As we wrap up our prayer for the US today, my heart is to focus on our spiritual heritage. It's never been the case that every single person was a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, but the US definitely has solid, undeniable Christian roots that has influenced the country in ways many people don't even realize. That spiritual heritage is under attack, and frequently anti-Christian voices are the loudest in the public sphere. Let's pray for the church and the nation today in light of its spiritual heritage.
My prayer for today: Lord Jesus, thank You for the heritage of the USA. Thank You for those founding fathers and mothers who came over to take on a grand experiment in religious liberty. It's worked, Lord, far beyond anyone's wildest dreams. And yet that very liberty has allowed for voices that would stifle the predominant religion in the land. We pray for You to give wisdom and guidance to Christians and churches to know how to respond to this heritage. We thank You for the challenges which remind us that we are first and foremost followers of Jesus and that our national heritage is very much secondary. And yet, Lord, we long to see Christians being bold and courageous, not cowering in the public realm. Please give us a fresh infusion of Your Holy Spirit, and revive our hearts to fully demonstrate You to the world in which You've placed us. In Jesus' name, amen.
Showing posts with label Prayer for the United States of America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer for the United States of America. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Prayer for the United States of America: A 365 Day Global Prayer Journey - Dec. 10
The power of influence.
In a nutshell, that's one of the most important things we can pray about for the US. Like it or not, in the political, military, business, economic, and entertainment spheres - to name just a few - US influence is significant. People may disagree with the US, and there are times the country stands alone - but generally, its influence is significant on the global scale.
Today, let's focus our prayers for the US on that influence. Please review pages 861-872 and then lets' pray together.
My prayer for today: Lord, for reasons beyond our understanding You have allowed the USA to be an influential nation. Some of this influence has been for good, righteous, just reasons; much of it has been negative. We pray for the influence of the US on the world to be for purposes that focus on teh things of heaven, not the things of earth. We pray for our churches to pray and lead by actions that demonstrate our primary citizenship in heaven, and we pray for more Christians who have an interconnectedness with Your people throughout the world to be placed in positions of influence within the USA so that we can increase influence in the world in a way that is productive for the Gospel. Thank You for this gift of influence. We do not take it lightly. May we use it responsibly and well. In the name of Jesus, amen.
In a nutshell, that's one of the most important things we can pray about for the US. Like it or not, in the political, military, business, economic, and entertainment spheres - to name just a few - US influence is significant. People may disagree with the US, and there are times the country stands alone - but generally, its influence is significant on the global scale.
Today, let's focus our prayers for the US on that influence. Please review pages 861-872 and then lets' pray together.
My prayer for today: Lord, for reasons beyond our understanding You have allowed the USA to be an influential nation. Some of this influence has been for good, righteous, just reasons; much of it has been negative. We pray for the influence of the US on the world to be for purposes that focus on teh things of heaven, not the things of earth. We pray for our churches to pray and lead by actions that demonstrate our primary citizenship in heaven, and we pray for more Christians who have an interconnectedness with Your people throughout the world to be placed in positions of influence within the USA so that we can increase influence in the world in a way that is productive for the Gospel. Thank You for this gift of influence. We do not take it lightly. May we use it responsibly and well. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Prayer for the United States of America: A 365 Day Global Prayer Journey - Dec. 9
How can we reach all the unreached nations of the world?
If I go as a missionary, I reach one people group, two or three at the most, and only a few people.
If my church adopts a people group we might penetrate deeply into one group.
But what if we can impact unreached people groups HERE, from the USA? I'm not talking about just financially supporting those going to the least-reached (though I strongly advocate that) ... I'm talking about personal involvement.
What if we can do it by just opening our homes and our lives?
If you live in or near a college town, you probably have that opportunity. 60% of international students studying in the US are from the 10/40 window. Many of these are from unreached people groups - even unengaged people groups. 25% of their countries prohibit missionaries. Amazingly, 40% of current world leaders studied in the US at some point - and the State Department estimates 25% of future leaders are currently studying here.
Think campus ministries are reaching them? Think again. Only 10% are touched by campus ministries - and a number of those are already believers. Furthermore, 80% of international students will return home having NEVER visited an American home.
When you add in other international visitors to the US - whether for tourism, asylum, or immigration - the numbers only increase. We can make a difference. We certainly need to give more to reach the unreached - currently only 0.5% of offerings go to those ministries - but our churches have an amazing opportunity for personal involvement as well.
Today, let's pray for the unreached within the borders of the US, as well as for the church to grasp the bigger picture of missions and align its giving accordingly.
(Sources: www.cafe1040.com, personal conversation with international student minister)
My prayer for today: Oh Lord God, you are so creative. Though we haven't gone to the extent You commanded, to the ends of the earth, You have brought the ends of the earth to us. Lord Jesus, I pray for You to reveal this to Christians, individual believers as well as church leaders. We repent of any animosity or prejudice towards immigrants and instead see them for what they are - a harvest within our borders, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who can help with that harvest while they are here. We pray for You to show us how to minister to these precious ones, whether at universities or job sites or down the street. Fill us with Your love, give us the heart to open our homes, and enable us to have discerning hearts to know those who are seeking You. Help us love them all, and guide each one to the next step of discovering You. But for those who are ripe for the Gospel, teach us how to share it effectively and give us welcoming, open churches to receive them. Make our churches look like the throne room, with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. And shape those believers into missionaries with beautiful feet, carrying the Gospel back to their homelands and reaching the rest of the unreached world. Guide the church so we do not waste this opportunity. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.
If I go as a missionary, I reach one people group, two or three at the most, and only a few people.
If my church adopts a people group we might penetrate deeply into one group.
But what if we can impact unreached people groups HERE, from the USA? I'm not talking about just financially supporting those going to the least-reached (though I strongly advocate that) ... I'm talking about personal involvement.
What if we can do it by just opening our homes and our lives?
If you live in or near a college town, you probably have that opportunity. 60% of international students studying in the US are from the 10/40 window. Many of these are from unreached people groups - even unengaged people groups. 25% of their countries prohibit missionaries. Amazingly, 40% of current world leaders studied in the US at some point - and the State Department estimates 25% of future leaders are currently studying here.
Think campus ministries are reaching them? Think again. Only 10% are touched by campus ministries - and a number of those are already believers. Furthermore, 80% of international students will return home having NEVER visited an American home.
When you add in other international visitors to the US - whether for tourism, asylum, or immigration - the numbers only increase. We can make a difference. We certainly need to give more to reach the unreached - currently only 0.5% of offerings go to those ministries - but our churches have an amazing opportunity for personal involvement as well.
Today, let's pray for the unreached within the borders of the US, as well as for the church to grasp the bigger picture of missions and align its giving accordingly.
(Sources: www.cafe1040.com, personal conversation with international student minister)
My prayer for today: Oh Lord God, you are so creative. Though we haven't gone to the extent You commanded, to the ends of the earth, You have brought the ends of the earth to us. Lord Jesus, I pray for You to reveal this to Christians, individual believers as well as church leaders. We repent of any animosity or prejudice towards immigrants and instead see them for what they are - a harvest within our borders, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who can help with that harvest while they are here. We pray for You to show us how to minister to these precious ones, whether at universities or job sites or down the street. Fill us with Your love, give us the heart to open our homes, and enable us to have discerning hearts to know those who are seeking You. Help us love them all, and guide each one to the next step of discovering You. But for those who are ripe for the Gospel, teach us how to share it effectively and give us welcoming, open churches to receive them. Make our churches look like the throne room, with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. And shape those believers into missionaries with beautiful feet, carrying the Gospel back to their homelands and reaching the rest of the unreached world. Guide the church so we do not waste this opportunity. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.
Saturday, December 08, 2012
Prayer for the United States of America: A 365 Day Global Prayer Journey - Dec. 8
As I shared yesterday, it's been hard to discern how to pray for my own country. Last night, though, God woke me up with a clear indication of our prayer focus for today: We need to pray for our country - overwhelmingly filled with those who claim Christianity as their faith - to WAKE UP.
It's Advent - the days of preparation before Christmas Day, when we celebrate Jesus' coming. I haven't been able to get the words to Casting Crowns' "While You Were Sleeping" out of my head. What will we miss while we're sleeping? Are we a nation with room for its King? Or will we wake up and follow Him to the ends of the earth?
Please watch this video today, and pray with me for my country, its churches, and all those who claim to be Christians to wake up and open the doors so the King of Glory may come in.
http://youtu.be/sMN04mLd5ag
It's Advent - the days of preparation before Christmas Day, when we celebrate Jesus' coming. I haven't been able to get the words to Casting Crowns' "While You Were Sleeping" out of my head. What will we miss while we're sleeping? Are we a nation with room for its King? Or will we wake up and follow Him to the ends of the earth?
Please watch this video today, and pray with me for my country, its churches, and all those who claim to be Christians to wake up and open the doors so the King of Glory may come in.
http://youtu.be/sMN04mLd5ag
Friday, December 07, 2012
Prayers for United States of America: A 365 Day Global Prayer Journey - December 7
For the next 5 days we are praying for my own nation, the United States of America. This is one of the hardest areas of the prayer journey for me personally to write about. It's so hard to communicate my heart when I'm this close to the situation - to strike the right balance of prophetic challenge, humility, and hope. For the reality is this: Just as we need Jesus no less than anyone else in the world, the Gospel's power is no less effective for the United States than it is for all the war-torn corners of the world we've visited. We're not better than the rest of the world - but we're not worse either. Hallelujah, the ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Please read pages 861-870 to get an overview of where we're going the next few days, then watch this video to get started in prayers for my country, the USA.
http://youtu.be/8eAK1Su3b9I
Please read pages 861-870 to get an overview of where we're going the next few days, then watch this video to get started in prayers for my country, the USA.
http://youtu.be/8eAK1Su3b9I
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