Today is the National Day of Prayer in America, and so I immediately ask myself what difference that ought make in my course of action for the day. And so I think . . .
I stop, reason and think of what I ought commit to the God of the Universe in prayer. After all, prayer is a gift, a privilege and our right as children of the one true God, who walk daily with the Lord.
I picture myself approaching the throne of grace1 looking up at power personified, holy and complete, almighty, yet with the eyes of love inviting me to come closer and closer still.
From my mouth, I hear myself say -
"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,2 Great are you, Lord, and so worthy of praise--so great that I cannot begin to measure your greatness."3 And yet you bid me come. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,4 Jesus said and yet says today.
And so I bring me, feeble as I am into the presence of the Indescribable One.
"Father, I bow my knee, I surrender my will, my priorities, wants and ways to you. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!5 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.6 (I bear in mind what David said, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me)7
Father, I pray for our leaders and governing authorities that they too would bow their knees to You, O Lord. Grant them wisdom from above - a holy, righteous wisdom, that they might seek you first. Revive their hearts, O God, that they might be the first wave of turning to You, aye, as you said, 'if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.'8
In confidence, I ask that You would draw my loved ones to You.9 May they discern truth, not distracted, deterred or pulled away by the lies they hear and see, and then may they be courageous enough to live in your truth daily. O God, may they seek you first.
note: a turning from me to we
Our Father, we ask for evil to be exposed in our country, right thinking and truth desired and promoted. Set things aright, O God, for only you can do it. Have mercy on us.
In obedience, we bring those who are sick to you and ask you to heal them.10
God, we lift up our work, our livelihoods and business. May your favor rest upon us, comfirm and establish the work of our hands.11 We ask that you grant us your wisdom and direction, O God.12
And then we thank you for our daily bread - O, not just food and water, but we thank you that you give us you, the Bread of Life!13
We thank You, God, for creation, your beautiful works, that flows from your storehouses of beauty, grace, variation and power...
We thank you, God, for the breath in our lungs, the gift of a new day, to live fully for you. Yet we bear in mind that we are not merely citizens of this world, but rather of Heaven, an eternal kingdom where we will live with you forever.14
Above All. new song take, Michael W. Smith-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdhIz3SKAp8
The Praise is Yours, on location Mission San Juan Capistrano, one year ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf8Qjev0hjg&list=PLtiE2Hdrwivd5X40R6I67nrXIbHyQ8Fg4
In the mighty name of Jesus,
Amen
Carry the spirit of prayer with you throughout your day,
aware of the presence of God within you and the Spirit of God at work around you. Amen.
Christine
1 - Hebrews 4.16
2 - Revelation 4.11a
3 - Psalm 145.3 personalized
4 - Matthew 7.7
5 - Psalm 139.23
6 - Psalm 51.10
7 - Psalm 66.18
8 - 2 Chronicles 14.27
9 - John 6.44
10-James 5.14-16
11-Psalm 90.17
12-James 1.5; Isaiah 30.21
13-John 6.35
14-Philippians 3.20