Lord,
You are the God who saves us. Hear our prayers day and night. May your ear be turned to our cries, as we intercede for this nation and her troubles. Sometimes it seems she is like one without strength, set apart with the dead, cut off and remembered not by her God. Her sins are many and your wrath lies heavily on her. Some of our closest allies view us as repulsive and our eyes are dim with grief at the strife and hatred within our nation. We cry out to you for help; do not reject us or hide your face from us, your people and your Church. Show your wonders and your love to us. When it seems your wrath has swept over us and your terrors have destroyed us, show us your mercy and hope. When it seems this nation is surrounded like a flood by enemies within and without, show us your power and glory. When it seems that our closest friends and neighbors have abandoned us, show us your presence. Your Word tells us that you are close to the brokenhearted and you save those who are crushed in spirit. Even when our individual circumstances or the chaos in our society feels overwhelmed with troubles, help us remember that our hope is in Jesus. Holy Spirit anointed Christ to bring Good News – release from sins, recovery of sight, freedom to oppressed, and favor of God on the people of God. Holy Spirit, pour out your presence as you did at Pentecost to bring this nation at this time your Good News. Cause Revival and Reformation to move in your people, your Church, and this nation. Bring her back to her first love, Christ Jesus; forgive her many sins; thwart the plans of the enemy to destroy her; and restore this nation to your favor and blessing. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 NIV)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah), because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].” (Luke 14:18-19 AMP)
1 Lord, you are the God who saves me;
day and night I cry out to you.
2 May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.
3 I am overwhelmed with troubles
and my life draws near to death.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am like one without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me;
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
8 You have taken from me my closest friends
and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eyes are dim with grief.
I call to you, Lord, every day;
I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead?
Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
11 Is your love declared in the grave,
your faithfulness in Destruction?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, Lord, do you reject me
and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;
they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor—
darkness is my closest friend.