Scripture

Daniel 9:18-19 (NLT)

“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

“O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”

Consider

This passage is part of a prayer that the Old Testament prophet Daniel prayed on behalf of the ruined city of Jerusalem. Defeated and humiliated by the Babylonians, Daniel and his fellow Jews suffered ridicule from neighboring nations, who mocked Israel’s God for being too weak and helpless to keep his people safe.

The truth was, Israel did not suffer because God was weak or helpless. On the contrary, God allowed Israel to be overtaken by enemies after centuries of putting up with their rebellion and determination to do evil. He allowed the destruction of their beloved Jerusalem and the temple where God Himself had chosen to dwell among them. Even then, however, God planned to preserve a faithful remnant—those who remained faithful to God despite worldly pressures and temptations. These righteous ones would inherit the promise of the kingdom that was to come in Jesus.

We in America today would do well to pray for our nation along the lines of Daniel’s desperate prayer for Jerusalem. We who were established as a nation under the Name and protection of our Savior God have now turned away in great numbers to pursue idols and selfish, destructive ways. We have removed God from our schools and places of commerce. We dismiss Scripture as archaic and elevate God-opposing doctrines in the name of religious tolerance. We put our faith in politicians and government agencies to keep us safe and satisfied without a thought to the Creator who gives us life and breath and daily resources. Like the ancient Israelites, we see ourselves at the center of our own existence and deny our need for God.

In these critical times, please pray with me a prayer like Daniel’s for America.

Pray

O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your nation—the nation that was born under your great Name—is set on a path to ruin. We make this plea not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and this nation still bear your Name.

Reflect

Proverbs 14:34;  2 Chronicles 7:14

Ponder

Write your own prayer for America, expressing your concerns and your reasons to hope in God.