It’s times like these that drive men and women to their knees. With the economy on the ropes, the populace split almost right down the middle on who should lead for the next four years, the country mired in two wars, global warming, it’s time to pray. And how should we pray?
David Bryant is a former Madison resident and former president of Concerts of Prayer International who is now the leader of a national "Christ Awakening movement" called Proclaim Hope. At the invitation of some Christian leaders in the Pacific Northwest, he is offering a prayer that Christians can join in together to address "the current milieu of fear, frustration, anger and confusion so many are feeling." He calls it "A United Prayer from the Church at a Time of Overwhelming National Crises.
In an email sent out across the country he suggests: " Is there a gathering of Christians in the next few days where you might want to use it (Sunday worship, family devotions, small group)? SUGGESTIONS: (1) Have one person pray it on behalf of the whole audience. (2) Have a selection of leaders pray it, each paragraph by a different voice. (3) Pray it responsively by reworking this Word doc. to make every other sentence bold (for audience response); then put it on power point or in a handout. (4) Divide the group in half — have each half alternate praying in unison, paragraph by paragraph. (5) Be sure to incorporate the "Selah" portions — at a moment like this, silence can
golden."
Following is the prayer:
A United Prayer from the Church At a Time of Overwhelming National Crises
AS YOUR CHURCH – in the midst of unprecedented turmoil and catastrophic circumstances coming at us from every side, nationally and internationally, coupled with increasing deficiencies in national leadership – we press into Your heart this day, God of world history and earth’s peoples, and glorious God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
WE REFUSE to panic. We resist captivity to dire projections or overwhelming fears. Instead we want to focus on and celebrate all that Your precious Son is, reigning right now in the face of every evil — who He is to us, and for us, over us, and within us, through us, and before us, and upon us.
WE PROCLAIM Him before all Heaven: Christ is supreme! — He is sovereign, superior, sufficient and totally satisfying! Christ is our glory! — He is Alpha & Omega, the consummation of all Your purposes, for all creation, for all the Ages to come! In Him our life is hidden with You, until the hour He returns in the final triumphs of grace and truth. Christ is among us! — He is accessible to us right now, in all of His riches. He stands with us – willing, able and ready to act for us, in us, and through us to magnify ALL that He is, before us and before all nations! Therefore, despite threats and tragedies and emergencies; despite deceptions and dismay and darkness, we proclaim: Christ is our hope! — He is the summation of all of Your promises, the source of all Your riches, and much more, for now and forever! We proclaim Him, therefore, to be the one great hope for America in this moment of overwhelming crises.
[ SELAH: Pause for silent reflection ]
WE REPENT before You and before our nation. We repent because it is the failure of the Church to properly respond to Christ as Lord that is the ultimate explanation for many of our current difficulties. Therefore, we, Your people, REPENT for how we have diminished Your Son, regarding Him more as our mascot than our Monarch. WE REPENT for how we have manipulated Your Son, coming to Him to use Him, as far as we think we need Him — that far and no more. WE REPENT for how we have hoarded Your Son, seeking His blessings for ourselves, with little thought about bringing those blessings to others. We’ve assumed that He was there only for us. We’ve acted as if He was not Lord of neighbors and nations. WE REPENT for how we have resisted Your Son, withholding our affections from Him because we were afraid of what it would cost us to draw near to Him — and thus we denied His lordship over all. WE REPENT for how we’ve replaced Your Son, with creeds, and programs, and organizations, and causes performed in His name — but without the consuming passion He deserves as the Center and Circumference of everything for us and for our nation. No wonder darkness is covering our land! No wonder confusion is on every hand! No wonder many are at a loss as to what to do! We who were to be rivers of Christ’s redemption and righteousness find ourselves to be stagnant and powerless instead, because we have failed to give Him the supremacy in everything as He deserves and desires. That is the ultimate crisis in this hour! We are broken-hearted.
[ SELAH: Pause for silent reflection ]
WE PLEAD for Your intervention. As Peter said, already judgment has begun with the household of God. It is Your Church that is struggling with spiritual bankruptcy, puzzled and paralyzed. WE, most of all, are in desperate need for a fresh revelation of the majesty and greatness of Your Son. WE, most of all, need to be re-converted back to Christ for ALL that He is as King of the universe, Lord of the nations, Head of the Church and Master of our destinies. The only genuine hope for America at this moment is the restoration of Jesus’ glory among your own people. WE, most of all, must be empowered to advance your Kingdom bringing Christ’s deliverance into our communities. Therefore, O Lamb of God, your Church appeals to you: Confront our crisis of supremacy. Cast out our crisis of supremacy. Cure our crisis of supremacy. Forgive us! Cleanse us! Purify us! Resurrect us! Re-convert us! Restore us! Refill us! Re-commission us! And then, O Lamb of God, use us to heal our land! .
Together in hope, O God of our salvation, we cry out for our whole nation to hear: "Lord Jesus, come and conquer us! Lord Jesus, come and conquer us! Lord Jesus, come and conquer us!"
[ SELAH: Pause for silent reflection ]
WE PRAY for your awakening power. Awaken your whole Church in America – and through us awaken an entire nation. AWAKEN US to see ALL that the Lord Jesus is in this hour of great trial. AWAKEN US to who He is as the majestic Son of God. AWAKEN US to where He is leading in the Purposes of God. AWAKEN US to how fully He imparts the Resources of God. AWAKEN US to what He rightfully must receive from the People of God. AWAKEN US to pursue Your magnificent promises, wonderfully defined by His supremacy! AWAKEN US to recover and spread abroad ALL the hope we are meant to have in our Sovereign Savior. AWAKEN US to plant that Kingdom hope among our fellow citizens, now trembling in fear and despair before a multitude of overwhelming crises. AWAKEN leaders, in all areas of our national life, who rise to exalt and serve the righteous purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ. AWAKEN all of us to the supremacy of our King! AWAKEN all of us to His fullness – for a deliverance of America that will bless all the peoples of the world. Begin in this hour. Begin in this place. Begin with us all.
Hallelujah! Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit! In the name of Jesus, it shall be done! AMEN.