[Adapted from Jan. 7, 2022 post]
Loving God,
Father, thank You that You love Your dwelling place—Your people—and that by Your Spirit You have chosen to make Your home within us. Thank You that Your love extends to every nation, tribe, people, and language. You pursue all people, regardless of their ethnicity, culture, or homeland. Thank You that You love us too much to leave us in our sin, but call us into relationship with You through Jesus Christ, inviting us to be born again into Your family and filled with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
You established Your people to be a blessing to the world, and so today we pray for our world. Kindle a fresh fire of revival in this generation and in the generations to come. As You have done throughout history, pour out Your Spirit upon this land and bring new life to weary hearts. Heal our hearts, minds, emotions, relationships, and communities. Unite Your Church in this nation so that we would be one in heart, mind, Spirit, and purpose under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
May Your Spirit awaken those who do not yet know You. Let them hear Your invitation of love, respond with joy, and become Your sons and daughters. Work through Your Church to bring hope where there is despair, truth where there is deception, and light where there is darkness. May systemic poverty be overcome, the lives of the unborn be protected, human trafficking be brought to an end, and senseless violence and gang warfare cease in the name of Jesus.
Grant our leaders wisdom, integrity, humility, and courage to govern with justice and righteousness. Where leaders resist what is good and true, we ask that You would either transform their hearts or remove them from positions of authority according to Your will. Frustrate the plans of the wicked, expose what is hidden, and raise up leaders who will pursue what is just, honorable, and good.
And as You gather people from every nation into Your family, may our hearts overflow with worship. May we sing and dance for joy, proclaiming that all our springs are found in You.
In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, AMEN.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10 NIV)
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3 NIV)
“The power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:17 NIV)
He founded Zion on the Holy Mountain—and oh, how God loves his home!
Loves it far better than all the homes of Jacob put together!
God’s hometown—oh! everyone there is talking about you!
I name them off, those among whom I’m famous:
Egypt and Babylon, also Philistia, even Tyre, along with Cush.
Word’s getting around; they point them out:
“This one was born again here!”
The word’s getting out on Zion:
“Men and women, right and left,
get born again in her!”
God registers their names in his book:
“This one, this one, and this one—born again, right here.”
Singers and dancers give credit to Zion:
“All my springs are in you!” (Psalm 87 The Message)
High upon his hills of holiness stands God’s city.
How God loves the gates of Zion, his favorite place on earth.
So many glorious things have been proclaimed
over Zion, God’s holy city!
Pause in his presence
For the Lord says, “Here are the nations
who will acknowledge me as God:
Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, and the Mediterranean people,
even distant Ethiopia.
They will all boast, ‘I was born in Zion!’ ”
But over Zion it will be said,
“The mighty Man was born there, and he will establish it.”
For the God Most High will truly bless Jerusalem.
And when he counts her citizens, recording them in his registry,
he will write by their names: “This one was born again here!”
Pause in his presence
And the princes of God’s feasts will sing and dance, singing,
“Every fountain of delight springs up from your life within me!” (Psalm 87 TPT)
He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you, city of God:
“I will record Rahab and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—
and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.”
The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion.”
As they make music they will sing,
“All my fountains are in you.” (Psalm 87 NIV)
(Some ideas of this prayer are from Give Him 15 prayer for 6/18/21. https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-18-2021 This post adapted from one originally published 6/18/21.)