On May 5, 1988, our 40th President, Ronald Reagan, established the National Day of Prayer to be held each year on the first Thursday in May, saying: “Americans in every generation have turned to their Maker in prayer…We have acknowledged...our dependence on Almighty God.” As well, our 43rd President, George W. Bush, declared Days of Prayer after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina.
Why Pray?
1 Timothy 2:1-3
encourages us to pray for our national leaders. “I urge, then, first of
all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made
for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and
pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to
acknowledge the truth.” Newcombe notes how humility is key to our
praying for our nation, reminding us how God does not favor pride and
arrogance. Proverbs 16:18 explains how “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
We come to you as a nation, asking for Your mercy. As Proverbs 28:13
explains, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one
who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Help us, O Lord, as a
country to humble ourselves before You, as James 4:10 instructs us to do. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
With repentant hearts, we come before You for forgiveness. Examine our ways, Father, and help us to return to You, as Lamentations 3:40
urges, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the
Lord.” Strengthen our leaders to resist and reject the temptation of
corruption. Give them new hearts, like Ezekiel 36:26
describes, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I
will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Like 2 Chronicles 7:14
urges, lead our national leaders and citizens to Salvation in Jesus
Christ. “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves
and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their
land.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Question: How and why should we pray for our leaders?
See Answer: http://ebible.com/answers/7376?ori=664697
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