If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

Praying Like a Faithful Citizen

The Newspaper Prayer: Find a news article about an issue of concern for faithful American Citizens. Think about how human dignity is affected by the issue or situation. Pray for God’s healing and transformation for all people impacted, lawmakers, and citizens like yourself. Ask God how he is asking you to respond to this issue.

“Prayer in Charlotte counters ‘hurt, anger’” – September 29 – click on title for full article

Heavenly Father: I pray for the racial divide in our country of which Charlotte, NC is a prime example.

+ Father: Thank you for Christian leaders, both black and white, who have joined together to bring healing and reconciliation.

The city of Charlotte is experiencing “pain, hurt, anger, disappointment, and frustration.”

+ Father; Thank you for protecting churches close to the fray; make them beacons of hope and houses of prayer.

“There will be no agenda, no program, no music, no preaching, but just men and women of God, on the altar, crying out to The Father! These are serious days, and they require serious people who take seeking the heart and will of God seriously!”

+ Father: These are serious times all across America; we seem to be coming apart at the seams. Jesus be our center; You alone hold all things together. Have mercy on us and do not leave us to our own devices.

“Now is the time for heartfelt and sincere prayers, not political and personal-agenda driven rhetoric. Now is the time for loving encouragement not condemning judgment. In light of the climate in our city, I stand with other pastors and leaders both black and white and our church unites with other churches that [demonstrate] the gospel of Jesus Christ in love and that [seek] the peace of our city.”

+ Father: Bind us together in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and fill us with His love and compassion. Help us to set aside our theological and cultural differences so that we might seek the peace in our cities.

+ Father: Protect the civil authorities who are trying to bring peace and restore order, especially the Charlotte City Police, the State Highway Patrol, and the NC National Guard. Give them wisdom and sound judgement in their decision-making and use of force.

“We pray for the Scott family. The death of a loved one is gut-wrenching under any circumstances. They need our prayers. We pray for the officer involved in the tragedy. This public servant, this protector of all of us, is no doubt hurting as well. Not only the pain of what took place, but the intense scrutiny of each decision, which is life-and-death moments faced all too often, is cause for us to lift up this policeman and his family.”

+ Father: thank you for the rapid response teams from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association who are offering prayer and counsel on the street.

“Much of what we are seeing play out is being perpetrated by people from outside Charlotte. The true leaders, black and white, in Charlotte, who work, worship and raise their families here are all calling for peace.”

+ Father: Hear the cries of our hearts as we bring the good people of Charlotte before You. Deliver them from evil and frustrate the schemes of all evil doers both within and without.

+ In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.