Praying for Nations
God transforms individuals and communities through prayer. But he also shifts nations. One day soon will come the big shift, when Jesus Christ returns to rule and reign, and brings all nations into His Kingdom.
In my recent book, 10 Days: The Unlikely Story, I shared an amazing story from 2020 on how prayer impacted the United States government that year. However, truth be told, many of the other amazing stories of governmental impact through prayer had to be cut out due to space.
For me, praying for the nation or nations has never been my primary focus. I want people to encounter Jesus and be transformed into His likeness, that's what motivates me! However, God commands us to pray for our nations and government leaders. The gospel is intended to penetrate every part of creation, including human government. Moreover, human rulers will be evaluated and held accountable by the Lord Jesus based on their conformity to His standards (Psalm 2). Since we are in times of great shaking and turmoil in many nations--it's an excellent time to "be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46).
As we approach 10 Days starting October 2 in less than two weeks, I wanted to share two meditations on praying for nations, one from Allan Parker of the Justice Foundation on "Four National Sins" and one from Matthew Lilley on ways that we can pray for our nations.
We're coming into a season of humility and repentance before the Lord. Who knows how He will move and respond this year?
--Jonathan Friz
"Healing And Repentance"
By Allan Parker, President of the Justice Foundation
Our country is in such a desperate condition in great part because we have shed so much innocent blood through abortion. And we have committed the four great sins that can lead to national destruction, if we do not turn back to God.
What are those sins?
Forsaking God
"You who have forsaken Me," declares the LORD, "You keep going backward So I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of relenting!" – Jeremiah 15:6 NASB
Shedding Innocent Blood
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood." – Psalm 106:37-38 NASB
