a prayer for our country

Yesterday was National Day of Prayer.  I hope you received my email guiding us to pray.  Most of all, I just hope you prayed for our country, state, county, city, church, and people!

However, I think the next stanza of Psalm 119 is perfect to guide us in praying for our country in particular.  Read it, and see if you agree.

Psalm 119:41–48 NKJV
41 Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord— Your salvation according to Your word.
42 So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
44 So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.
46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love.
48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Would you let me, by way of this psalm, lead us in a time of prayer specifically for our nation?  We so need it!  Even without the pandemic, we need it!  Read the verse of the psalm again and then read my prayer.  Then offer your own.

41 Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord— Your salvation according to Your word.
Lord, as a nation, as Americans, we need Your mercies.  In spite of our affluence as compares to the rest of the world, we are a most needy people.  Lord, as one American, I declare my absolute dependence upon You.  Lord, I need Your salvation that comes by grace through faith, and so do all my countrymen.  Lord, may Your salvation flow freely across our land!

42 So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.
Lord, make me ready to have an answer for the hope that is in me that comes by faith in You.  When someone mocks or scoffs at me because of my faith, when someone offers their reproach because I depend upon You, let me share an answer in gentleness, humility, and love.  Lord, I do trust in You, and I trust in Your Word!

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
Lord, keep me actively reading and meditating on Your Word, so that I can offer it at appropriate times to others.  Your Word brings hope, and our country needs the hope that Your Word offers!

44 So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.
And help me Lord, to live out that Word, day by day, all the time, that it may be a testimony to those who see me.

45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.
For Lord, Your Word truly brings liberty.  Help me to demonstrate that we are free indeed when we put our faith in Christ.

46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.
Lord, may Your Word thoroughly resound in our country before presidents, judges, congressmen, councilmen, mayors, and all whom You appoint to lead us.  Rather than banning or ignoring the Word, may it be often read and quoted in the halls of our governments.

47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love.
And I myself will continue to delight in all of Your Word, oh Lord.  I love it.  I treasure it.  May those statements be truer day after day after day.

48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Lord, not only for the sake of myself and my family, but for the sake of my fellow Americans, and others in the world, I want to do Your Word.  I want to read it, meditate upon it, share it, declare it, and live it.  For Your Word is truth and is the Word of life for all.
In Jesus´ Holy Name,
Amen

EMAIL BRO. MIKE