Unity of Believers (Prayer part 4) - Let's Have a Prayer Meeting

 I have written several d​​devotionals in the last couple months dealing with our unity in the body of Christ and the need to walk in light versus walking in darkness. This is something Dr. King himself has been quoted often on lately, how Darkness cannot cast out Darkness. Only Light can. I pray these lessons have come to mind with the continued evil in this nation and world. As John 10:10 says, the thief, which is the Devil, comes to steal and to destroy. But Jesus came that we might have life and life more abundantly.

I shared before the need to pray for a new home for Youthquake and for wisdom. Pray for God's people to reach out to us but also for unity among believers. Youthquake is only one of a great number of needs in this world. The great thing is, God knows our needs no matter how big or how small. Jesus says even the tiniest sparrow is seen by Him.

The devil continues to try to destroy, and loves to use our differences against us. But, we can use those differences to show the diversity of Christ. We have six different zip codes along Our youth and a few others counting workers and those who come to Youthquake occasionally. We have many different backgrounds and family situations. God uses people wo have artistic, musical, friend-making, and many other talents to form the bride of Christ. I know that sounds silly to us guys that the Church is a bride, but God uses that analogy to help us see Christ's devotion to us. The important thing is, we are all members of one body and members of one another. There should not be divisions. We should be excited to share our testimonies and how God has brought us through so many hard times.

The world struggles, the present problems show that this is a world that needs Jesus more than ever. People are always looking for something to blame and ways to vent their anger and frustration and when they do not have Jesus they try to take things out on others. Not all will. Some have self-control and show restraint. They just have problems with other sins. But, this shows even more the need to pray for this country.

I'm going to do something unusual. Because you may be tired of listening in your mind - or someone else reading. So, in another unique devotional, we're going to have a prayer meeting.

You likely think "Wait... what?" The words themselves aren't important when you pray, what matters is that our hearts are united. Use your own words, insert things as you think about them from your own family. Join me in prayer, urge others to do the same.

Just remember what I said about Daniel. He prayed for God to forgive sins that people had committed before he was born and that he didn’t take part in – national repentance means not only letting God cleanse us from sin, but letting Him heal our nation. Remember, too, that there are obstacles, because the devil wants to steal, tear down, and destroy.

Don’t feel you have to pray everything all at once, either. Rather, this is a way to help you think of things to pray about throughout the days ahead.

Prayer isn’t always this long, of course. But, because it is about pouring our hearts out to God, this shows what a conversation with God can be like. There are times I’ve had things come to my mind suddenly because I’ve been praying. Other times, I’ve had to ask God to help me remember something as I’m praying, or maybe just admit I don’t recall but He knows what I mean. Sometimes as I’m praying I chuckle at my own silliness with some of the comparisons I use as I share with Him. Jesus calls His disciples friends, after all. Yes, He is all-powerful, we should treat Him with respect, like if the President was your friend. But, we can still go to Him with any problems and get His help.

With all that being said, let’s pray. “Lord Jesus, thank you for the love you have for us. Lord, we come to you with sad and weak hearts because of all the problems in our country. As we pray to you, Lord, first I acknowledge and turn from my own sins like 1 John 1:9 says. Help me focus on you. I’m powerless against this world’ problems, but you are the Lord and you have power to defeat the enemy. So, I confess and forsake my sin. Help me follow you completely.

“Lord, like in Daniel 9, I confess the sins of our nation. We turned from youfor 400 years and refused to treat everyone as equals, we mistreated others horribly. We’ve not been the people you made us to be, our hearts are far from you in numerous areas. Lord, we ask your forgiveness and mercy for all this, we plead the precious, perfect blood of Jesus, cleanse us with it, ord..

“Lord, our current leaders include some who support Israel more than any other in our history, b ut if they’ve sinned by trying to divide even part of your land in peace deals, I ask your forgiveness for this, please don’t let us be divided because of it. Guide them to never pressure Israel to give any of your land away, may they always seek your approval.

“Lord, also give our leaders wisdom on the home front to make Godly decisions, cause them to honor you. Keep us away from leaders who do not acknowledge you, cause our leaders who all support you and your word, Lord Jesus, and protec the right to worship you instead of trying to crush worship while at the same time glorifying sin.

“Lord, unite our nation, for we repent of attempts to divide others. Lord, to each person in the US, give a spirit of calm and keep the devil from stirring up evildoers. We have seen where your enemy seeks to mar peaceful protests with hatred, please stop this hatred; instead send an overwhelming sense of goodness and desire to build others up. Lord we turn from forefathers’ wicked ways, and we seek your Holy Spirit to rain down on us a desire to honor you with our actions, and to treat others with respect and dignity. Do not let the evil one divide us Lord, but instead bring Americans together in a spirit of defeating this enemy of fear and anger and violence. Help us support our fellow humans not for our sakes or for mens’ applause, but for you, so that with the light of Christ darkness will be cast out.

“Lord, for those suffering from the devastation of this virus, from the violence, from the evil raining down from the devil, please shower your blessings on them and us. Lord, we don’t deserve your goodness, we deserve destruction for our evil, but you are not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance. Lord, don’t just give that opportunity, but bring such a desire to follow you that people will turn to Jesus Christ as Saviour in droves, and also grow in Him; make us realize where we’ve sinned and cause us as a nation to repent of it. May it be said that America revived because the Lord Jesus Christ delivered it out of His abundant mercy. Please, Lord, do not let the heathen say that the devil had his way, but instead may your mercy and salvation be celebrated. May we see a great awakening not because we deserve it, but because you alone are worthy of all glory and honor and praise. Lord, may we come together as the body of Christ, so people know we love one another and seek to have that same love. 

“Lord heal us from COVID19, and bring peace to us. Lord, we ask this not for our own sakes, but for you, so you may be glorified. Touch and heal all who are suffering, thank you for being as merciful as you have been on us through this and every other pain we’ve faced. Lord, get the right medicines out and give doctors and nurses great strength and ability.

“Lord, please defeat those who seek to unite the world against our Lord Jesus Christ, and instead bring revival to this land, protect us from the evil one. We know it’s the End Times, but we ask for one more Great Awakening, and that all in this city would be saved, that all who would have gone to came be saved, that you would make us the nation under God we were meant to be, which truly honors you with our actions, not just our lips. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

You likely have specific things to pray, but as we join our hearts, I pray we will all seek God to cleanse this nation.