[Please join me in praying for our nation and world on Tuesdays this year.]
“Righteousness [moral and spiritual integrity and virtuous character] exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
(Proverbs 14:34 AMP)
(a part of the preface to the book I am writing:)
I’ve never considered myself an exceptionally patriotic person. I was glad to be born in the United States and never wished I’d grown up elsewhere, but I wasn’t interested in being that flag-waving, crazy patriotic lady who cries during the National Anthem. I was pretty content with knowing our country’s founding principles and history and believing they were the best options in the world.
However, in recent years I realized that ideas that I had assumed were shared and valued by the vast majority of United States citizens were not. These ideas are the bedrock of a stable society. I have watched the US (and other nations) struggle through the last how-many-ever years as she sought to find bearings in a world that was quickly changing. It seems she – and, by extension, we her people – have seemingly lost the undergirding structures that kept the nation (mostly) stable during her history. When the fabric of society is being ripped apart, one has to ask toward what are we progressing – total anarchy and evil?
I do not believe that God wants us to live in a world of chaos or evil. This chaos is from the enemy of our souls who does not even deserve to be named. The chaos in our nation is not what God intended. Our nation was mostly settled and then birthed by people and ideas from a Judeo-Christian worldview. That worldview is now in competition with others that are markedly different. But I do believe God has a plan for our nation that goes far beyond politics and political identities. The Bible tells us that God’s plans are for his Righteousness to be in our nation, for true and godly Justice to abound, and for the Love and Light of Christ to be in every aspect of our society.
But, how do we get there? That seems like such a radical difference from our nation’s reality right now – it seems almost impossible to achieve. But we serve a radical God who gives us tools to make that change. Our prayers matter.
Sometimes we can look at the world around us and feel so overwhelmed; where can we start to pray? Anywhere.
Will it do any good? Absolutely.
Is it too late? Never.
God’s timing is perfect and he hears the prayers we give him. And he guides us in those prayers.
Mountain-Moving God,
Thank you for the call to be your children and your heirs. What great love you have lavished upon us, Father! You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing, giving us salvation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as our guide. We praise you for the glorious grace you have freely bestowed upon us and for your Spirit you have placed within us. Thank you that your call on our lives is simple, yet profound: to go and make disciples so that more and more people know they are dearly loved by you and have a purpose in your Kingdom.
Thank you that you have given us the physical and spiritual tools we need to fulfill our callings and to persevere against the forces of evil in this world. Thank you, especially, for your Word and prayer, our indispensable weapons. We pray together with believers in all times and places for the furthering of your Kingdom. Specifically, today, we pray for the seven mountains of society – government, media, education, business/economy, arts & entertainment, family and your Church. We pray that in each one of these there would be godly men and women who are standing up to darkness and pouring your Light, Life, and Love into our society.
Where mountains contain deep corruption, wickedness, fraud, and evil, we pray in the name of Jesus for a cleansing of those areas. We believe that you want righteousness and justice for this nation and so we pray that where there is evil it will be overturned, by the power of your Spirit. Give us more and more love to light up the darkness so that we can shine brightly and invite others to the warmth and beauty of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen!
[Originally published July 4, 2022]