Anne Graham Lotz wrote this for the National Day of Prayer:
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Lord of the
Universe. Lord of this planet. Lord of the nations. Lord of our hearts.
On this
National Day of Prayer, we look to You…
In the darkness, You are our Light.
In the storm, You are our Anchor.
In the darkness, You are our Light.
In the storm, You are our Anchor.
In our weakness,
You are our Strength.
In our grief, You are our Comfort.
In our despair, You are our Hope.
In our confusion, You are our Wisdom.
In our despair, You are our Hope.
In our confusion, You are our Wisdom.
In time of terrorism, You are our Shield.
In time of war, You are our Peace.
In times of
uncertainty, You are the Rock on which we stand.
We make our prayer
to You using the words of the prophet Daniel:
O Lord, You are the
great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him
and keep His commandments. You are merciful and forgiving. You are righteous,
but this day we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You, and
done wrong. We have turned away from Your commands and principles. We have
turned away from You.
Yet You have
promised in 2 Chronicles 7, that if we–a people identified with You–would
humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, then You
would hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land.
So we choose to
stop pointing our finger at the sins of others, and examine our own hearts and
lives. We choose to acknowledge our own sin–our neglect and defiance and
ignorance and even rejection of You. This day we choose to repent.
In response to our
heartfelt repentance, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Father of Jesus Christ,
in keeping with all Your righteous acts and according to Your promise, turn
away Your anger and Your wrath from the United States of America. Hear the
prayers and petitions offered to You on this National Day of Prayer, as we give
You our full attention. Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see. We
do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great
mercy.
For the glory of
Your Name hear our prayer, forgive our sin, and heal our land.
We ask this in the
name of Your Son Jesus Christ who offers us salvation from Your judgment,
forgiveness for our sin, and reconciliation with You through His own blood shed
on the Cross. Amen.
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