National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 2, 2013 (7:31 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

I am confessing to You that I feel extremely shaky right now. Fearful. Disconnected from myself. Odd. Strange. Different. Unfocused. Scattered. I tell You this because I don't want to pretend with You. You know me. Every single thought and feeling.

(10:28 a.m.)

And then You took me to spend time listening to, praying and talking with a tearful friend. We spoke of problems. But much bigger than that, we spoke of YOU! You, Father. Your Word. Your Truth. Your goodness. Your kindness. Your faithfulness. Thank You Father. Thank You for the ability to draw on Your mighty power. Thank You for the reminder to trust in You, NOT on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:4-6).

The following is a prayer I just sent to another hurting friend:

Blessed Father God,

Your Word tells us that we are not to worry about anything; instead we are to pray about EVERYthing; telling You our needs [although You are already fully aware of them!] and to be sure to thank You for Your answers (Philippians 4:6). That is what we are practicing right here, right now.

We are asking You to bless us with the peace that is promised us in verse seven of this same chapter. YOUR peace which is far more wonderful than our human minds can understand. Your peace which will keep our thoughts and hearts quiet and at rest as we trust in Christ Jesus.

Father, this is a HUGE order for us. We are used to worrying, fretting, stewing, being fearful and afraid. These feelings come naturally to us. How we ask Your presence with us as we STAND on [and IN] the promises Your Word offers us.

You sent Your Son to be our Good Shepherd (Psalm 23; John 10). Let us rest our fears in Him. John 10:10 tells us, "The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." Father, how we ask that we would live this day as though we truly believe what we know to be true: You are good. You are holy. You love us with a love absolutely unparalleled by any other. We are to trust and not be afraid. It's hard. It's out of our norm. But with You ALL things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

We are here asking You for the willingness to trust You... completely. In ALL things. Help us lean not on our own understanding but in all things acknowledge You, that You will direct our path (Proverbs 3:4-6).

And finally Dearest Dad, let our strength come from Your mighty power that is within us. Empower us to put on Your armor that we 'will be able to stand safe against all the strategies and tricks of satan. For we are NOT fighting against people made of flesh and blood', but against a whole spiritual realm that is very real but NOT as powerful as YOU! (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Father, we love You and we humbly ask that You would bless us and keep us. May Your face radiate with joy because of us. We ask that You would be gracious to us, show us Your favor and give us Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

This we ask in Your precious Son's dear and blessed name. Amen. 

Thank You that on this National Day of Prayer, my go to response has been You. From exploring James' words to Your believers (primarily verses thirteen through eighteen of the third chapter) over to the book of Hebrews (12:10-13) I am again encouraged to continue believing that You dearly love us. We absolutely need to 'take a new grip with our tired hands, standing firm on our shaky legs' (v.12).

I confess, I am still feeling shaky. Odd. Not quite like myself. But I am encouraged. Grateful. Replenished.

As I prepare to take a new grip with my tired hands, I ask You Lord to bless this nation. Turn us into a people bent on pursuing “the wisdom that comes from heaven”. That wisdom that “is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere” (James 3:17). Make it so that “those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness” (v.18).

Turn us into a people that truthfully confess “In God we trust”! I love You Father. I pray You will be glorified this day. Thank You for blessing us. Let the Truth of Psalm 33:12 reign supreme in the United States of America. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as His own.”

I love You Father. I thank You. Amen.

(817 words ~ 11:10 a.m.)