Prayer for Week 5 (beginning 1.28.08)

In Psalm 2 the nations are described as follows:
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."

The Psalm goes on to show the fate of those nations who rebel against God:
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "

BUT...despite the wickedness of the nations, God provides an opportunity for REPENTANCE:
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 kiss the Son, lest Hebe angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

We all are aware of the multitude of sins crippling our nation, but the sin we will focus on this week is our nation's PRIDE as we set ourselves against God. Whether it is by removing the Ten Commandments from courthouses, the words "Merry Christmas" from our stores, or the teaching of Creation from our public schools, America is saying about God and His Son "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."

Intercessions:
This week let us pray in accordance with the commands God Himself gives in Psalm 2 as instruction for repentance from this rebellion:

- that, as in this Psalm, God would have mercy on our country leading to people's salvation and repentance rather than His wrath. (For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5:9)

-that our unsaved countrymen will soon humble themselves before the Lord who died to save their souls. (Kiss the Son...blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Psalm 2:12)

-since we know that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov 1:7) pray that ALL Americans will honor and respect the Lord God with humility (Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2:11)

- that ALL leaders (government officials, lawmakers, judges, educators, fathers, mothers, employers, etc) will seek wisdom and instruction from God by seeking His counsel through prayer and His Word (Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth Psalm 2:10)

We can be discouraged if we look at the sin in the world around us, but God's Word says in Romans 5:20, "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." MUCH MORE! Be confident in your prayers and in the abundant grace of our Lord who desires to save the lost and to have His creation live for His glory.