National Day Of Prayer

You know the Bible teaches that in the last days before Christ’s return our world would go topsy-turvy and become perilous. Well, I think that’s a perfect description of the time in which we are now living.

- It is during times like these that we need an anchor.

- It is in time and days like these that we need to become people of prayer ... prayer warriors.

- Yes, we Christians are to pray for our needs and the church’s needs; but our prayers are to extend far beyond the walls of our local churches. Our call to prayer must be extended for our leaders. The call to prayer for our leaders and our nation is so desperately needed and our mandate to do so is evident in the pages of God’s Word.

I Timothy 2:1-4

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

Not only are we to pray for all men in general, but as that scriptures says, we are to pray specifically “for kings, and for all that are in authority” (I Timothy 2:2)

This means we are to pray for them:

- No matter how good or bad they are

- No matter what political party they belong to ... whether Democrat or Republican

- No matter whether they are conservative or liberal

- No matter how moral or immoral they may be

- No matter how just or unjust they might be

- We should pray for those in authority because God put them there

We need to understand that it is our responsibility to pray for those in authority ... and that they are there by the will of God and He will remove them as He sees fit to accomplish His ultimate plan.

Daniel 2:21 "And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:"

Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

Yes, our country is currently going through a crisis on foreign shores. However, I’m reminded of what my history books taught me of how this same nation was war-torn and weary in the midst of the Civil War, and victory in the long struggle was anything but certain ... then the President received a resolution asking him to declare a national day of prayer.

Here is part of his response: "We have forgotten the gracious hand, which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us," he wrote, "And have vainly imagined that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."

With those words, President Abraham Lincoln called on all Americans to turn to God in prayer for a quick outcome to the Civil War.

Now I’m no president ... but I think it fitting that pause a pray for our President ... that God will give him wisdom and discernment in every decision he makes. I think it fitting that we pause and pray just as President Lincoln did and ask God "for a quick outcome to the Crisis in Iraqi and Afghanistan; and ask for his protection on our Armed Forces. So please join me and pray ... and lets ask God to give the President of these United States all the appropriate knowledge he needs to lead our nation by sound biblical principles and doctrines.

Let us go to the Lord together.

All wise and eternal God. Creator of both heaven and earth and all that dwell within. We beseech thee oh heavenly Father ... coming to you in intercession and supplication for President George W. Bush, his cabinet and all of those whom you have allowed to be in leadership in this blessed country of ours.

We come right now Lord asking for your guidance and protection. We come right now Lord asking that you grant President Bush the serenity to know that there is no war, no famine, no crises, nor circumstance that is bigger than you. You ask the question of your servant Abraham "is there anything too hard for the Lord." Moreover, I pray that he will find that same answer, and believe in his heart that as long as he has You, then he has more than enough. As long as he has You, then he is more than a conqueror. Your scriptures tell us "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." and that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate [him] us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.