I have a confession to make. During the thirty-six prior days of writing this blog, some of the words I wrote were from self. God placed a burden on me to pray for America and to bring you to your knees for America as well. But forty days is a long time to commit! Whoa, what am I saying, that this blog is a farce? No. I’m saying I’m human.
Forty is the number of testing, trial, or probation in the Bible. It is mentioned one hundred and forty – six times. Wow. Moses lived forty years in Egypt and forty years in the desert, hiding out, before God selected him to lead Israel out of slavery. He was on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights twice putting the ten commandments from God together.
The Israelites wandered the desert for forty years before they reached the land promised to them by God. Often griping and complaining because of living conditions, but just as often confessing their sin and thanking God for His provision. In writing this 40 Days of Prayer for America, I confess, I have often looked at it as something I had committed to. It was a time of trial for me to honestly pray for the words to write. It was a time of testing to see if I would be faithful to God and to you.
Maybe you know what I’m going through because you have these trials as well. We promise to pray for something and often we do pray from our soul, but other times we just kind of lift it up and forget it. Will you recommit with me to pray for America when the Holy Spirit leads you to? It might be during your devotions, or as you walk down the street. God knows what He is doing in our government officials and He calls us at different times to be a part of that blessing. We must pray for our American government. I mean, really pray. Whether you voted for these particular officials or not; God’s Word says that they are all in power by His design. And they create the laws we live by.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” Romans 13:1-5
I think this says a lot about our faith and how we live life. Daniel continued to pray three times a day even though the ruler had stated that no one should pray or bow to anyone but him. Daniel was faithful to God, and God took care of him. We may not agree with all of the laws in our country, but if we live according to God’s laws, we are not going to break man’s laws.
Father God, we humbly ask for Your blessing on our government officials. Help us to listen to Your counsel when we are alone with You. Speak to our hearts each moment, for You are the anchor of our souls, and we will rest in Your presence. It is You alone we desire, and no one or nothing can take Your place. Lord, we lift our Legislative, Executive, and Judicial government officials up to You. We bring our State and Community governments to Your throne. These are the people You have placed in positions to make our laws. These are the people who choose what is acceptable in our society. Because of this, Father, we must pray for them daily; forgive me, Jesus, for the times I have missed the opportunity to make a difference in their decisions. Thank you for Your grace and Your call to be a part of the blessings through changes we want to see for You. I ask Holy Spirit, that each official go to their knees in humility before You. Let this be their first executive action of the day, to get alone with You, to read Your Word, to beg for Your will in the actions they must take each day. I pray that the words from Romans 13 be in the forefront of their minds as they make laws for us to live by; that they will know that they are called to their positions by God and that His judgment rests on them. And Father, forgive me when I judge instead of pray. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable to You, my God and my Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
“If my people who are called by my Name 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 heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
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