leaders and the leaders of our allies that we can find a way to prevent war. Please help those with influence with and in those aggressive countries to calm the atmosphere that seems to be in turmoil. Please help us to avoid the conflicts that will cost so much more than money.

Help Your people, the Church, to be salt and light in our neighborhoods, communities, towns, cities, counties, states, and nation. Help us to make the most of the opportunities we have to spread Your Love through the Gospel,

In Jesus name,

Take time to read Nehemiah’s prayer given below. Use it as a spring board to your own prayer today.

“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth,I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.

(Neh 1:5-10 NLT – New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.)

– Scott