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On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team
Called to Pray by the Staff of On The Go and the Presidential Prayer Team
The Staff at On The Go Ministries, the Presidential Prayer Team, and the National Day of Prayer Task Force would like to invite you to join us in celebrating the "National Day of Prayer"!
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-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 men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." I Timothy 2:1-4
Today is the day set aside as the National Day of Prayer across America. Prayer is a powerful weapon. Prayer can break through strongholds, which have stood firm for years. God wants His Children to become mighty, active prayer warriors!
The National Day of Prayer has a rich history, dating from the first declaration of a day of prayer and fasting that was implemented by George Washington to President Lincoln's call for prayer and fasting during the Civil War to the modern-day declaration signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1952.
Prayer is an opportunity to praise God for His mighty works, His gift of freedom, His mercy, and His boundless love. Through prayer, we recognize the limits of earthly power and acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Prayer leads to humility and a grateful heart, and it turns our minds to the needs of others.
As our nation looks to the future, the need for prayer remains high. This year the National Day of Prayer Task Force has chosen seven categories of praying for America.
Select Prayer Focus:
Use this list to guide and direct your prayer time. As you pray for the individuals listed, pray that they will be given godly wisdom and guidance, great strength and divine protection in the key positions they hold. Remember, especially, our troops who safeguard freedom overseas.
1. Prayer for the National Leaders: We must continue to pray that God protects our way of life, asking that He would install in office men and women who are committed to serving their constituents with integrity. May God's hand of wisdom and guidance remain upon each segment of our society, and through His Spirit, may believers be inspired to "pray continually" (I Thessalonians 5:17). We are assured that the Almighty hears our petitions. As people from coast to coast lift their voices in prayer, repentance and humility, we simply cannot underestimate how the Lord will respond.
2. Pray for our Military: Pray that our accounts of U.S. military actions from the media are relayed fairly and impartially. Our troops are deserving of their fellow Americans' gratitude and respect, and accurate reporting can play an important role in rallying the American people around our brave servicemen. Pray for divine protection and guidance for our armed forces. Intercede for military chaplains and loved ones at home.
3. Pray for the Media: We must also remember to intercede on behalf of the actors, musicians and athletes our young people seek to emulate. Pray that more of Hollywood's celebrities will be worthy of our respect and admiration. And as you watch your favorite sport, ask the Lord to strengthen and embolden any Christians on the team or coaching staff. Nothing is too difficult for God and though the industry often seems unprincipled, we know the Lord is able to use the media to accomplish His purposes. Pray for truth and morality to be presented.
4. Pray for Education: With this type of atmosphere pervading our classrooms, it's especially critical that we pray for our nation's public school teachers, administrators and students. Ask the Lord to raise up a new generation of dedicated educators who will commit themselves not only to an honest, accurate presentation of all subject matter, but who will also serve as positive role models for their students. In addition, let's not forget to uphold our local school boards in prayer as they make decisions about the various curricula that are used across the country. Pray for safety, morally sound instruction and wholesome environments.
5. Pray for Business: In this climate, executives with strong ethics are especially deserving of our recognition and patronage. A great way to encourage such business leaders is to support Marketplace Chaplains USA, a group that positions chaplains in companies across the country. Also, continue praying that God will provide corporate America with business leaders who are committed to conducting themselves honorably. Pray that God will raise up His ambassadors in the workplace.
6. Pray for the Church: Pray for the Lord to spark a revival throughout our nation, protect the witness of our pastors, and continue to sanctify and purify Christians around the world. We know that the spiritual condition of homes, communities and countries often points back to the believers within those regions. That being the case, it's all the more important that we strive after righteousness, corporately as well as individually. Pray for unity and boldness in proclaiming God¹s Word.
7. Pray for Families: Please pray for the family to be preserved as the Lord intended the marital union of one man and one woman devoted to each other and to raising the children in their home to be responsible, caring adults. Also keep in mind our elected leaders and the members of our judicial system as they consider proposed legislation and various court cases related to marriage and the family. This is one of the most crucial matters facing our nation, and it's imperative that God's people remain diligent in intercession for these concerns. Pray that families will follow godly principles.
Suggested Prayer for The National Day of Prayer:
Lord,
We are thankful for the abundant blessings You have bestowed on America. Our forefathers looked to You as Protector, Provider, and the Promise of hope. But we have wandered far from that firm foundation. May we repent for turning our backs on Your faithfulness.
We pray that this great nation will be restored by Your forgiveness.
From bondage, You grant freedom.
Through Your own sacrifice, You offer salvation.
From the state of despair, You offer peace.
From the bounties of Heaven, You have blessed not because of our goodness but by Your grace.
You have given us freedom to worship You in spirit and in truth as Your holy Word instructs. May our lives honor You in word and deed. May our nation acknowledge that all good things come from the Father above.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that our nation should set apart a day for national prayer to confess our sins and transgressions in sorrow, ³yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardonŠ announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.²
³We have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our own hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our ownŠ we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us! It behooves us thenŠ to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.²
Help us to pray earnestly for our president and leaders who govern, that they will humble themselves and seek Your guidance so that everything we do will shine the light of Your glory in a darkened world.
May our prayers as a people and a nation be heard and blessed for such a time as this. We make this plea in faith, believing in the mighty name of Jesus our Lord.
Amen
Suggested Prayer Scriptures:
Use these scripture verses to set the tone for your observance of The National Day of Prayer.
"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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14
³In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.² Romans 8:26
³And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.² Ephesians 6:18
³Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.² Colossians 4:2,3
"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him" Nahum 1:7
³Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,³ Ephesians 3:20
³Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.² James 5:16
Important Websites
National Day of Prayer: www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
The Presidential Prayer Team: www.presidentialprayerteam.org
How to Know God: www.needhim.org
Today's devotion was compiled in accompaniment with The Presidential Prayer Team and the National Day of Prayer Task Force. This resource may be copied and distributed without further permission. Prepared by The National Day of Prayer Task Force. In order to visit the article in entirety or join an online prayer group today, visit www.ndptf.org.
Thank you for taking the time to pray for America. Prayer is our most powerful weapon. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.
Copyright (c) 2010 Keith Cook - On The Go
Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.
On The Go Ministries, Keith Cook Team
P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org
Founder/Director - Keith Cook, keithcook@onthego.org
E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org
Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org
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