As we have mentioned the past several weeks, the most important thing we do can for our country right now is PRAY.
PRAYER BREAK
That’s why we are taking each Wednesday in October to pray.
You can take specific time to pray at any point of the day. In the morning, before the day has begun. Throughout the day, in little bursts of prayer in the midst of the days activities. In the evening, at the end the of the day.
If possible, I want to encourage you to break your day in the middle to fast & pray during lunch. We all take time to eat. However long you normally take, devote that time to prayer.
PRAY FOR PEACE & JUSTICE TODAY
“Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” -Job 5:7
We live in a world where things are not right. Sin has marred all creation & has stained every human heart. Sin has divided families, cities & nations. Sin has crept into institutions, structures, & every aspect of society.
It’s not pretty.
Nevertheless, while we wait for God to make all things right, we pray & work for peace & justice in every way possible.
Pray for protection of the unborn.
The God who made the world & everything in it, being Lord of heaven & earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life & breath & everything. -Acts 17:24–25
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. -Psalm 127:3
Father, you are the Giver of Life. We receive children as a gift from your hand. We pray for protection of the unborn throughout our country. We pray for an end of all abortion & for the overturning of Roe V. Wade.
We pray for comfort for every woman who has had an abortion. Help them to find forgiveness & healing through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray for justice for the poor, orphaned, & oppressed.
But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. -Psalm 9:7-8
For [the ruler] is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. -Romans 13:4
Father, you see every act of injustice done within our borders, so we cry out to you to bring swift judgment & justice. Protect & provide for the poor & orphaned through the church & the services our country supplies. Set free the oppressed wherever they are—in broken marriages; in broken homes where fathers don’t protect but hurt; in broken relationships where the strong bully & beat down the weak; & sadly more. Help U.S. Marshalls continue to find & set free girls & boys who are being trafficked within our borders.
Pray for peace among people of different races, backgrounds, & political position.
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. -1 Peter 2:17
Worthy are you to take the scroll & to open its seals, for you were slain, & by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe & language & people & nation. -Revelation 5:9
Father, we long for the day when people of every tribe, language, people, & nation will joyfully worship the triumphant Lamb together. Until then, we pray for peace & an attitude of honoring one another within our country.
We pray against & pray for an end of racial prejudice & hatred. We pray against profiling & prejudice of any kind, according to race, background, political position, or whatever. We pray for humility in ourselves & in our fellow Americans, as we seek to honor everyone & do good to everyone.
Pray for our law enforcement officers.
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. -1 Peter 2:13-14
Father, we mourn the animosity & hatred of those committed to keeping us safe, our law enforcement. We thank God for them. We defend them. We support them, even as we know they are human & make mistakes. We need them. And we pray for you to protect them. Preserve & keep them.
We pray especially for Athens Police Chief Cliff Couch & Sheriff Joe Guy. Thank you for these men. Strengthen them as they serve in a tumultuous time. Give them wisdom & insight into how to lead their force.
Pray for us.
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. -Matthew 5:13-16
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. -Romans 12:18
Father, let us be salt & light in this world. Let us live quiet, godly, & peaceful lives. Let us live in light of the life that is to come.
May God draw near to us & have mercy on us during this time!