By Declaration of the Commander in Chief, President Donald J. Trump:
Sunday, March 15th is designated as a National Day of Prayer.
“We are a Country that,
throughout our history,
has looked to God for protection
and strength in times like these….”
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Almighty Father God,
You are God of heaven and earth. You are our comfort and our peace. You are our salvation and our protection, and we honor you today. We come before you to pray for our beloved country and for everyone who is affected by this current health pandemic. Our faith is in you and not driven by our fears. We have strayed far from your principles and from your plans for this country. Help us to find our way back to your paths of righteousness.
We pray for our national, state, and local leaders. We pray that they will take a serious look at their personal integrity and place the best interests of your people first and foremost in all matters. We pray that they will become dissatisfied with any area, in their personal character, that is in rebellion to you. Inspire them to be men and women of prayer. Inspire them to passionately pray for wisdom. Inspire them to be hungry for your guidance. Inspire them to seek godly boldness and determination to be the best leader they are capable of being. May you become their strength and not be influenced by the winds of public opinion.
Almighty God, we lift up to you the needs of our brave military men and women – those presently serving and our veterans. They have been often placed in harm’s way as they protect our freedoms. Draw our attention to their needs. Show us how to cooperate with you in meeting those needs. May their infirmities and health struggles be covered by your healing grace. Assure them that their loved ones are safe in your care when they are called to duty and service.
We pray for the doctors, nurses, and all caregivers who are unselfishly utilizing their God-given skills in this health crisis. We pray that their own health is not compromised by their exposure to various diseases and infections. Reward their sacrifice with a fast resolution to this pressing and serious threat so their time with family and respite can be enjoyed. Forgive us for so often overlooking the needs of our nation’s heroes. Forgive us for putting their health needs, their financial needs, and their spiritual needs on the back burner. May they sense the power of our daily prayers.
Almighty God, today we take this opportunity to re-dedicate ourselves to you. We want to spend our days walking before you in integrity and obedience. We want to show love and respect toward you and toward each other. Today, we dedicate ourselves to the goal of listening to your voice more closely. Forgive us for our complacency and the sins of neglect.
Almighty Father God, you have given us a great country. We thank you for our freedom and our liberty and for our beautiful land and for our natural resources. We also thank you for giving us a nation of men and women with the capacity to work together to build a better future through strong bonds of cooperation and unity. May we never forget your compassion, your grace, your comfort, and your guidance that is readily available to everyone who calls on your name. May faith in Jesus be known and trusted as our ultimate salvation.
In the name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
National Day of Prayer, First Baptist Church of Chrisman, Illinois, Sunday, March 15, 2020
Ken Crawford 