This Thursday, May 1, is the National Day of Prayer: a congressionally declared and presidentially proclaimed day for the United States to join in prayer for our country.
As Christians, we should always be people of prayer who turn to God in times of joy and in times of hardship, but tomorrow provides a special reminder for us to pray for our nation. Compiling a list of our country’s prayer needs is hardly necessary. From our culture’s rampant godlessness to the wickedness proudly promoted in our government offices, the need for prayer practically shouts at us from every angle. In our country, life is devalued, families are dissolved, and children are mutilated. When we view these evils, our natural response should be to fall to our knees.
But lest we grow downhearted, we also have much to thank God for. Despite the wickedness all around us, our religious freedoms remain largely intact. We are still able to assemble to worship together. We can still raise our families in large amounts of freedoms. And, most importantly, our God still reigns in heaven. No matter the turmoil here below, our God is always in control and accomplishing His perfect will. As we turn to God with our requests, we should also intentionally thank Him for these specific evidences of His goodness in our nation.
Prayer: A Command
As much as we recognize our nation’s need for prayer, we often do not exercise discipline in regular prayer for our nation and its leaders. This failure to pray is not simply complacency but an act of disobedience, a sin of omission.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, “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, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
These verses contain a clear command to pray for our national leaders. But they are more than an arbitrary command. They also remind us why we should continuously keep our leaders in our prayers. According to this passage, we should pray for our leaders so that they will shape our nation in a way that enables us to live out our faith peacefully.
Then, as we live in peace, we will be able focus on our ultimate mission, spreading the gospel. We should not desire national peace so that we can kick back our heels and relax. Rather, we should pray for peace because national peace provides us with an ideal setting for sharing the gospel. Thankfully, we still live in a nation with much religious freedom. Let us take advantage of the freedoms we now have, boldly living out and sharing our faith as God provides opportunities.
How to Pray this Thursday
Tomorrow, we urge you to set aside specific time to pray for our nation. Gather your family together for a time of prayer or plan a prayer meeting with believing friends. As you pray, keep in mind God’s ultimate desire for our nation and for the world: that people would come to faith in Him.
Here are some specific ways you can pray for our nation:
- First and foremost, pray that our leaders—from the president down to the members of our city councils—would come to faith in Jesus Christ. Our ultimate desire and prayer for our leaders should be that they will develop personal relationships with God.
- Pray that our leaders will rule with wisdom, discernment, and courage. Pray that God will move their hearts to value life, religious freedom, and His design for marriage and family.
- Pray that our culture will once again value godly principles.
- Pray for the church. Pray that we will be a faithful witness in our godless country. Pray that our doors will be open to the lost and hurting. Pray that we will reach the lost for Christ.
- Pray that God will raise up the next generation of godly leaders for our nation and for the church.
- Finally, don’t forget to thank God! Thank God for His goodness in allowing our nation to remain free. And thank God for His sovereign control over our nation and our leaders.
With the ever-changing state of politics—locally, nationally, and globally—we can easily lose our focus on God and His control over all events. Rather than getting caught up in fear and worry, we should base our view of politics in the truths of God’s Word. As we watch the political state of affairs in our state and nation, we must remember to ground ourselves in the Word of God and prayer, always putting our trust in God.
Ultimately, we shouldn’t view National Day of Prayer as an opportunity to check the responsibility of praying for our country off our to-do lists. Rather, it should be a reminder to us to continually bring our nation before the Lord in prayer.
Prayer requires discipline and self-sacrifice, but our intentionality in the area has eternal value. And our nation depends on it.
The work of Wisconsin Family Action is possible because of generous friends who partner with us financially and in prayer. If you value the work WFA does, we invite you to invest in this unique work that is all about you, your family, your faith, your freedom, and your future! As always, we welcome and covet your prayers.
