How can we pray for a nation that says it is no longer a Christian nation? Praying for revival in America seems to be a lost cause at times. The more we pray the worse society seems to become. Recent studies show that the fastest growing religion in America is no religion at all. The number of people who identify themselves as Christian has dropped dramatically and our Lord seems to be mocked publically at every turn.
From “artists” degrading symbols of Christ and the cross, to atheist groups banning nativity scenes, prayer in public areas, and the word “Christmas,” where should we find strength to keep praying for a nation that seems bent on destroying itself? We know from multiple verses in God’s Word that our help and strength come from Him alone. However, individual prayer warriors are being hit with their own personal tragedies (death, sickness, financial collapse, relational problems, job loss, etc…) to the point that they are worn down. Many Christians find themselves so focused on getting up and surviving each day that they do not have enough energy left to pray for national revival. “Come Lord Jesus,” is all many people can mutter at this crucial point in our history of upheaval and turmoil.
My heart broke as I listened to a program on a Christian TV station. The host was trying to present the truth of God’s Word on a college campus. Not only was the host told that God could only be mentioned in a small portion of the campus that was marked off, but he was given a strict time limit and then cut off abruptly. My heart went out to the institution of higher learning that I assumed to be in California or the Northeast. Instead I discovered that the location of the campus, with no tolerance for this type of religious expression, was one of the largest universities in Georgia (in the center of the Bible belt). All I could cry out was, “Oh, God help us!”
Like the weeping prophet Jeremiah and many of the Old Testament prophets, stoic Paul went through seasons of a broken heart. 2 Corinthians 1:9 states, “Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” Just as Paul suffered hardship in Asia, Moses became wearied over the Israelites making a new god for themselves in the form of a cow. Christians worldwide are facing terrible persecution, torture, and martyrdom. Secret churches meet in hope that they will not be discovered in nations that are closed to the gospel.
The brave men and women who suffered and died for the sake of the gospel, both in Bible times and now, would be disappointed if we in America were to give up the prayers for our currently free nation. The blood of martyrs from all around the world is proof that we can rise up and defend this nation by pouring a prayer cover over it like no other that we have released before. (Ephesians 6:10-18) If Christians can risk their very lives for the Jesus who died for them, how can we refuse to simply pray?
We should rise up (Isaiah 60:1-2) and not be afraid of something as simple as someone raising an eyebrow at us or making fun of our beliefs. Will the Lord look at us and be pleased that we did not give up? Or, will He be disappointed in us as He was in Isaiah 59:15-16, “… The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one; He was appalled that there was no one to intervene.”
We know that other religions and other nations are praying against our country, so how can our spirits be refreshed? What would a regrouping prayer look like? Perhaps it would resemble something along the lines of the prayer below. Regardless of where and how we start, God will be with us and reward us if we simply begin.
Regrouping Prayer:
“Dear Lord, we come humbly before You now, in appreciation of the fact that You allow us to enter into Your presence (the presence of the one and only King of Kings and Lord of Lords). You truly are the Savior of the world. Bless You Lord for not turning away from us even though we have temporarily fallen away from praying for our nation.
Please search our hearts and cleanse us from all sin and rebellion. Please show us how we can make prayer a priority and give us wisdom to pray for a nation that has turned its back on You. Lord, please help us not to focus on differences within our nation, but come together as a body of believers that proclaims You as Lord over America. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
We do not deserve You, Lord, because our Nation has willingly turned its back on You, but we ask for mercy anyway. Lord, we pray that You will place people in office this fall who will make laws based on biblical principles and not on popularity, people who will be true to You and to their word. We ask for You to infiltrate all forms of our media and bring revival to many within the public eye, especially those in the highest levels.
And, we ask for ourselves. Lord, please give us clean hands and pure hearts. Father, please help us to be more interested in representing You in our daily lives than in propping ourselves up. Grant strength to Your Christians who are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all other social media to make Your Name known instead of trying to boost their own appearance and popularity. (John 5:44, Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 5)
For all these things, we give You the praise, honor, and glory. Amen.
Is something on your heart?
Six intercessors will pray for your request for 21 days.
