DAY 16: PRAY FOR OUR NATION – PASTOR HEIDEN RATNER
PASTOR HEIDEN RATNER
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SCRIPTURE
1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
DEVOTION
It certainly has been a rollercoaster of a season in the life of our Nation. Those who have lived in America much longer than me have made mention that they’ve never quite seen anything like the days we are living in.
Whether that be from the Covid-19 Pandemic that has rocked our world and drastically effected our Nation, to the polarizing political views that flood our timelines and news channels, to the racial tension that is still evident, to the hurricanes and long-lasting fires that are tearing up states and cities we love. I don’t know if there’s ever been a more pressing time for the American Church to be in prayer for our Country.
The Apostle Paul in his first letter to his disciple, Timothy, encourages him to prioritize praying for “kings and all those in authority.” He doesn’t tell Timothy he has to agree with those kings and to endorse their political agendas, rather to prayerfully intercede on their behalf. Paul understood that if the leaders at the top are changed, the nation would be changed, and he called Timothy to pray for these men and women.
I want us as a church family today to follow Paul’s instruction and pray for the authoritative leaders in our country. Let us together pray for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and their administration. Let us pray that they would like Nehemiah, “delight to fear the Lord’s name” (Nehemiah 1:11) and that they would seek the Lord for His wisdom and counsel more than ever before. Let us pray that our Nation would grow in the areas of humility, prayer, and repentance, and that the we collectively would turn to the Lord. God reminds us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that by doing so He will bring forgiveness and healing upon our land. Let us as a church be the first to pray, believing with faith, God can turn things around in our Nation.
PRAYER
Father, I come before You in Jesus name by the power of Your Holy Spirit. We as a people and nation need You. Today we pray for our leaders. We pray that their hearts will be humble and repentant and look to You for wisdom in our time of need. Lord, bring healing on our land. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
ACTION STEP
- Pray for Authoritative Leaders in our Country by name.
IDEAS:
- At times you feel the burden to complain, use that as a reminder to pray.
- If you know someone in the political domain, reach out to them and let them know you are praying for them.
- Start with you. Be the change you want to see in our Nation.
FITNESS
IDEAS:
- Run, jog, or walk the sixteenth mile out of the total of 21.
- Do 25 sit-ups and 25 push-ups.
