HOW TO PRAY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR NATION

December 02, 2019

What do you do when you are in crisis? When the people around you are suffering? Or rebelling? When the nation you live in is spiraling downward spiritually and under the righteous judgment of God?

If you scan the Bible, you will discover that the men God used had an immediate and singular response.

They prayed.

DANIEL’S PRAYER

Daniel is a perfect example. When his nation was in bondage and great turmoil, his response was untypical of most but amazingly effective.

So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)

Like Nehemiah and Moses and the men and women most greatly used by God, he cried out to the only One who could help. If you study their prayers, you will find they all contain similar components.

1. HE ACKNOWLEDGED AND PRAISED GOD

O LORD, the great and awesome God (vs. 4)

2. HE APPEALED TO GOD’S COVENANT AND PROMISES

O LORD, the great and awesome God who keeps HIs covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments (vs. 4)

3. HE CONFESSED HIS SIN AND THE PEOPLE’S SINS

I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed … we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets ... (vs. 5-6a)

4. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GOD IS RIGHTEOUS IN HIS JUDGMENTS

Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame … You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. (vs. 7-8)

5. HE ASKED GOD TO RELENT IN HIS DISCIPLINE (reminding Him that the people He is judging are His very own)

O, Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain (vs. 16)

6. HE PRAYED FOR DELIVERANCE FOR GOD’S SAKE

For Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name … For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name. (vs. 17-19)

7. HE PRAYED NOT ON THE BASIS OF THEIR MERIT, BUT GOD’S CHARACTER

We are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. (vs. 18)

OUR PRAYERS

We cannot improve on this Biblical pattern. We should take this same approach with our great God as we cry out to Him for our lives, our families, our nation. We should do it fervently. We should do it by ourselves and with others. We should do it unceasingly.

And we should do it now.

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