Tuesday, November 19th, 2024
The past few weeks I have been reading through the book of Matthew. There are lots of new highlights in my Bible and some new ways of praying for our nation that have resulted. I wanted to share one scripture that really caught my attention and then pray the prayer that is on my heart. In Matthew 23:37 Jesus says:
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
It feels quite a bit like “United States” could be swapped in for “Jerusalem”. Isn’t it rather obvious that righteous leaders in the church and many other organizations are being persecuted for their stance? Those with a platform to speak loudly for truth and justice are being ridiculed with many attempting to silence them. The leaders of our nation, our schools, our governments, and our medical systems are blatantly rejecting truth and righteousness for the sake of their pride and their profits.
So, pray we will. Lord, first of all we repent. We repent for our stubbornness in not allowing You to keep us under Your wings. We repent for stepping out from under Your protection and thinking that we could do this thing that You created better than You. We repent as the church for seeing the wickedness that swirled around us and not speaking for truth and righteousness. We repent for turning a blind eye instead of boldly standing for You and Your Word.
We pray that You would cover Your Bride with fresh anointing oil to go out and be the priests that You have called us to be. We pray that Your blood would cover Your sons and daughters to protect them from the one that looks to steal, kill and destroy. We give to You our sons and daughters and the future generations that are coming and yet to come. We surrender them to You and the shadow of Your wings because we know there is no better place for them to be.
We thank you for this step that our nation has taken towards healing and freedom. We pray that You would continue to raise up and empower those that you need in all positions of leadership to bring swift justice and healing to Your land. We pray that You would silence the voice of the accuser that is trying to lead many down a dark and dangerous path. Awaken consciences to Your truth. Set the many captives free. Deliver us from our treacherous ways. We ask for Your Holy Fire to purify us and burn away anything that is keeping us from fulfilling the plans you have for us. Bring us back to the shadow of Your wings!