NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER – 2024
My brothers and sisters, as children of God we have the incredible privilege of being able to hear from and even petition the Father. Praise God that we have within us the Holy Spirit, who testifies of Jesus and proceeds from the Father. Praise God that as a nation (United States) we have the opportunity, today, to participate in the National Day of Prayer! Praise God that scripture makes it clear that the Lord desires for us to pray earnestly, with thanksgiving and in faith, trusting that whatsoever we ask in the name of Jesus – so long as our requests are in accord with His will – He will answer! And praise God that even when the answer we receive isn’t exactly what we may have hoped for, or when the answer isn’t forthcoming as quickly as we might prefer, we can ALWAYS rest in the truth that He hears and answers our prayers in a manner that is God’s very best for us! Amen.
The Father Loves Us and Desires for Us to Pray
I’d like to invite you to join me in a short prayer of thankfulness and a petition for healing, wisdom and blessing upon our land and the nations of the world. But first, let’s look at a few things that the bible has to say about the importance of, and privilege we have through, God’s gift of prayer in our lives. He loves to hear from us, because we are His children and He loves us just like He loves Jesus!
John 17:20-23 (NKJV)
Jesus Prays to the Father – The Father Loves Us Just Like He Loves Jesus
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me [emphasis mine].”
Pray for All People – Including Those in High Positions and Even Your Enemies
Scripture tells us that we are to pray for those in leadership over us, not only for our families, pastors and others in church leadership, but for those elected and unelected government officials who have the influence to affect society, and therefore, our lives. In fact, we are called to pray for our enemies!
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (ESV)
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”.
Matthew 5:43-45 (NKJV)
Love Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘[y]ou shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Seek God’s Will, Healing and Blessing Upon Our Land and People
Scripture tells us to confidently, yet humbly, seek God’s will, healing and blessing upon our lands (countries) and the peoples of all nations in prayer. Every person on the face of the earth was created by God in His image and likeness, and the Father desires for all to be born again – living life eternally with Him in Heaven. Praise God that Jesus made a way for us to be saved from our sin and reconciled unto the Father through His shed blood upon the cross of Calvary!
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
“…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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Psalm 51:1 (Amplified Bible)
A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon – A Psalm of David
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; [a]ccording to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Jesus Shows Us How to Pray and the Importance of Forgiveness
Scripture shows us, in Jesus’ own words, how to pray and how very important it is for us to forgive others of their sin – if we desire for our own sin to be forgiven.
Matthew 6:9-15 (NKJV)
The Lord’s Prayer and the Importance of Forgiveness
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, [h]allowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done [o]n earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts [trespasses], [a]s we forgive our debtors [those who trespass against us]. And do not lead us into temptation, [b]ut deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Always Pray with Thanksgiving in Our Hearts
We should always pray with thanksgiving in our hearts. In fact, it’s a very good idea to tell God how much you love Him, and how very thankful you are for His love and for the many blessings in your life before any petitions are made. He is worthy of more than we could ever give, and yet, He forgives our sin and desires for us to live with Him for eternity!
Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving [a]nd into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving…”.
The Father Hears and Answers Prayers of Compassion and Humility for Others
The bible tells us that the Lord hears and answers our prayers, but He is especially moved when our petitions are not selfish or self-serving, and are seasoned with genuine humility and compassion for others. As demonstrated with King Soloman, God honors a truly humble and contrite heart which seeks an answer to prayer for the good of others. In response, God granted King Soloman great wisdom, but also great possessions and authority.
2 Chronicles 1:8-13 (Amplified Bible)
Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
“Then Solomon said to God, ‘You have shown great lovingkindness and mercy to my father David, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in [performing my duties] before this people, for [otherwise] who can rule and administer justice to this great people of Yours?’ God replied to Solomon, ‘Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches, possessions or honor and personal glory [emphasis mine], or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself so that you may rule and administer justice to My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor will those who will come after you.’ So Solomon went from the high place at Gibeon, from the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.”
Have Faith that God Will Answer Our Prayers
When we pray, scripture tells us to have faith that God hears us and we will receive that which we ask (in Jesus’ name and in accordance with His will for our lives). Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean on Jesus, not the wisdom of the world or your own understanding. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 18 that during times of corporate prayer (such as the National Day of Prayer), whenever two (or more) agree on anything they ask, it will be done for them by the Father!
Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NKJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you [emphasis mine].”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, [a]nd lean not on your own understanding; [i]n all your ways acknowledge Him, [a]nd He shall direct your paths.”
Mark 11:23-24 (NKJV)
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘[b]e removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them [emphasis mine].”
Matthew 18:18-20 (NKJV)
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again[,] I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven [emphasis mine]. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
A Prayer
Father, we come before You right now, in the name of Jesus, with thankful hearts. You are great beyond words and worthy of all praise, honor and glory! Thank You for Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross so that we can be saved from our sin, as children of God. Thank You for the assurance of eternal life with You. We love You more than words can express. Thank You for Your many blessings in our lives and for giving us the eyes and ears to know Your will. Thank You for protecting us from the deceit of the evil one, for we know that the battle is Yours and that the devil has already lost.
Lord, the world seems to be in a very extraordinary time right now, right here in our hometowns, across the country, and even throughout the world. We come against the devil, his evil deceptions, and his hatred which fills the hearts of so many. We speak the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon all who are hurting, displaced, under attack (physically and spiritually), or are directly facing war – whether in Ukraine, Israel or elsewhere. We know that You desire for ALL TO BE SAVED. We know that You love Russians and Palestinians JUST AS MUCH as You love the rest of us.
Lord, we lift up all of the elected and appointed government officials in our state (e.g., New Mexico) and our nation (e.g., United States). We speak Your blessing and godly wisdom upon them. We pray that men, women and children would no longer be led or encouraged to participate in sin through governmental policies which are completely contrary to the bible – whether it is the promotion of drug use, the continuing removal or denial of all things Christian on the public square, the encouragement and promotion of sexual sin (even in some of our churches), the acceptance of suicide and assisted suicide, the murder of thousands upon thousands of unborn children due to abortion under the lie and absurdity that such is a “human right” and should be considered “health care,” or the governmental stripping away of parental rights and responsibilities in the raising of our children.
Lord, HAVE MERCY UPON US and UPON OUR LAND. We must understand how critically important it is to FEAR THE LORD! Have mercy upon us as individuals, community members and as a nation for our sin. We repent, in the name of Jesus! Give us strength and wisdom to better encourage and hold our leaders to Your standards for our lives.
Right now, Lord, we pray that godly men and women might be led by You to step into positions of authority in civil government – leading our states and countries in a manner pleasing to You, that lives would be saved, healed, and not lost unto perdition. Help us to desire to witness Jesus to our neighbors and throughout the world (“The Great Commission”) and to live our lives, day-by-day in prayer and relationship with You – that all would come to know that living our lives out of a biblical worldview is the ANSWER, not living our lives in accord with the evil one, following the wisdom of this world into perdition.
Amen!
