I believe in the power of prayer and that it is the most powerful weapon as disciples of Jesus Christ. But, can I be honest with you????
I have not been praying at the highest potential in my life. Most of my time is spent in prayer covering those in my little circle.
I pray for my husband, my children, my lost family members and friends (not as often as I should), and for the ministries I am involved in.
Don’t get me wrong, those are all good things to be praying for… but that is not impacting the crazy world around me.
I need to be praying beyond my little circle!
When I look at my life I see a lot of amazing changes and blessings. My marriage is healing. My children are growing up to know the Lord. The ministries I am involved in are on the right track (as far as I can see anyway).
BUT. When I widen the lens of my focus in my life I see the World around me and I get overwhelmed and discouraged.
I see a Nation divided. There is intolerance on both sides and very few seeking middle ground. We have hatred at a level I’ve never seen it in my lifetime. ALL of those things are being demonstrated from our Leaders… right down to our children. Our nation is calling Evil Good and legalizing sin and turning away from the ways of God. Even turning our backs on Israel…
It makes me feel hopeless, like my voice won’t matter.
But my God is a God of hope.
The enemy trying to keep me down- keep me ineffective – and NOT fighting the real battle.
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:10-13 NASB).
My voice does matter… when it is praying.
There is a real battle happening in this world. Do you see that?
I have not idea what these things are in the “Spiritual” realm where the real battle is happening. But if God calls a thing by a name, I can only believe Him and operate in that… even if I have no idea what He’s talking about.
We have to remember who we’re really fighting. Not the people around us, but Satan and his demonic forces.
We have to remember what we’re really fighting for. Not a comfortable life in a nation “acting” like Christians!
They. Need. Jesus.
We should be fighting for true salvation, true revival, not for the lost nation around us to live like they are saved!
Fighting for our Nation to begin humbling itself before God. We should desire a nation that will begin confessing it’s sin, longing for our Nation to turn from it’s wicked ways. Only then will God will hear from Heaven and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
I see a very cool example of how praying affect this Spiritual battle in Daniel 9-10.
The Prophet Daniel had been studying the scrolls written by the Prophet Jeremiah… say that 10 times fast ;o) In them he saw that the Babylonian captivity had a time limit. He began praying this prayer that could easily apply to our nation right now. I want to give you an excerpt from it and challenge you to read the whole prayer in Daniel 9:4-19.
“4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and loving-kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.6 Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. 7 “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—”
“19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.””
When he finishes praying he has a vision. It troubles him so much he goes into a state of shock, fasting and praying in desperation for 3 weeks!
He sees something that gives clarity about this “Spiritual” battle that we can not see.
“12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia” (Daniel 10:12-13 NASB).
This Angel had been trying to come to Daniel for 3 weeks but another “spiritual” being had been fighting with him. As Daniel persisted in prayer and fasting another Angel came to aid in this battle.
Now, to be clear, I am not a Theologian or great Bible Authority, but I can see the scene.
Use your imagination with me please.
Picture the physical ancient world. A King of Persia is ruling and dictating from a throne room some thousands of years ago. He is dressed in a purple robe, sitting pensively having a scroll read to him. He may be deciding what new law to approve over his people.
Superimpose a spiritual world above him… sort of ghostly because no one else can see it. There is a “spiritual” king of Persia whispering in the “physical” kings ear, agitating him as he hears about the Jews in Babylon… An emotional environment created so that this King will dictate harm to God’s people.
Then ascends an Angle looking as though he is on an important mission for God. The king of Persia jumps at him – sward drawn and the battle ensues. The prince is a seasoned warrior and the angle is alone. Until, after much fighting, another angel appears to help. The first angel is free to finish his mission, knowing he must return to release the 2nd angel.
End Scene…
A real battle is happening over a ruler of a Nation. A Spiritual battle is happening unbeknownst to him – influencing the way he governs.
It leads me to believe that those kinds of battles are happening today, influencing MY NATION.
The Bible tells me to pray. It tells me specifically to pray for my leaders. I was convicted by my “little circle” of prayer.
I don’t like the direction my nation is traveling, but I have not been fighting for the direction I want. We have been fighting the people around me… leaving the spiritual battle unaffected.
I was Challenged to begin intentionally praying for my Nation and it’s leaders.
Below are some of the verses I have begun praying. Let’s begin fighting the real battle together!
Pray for Revival among the local Body of Christ and throughout our Nation
“Lord your word says “24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 NASB)
“41 Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41 NASB).
“11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NASB).
“14 and 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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land”(2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB).
Pray for our Leaders Nationally
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB).
“Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory” (Proverbs 11:14 NASB)
Pray for my City and State Authorities.
I am in KY. To find yours, go here.
“7 Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare’” ( Jeremiah 29:7 NASB).
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity”(1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB).
I also lift up our Police Officers, Fire Department and EMS workers in this section. Without their service, we would not have the nation we love so much. They need to be covered in prayers for encouragement, support and protection daily.
BreakPoint has an especially amazing 6 part prayer list that really drives this home. Check it out here.
I highly recommend the resources below for more direction on this topic.
10 scriptures to pray for out Nation.
Things we should pray according to the Bible.
in HIM,
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