A Prayer For A Nation That Is Hurting

I would like to start out tonight's blog post by saying that my thoughts and prayers go out to the city of Dallas, Texas, their police department, and all of those in the law enforcement community.  My thoughts and prayers are also with those who have lost loved ones in tragic shootings that have been captured on video to be played over and over again in the media.  I am very sorry for your losses.

Our Nation seems to be in turmoil.  There is anger and hatred brewing at the very core of our Country.  There is also fear and anxiety.  We have those nagging thoughts in the back of our minds, "What's next?,  How far will this go?,  and what is going on?"

These questions are difficult to answer because we don't know exactly what will happen.   There is someone to whom we can turn too though and He knows the answers to our questions.  He holds the future in the palm of His hands.  He knows what we need to do during times such as this.  We need to call out to Him.  We as a people need to call out the Lord, the true living God.  We need to repent of our sins as a Nation and as individuals.  We need a Savior. 

There is One who is a Savior and His name is Jesus Christ.  He is real.  He does exist.  He is willing to forgive you your sins.  He died on the cross for your sins and mine.  He rose from the dead on the third day and is now at the right hand of God the Father.  One day Jesus will return to fully establish His Kingdom on the Earth. 

John 15:13 says,

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

That is what Jesus did for us.  He laid down His life for us.  He shed His precious blood for you.
My prayer is that a call of repentance will sweep across our nation and people will receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Violence does not solve anything.  There is definitely something missing from our country.  There is something lacking in our world today.  That is love.  Love is missing.  In order to give to love we must receive the love from the One who loved us first.

God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins that we don't have to go to Hell.  Jesus paid for our sin.  We must come to Him and receive forgiveness.

Jesus said in John 15:9-17,

"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.  Now remain in my love.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love,  just as I have obeyed my Father's

commands and remain in His love.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

My command is this: 

Love each other as I have commanded you.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.

Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made

known to you.

You did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will

last.

Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

This is my command:  Love each other."

We who are believers in Christ have been commanded by Jesus to love each other.  It is by this love that the world will know that we are His disciples.  When we start loving each other the world will notice and will know that there is something different about us and they will want to follow Jesus too.

We need to love others.  Those who are trapped in sins ways and the ways of the world.  We must not live like them, but we must love them and tell them about the love Jesus has for them that they may escape the coming wrath that is coming upon this world.

Don't we owe it to our Lord Jesus to tell others about His saving grace and His love for them.

Isn't someone going to rise up and tell the world that what it is doing is wrong and that there is a better way to live.  Isn't there going to be someone that is brave and bold enough to take a stand for Jesus Christ.  Isn't there someone who is full of God's love and His Spirit and willing to tell the world that they need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Are you bold enough to tell the world, in a loving caring way, that they need Jesus?

The Nation has a problem and anger will not fix this.  Violence will not fix this.  A new leader will not fix it.  Only a change of hearts will fix it.  We must humble ourselves and get on our knees before Almighty God and call out to Him and pray for revival.  Pray that the tide will turn.  Pray that hearts that are tender enough to receive the seed of God's Word.

I would like to close with this prayer for our Nation and the things that have happened recently.

Lord Almighty God,

There is so much turmoil and hatred.

There is confusion and frustration.

You are still God.

You O Lord are Holy and the Just Judge.

We have no where else to turn.

I pray for the United States of American.

We are in trouble.

We have failed You.

We have tried to kick You out of our schools, our government, and every area of our lives.

We have allowed wickedness to prevail in our Country without speaking up against it.

We have sinned against You O Lord.

Have mercy on us.

I lift up the Dallas Police Department and those who lost loved ones yesterday in the tragic shootings that took place there.

I pray that anger will be put aside and Your love will prevail.

If there was ever a time that we needed You more the time is now.

We need You more than ever O Lord Jesus.

Pour out You Holy Spirit upon those who believe on You.

Revive us.  Strengthen us. 

Give us a fresh faith.

Help us to stand firm upon Your Holy Word, the Bible.

Help us to live boldly for You.

We pray these things in the name of the only One that can truly save us and turn us from the brink of destruction,

In Jesus name,

Amen.