A Prayer for Our Nation

Eternal, Almighty and Loving  God,

 Throughout human history, you have seen nations rise and fall.  You have been saddened as countries turned away from you, choosing destruction and death rather that life and peace. And you have observed when citizens have risen up in arms against one another as was the case in our own nation 160 years ago. Yet, through it all you remain supreme, eternal and in control.

But, Father God, we do not have the long vision of history as do you. Therefore, when we see our capitol building being stormed by our own citizens, and when we see the anger and hostility that has plagued our nation reaching a flash point, we become afraid and our faith somewhat falters.

Lord Jesus, we acknowledge that as a nation, we indeed have turned from your precepts. Many who claim to represent you are not acting in line with your commands to love one another.  Many have rejected your call to be peacemakers and to reject violence to settle our differences.

Also, Father, we have leaders in our two-party system who have not aided in the cause of peace but have fanned the flames of division. Some have called us to harass those who do not agree with their ideology. While others have been so careless with their words, that they have fanned the flames of hostility.

Lord Jesus, we ask tonight for you to bring a sense of calm to this nation. We beseech you convict those who are turning to anarchy and violence in our streets and to bring order to this great nation. Lord, we plead with you that you enable us to find common ground.

Holy Spirit, we are begging you to speak into the hearts of our leaders. Remind them that they have been elected to represent us and to do what is best for our country. Lord convict any of them who are thinking only of what is best for their political careers and self aggrandizement.

Lord, let us be reminded as your followers that we too have a part to play in bringing peace. When we are angry over political issues grant that we would remember that those who do not believe as we do are still our fellow human beings worthy of respect.

O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit you said in your word “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”

Lord, we can not make others turn to you but we can witness to them in order that they come to know you. For our lack of taking this calling serious, we beg for your forgiveness. For we know that by not doing as you called us to do, we have been complicit in the very situation in which we find ourselves.

So, Lord let all Christians in this nation, whether they consider themselves Republican or Democrat, to remember that our first calling is not a political one but a spiritual one. Help us to take serious the call you place on our lives to be peacemakers rather than instigators of hostility and to show everyone the way to eternal life which is found through your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Let us put behind us our petty prejudices born in our own ignorance and please let us live for you.

For we ask this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.