Called to Pray

On The Go Daily Devotion for May 3, 2012
Brought to you each day by
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"!

"f 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

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 humbly come before God and confess all sins and 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.  Pray for Personal Renewal and Moral Awakening: Take time to humble yourself before God and ask Him to show you any sin that you may have in your life. Confess your sin and commit to turn from it. Commit to seek God's direction for your life and to obey His commands.  Make a new commitment to rely on God, not yourself, and to reach out to others in love and kindness.

2.  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.

3.  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.

4.  Pray for the Media, Cultural, and Social Services: 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, culture, and social services to accomplish His purposes. Pray that God will help them to reflect godly values in their work, be accurate and fair in their presentations, place a high value on truth and decency, be responsible with their influence, and bring positive change to our culture.

5.  Pray for  Church and Ministry Organizations:  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. Ask God to help our churches and ministry organizations to stand strong in their convictions, be bold in their witness, meet America's spiritual needs, and be a place of hope and healing.

6.  Pray for the Imprisoned and Persecuted: God is at work within our prison system. Pray that God will continually provide grace and strength to those who are in imprisoned and / or persecuted.  Pray that God will help them to endure hardships, find joy in the midst of trials, encourage one another, experience and offer forgiveness, and find comfort in their faith.

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, commit to the permanence of marriage, place a high value on all human life, serve one another in love and dedication, and restore broken relationships

Suggested  Prayer for The National Day of Prayer:

"Heavenly Father, Every good gift and perfect gift comes from You. You are a faithful God and Your mercy endures forever. You have promised to bless the nation that trusts in You. Our currency proclaims, "In God We Trust,"  but in our culture we are far from You.

In the words of the prophet Daniel: "We have sinned and committed iniquity, and have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments."

We come before You once more, seeking Your forgiveness and mercy. You, O God, are our only hope...Hear our prayer, for Your honor’s sake, shine Your face upon this nation.

Give our leaders the desire to seek Your wisdom and the courage to follow Your guidance...and watch over the men and women of our armed forces as they sacrifice for the cause of freedom.

We give You thanks for all You have done for us, and we earnestly pray that You will help us become, once again, a nation whose God is the Lord. In the name of Your Son, and our Savior, we pray this prayer. Amen"  2012 Honorary Chairman:  David Jeremiah


Suggested Prayer Scriptures:

Use these scripture verses to set the tone for your observance of 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."  I Timothy 2:1-3a

“Confess 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.” James 5:16

“In 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.” Romans 8:26

“And 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.” Ephesians 6:18

“Devote 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.” 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

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,“  Ephesians 3:20

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) 2012 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
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