[__ Prayer __] 40 Days of Prayers

[AirDancer]

I give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, and I sing praises to Your name! (2 Sam 22:50) You are steadfast in Your faithfulness to us; awesome is Your mercy. And although by now I shouldn’t be, I remain amazed and humbled by Your loving ways.

During this time of voting, leading up to the main general election in a handful of days, it is so important that our eyes, ears and hearts stay open so we are able to select the candidates who will best honor You and be true to Your Word. My prayers ask You to guide our hands as we vote. We, Your sons and daughters, seek a return of our country in accordance to Your instructions and principles. Therefore, it is most important that we elect those who will unite with us in our effort.

Of grave concern is the nastiness that has percolated to a hotter degree. Shelter us from the hatred that is spewed; protect us from faulty voting machines. Firmly rebuke those who attempt to fraudulently vote, and cast their eyes down in shame. Remove those whose goal is to intimidate. O Lord, I pray that You touch their hearts so they will come to know You and turn away from their wicked ways. In fellowship, we will welcome them and provide support as they grow in their walk with You.

We who are members of Your family obey Your Word, as instructed in 1 Peter 2: 13-17:

“13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”

O Lord, in Your bountiful grace, bless us in these crucial days, that in our frustration we do not shirk our responsibilities. Draw us, Your sons and daughters, together in peace and harmony, so we can stand as one as we do as You have stated in Your Word. Prevent us from division, which threatens our fellowship with one another. Reinforce within us the knowledge that:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.” (Psalm 133)

“Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise!” (Nehemiah 9:5) I give thanks and sing praises to You, Lord, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 35 -

(All Scripture references: NASB)

 

[farouk]

We may thank God that He is on the Throne and that the Lord Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

[AirDancer]

O Lord, I come before you in prayerful concern. My heart grieves for the fate of my country; my spirit wearies of the battles against adversaries. And while I rejoice in the softening of the heart of a neighbor, I pray that he will stand firm in his growing faith in You and not be swayed by the wickedness of the world.

Today, more worrisome news reached my ears. As my countrymen engage in civic responsibility and legally vote, many are encountering difficulties. O Lord, I pray that You give each of them ease and peace in their situations, and that for all who have yet to vote will be protected by You, so the experience will be effortless, without challenges.

I cry out for Your merciful intercession during these trying days, Lord God. Rebuke and shame any who break the voting and abiding peace laws of this land and those who seek further to move all citizens away from You. Embrace those innocents who will be in harm’s way in the coming hours, as well as those who purpose is harmonious and safety.

“7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your loving kindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 138: 7-8)

My confidence is with You, O Lord, that You will answer my prayers. Your faithfulness to Your sons and daughters is true and abundant. My life belongs to You, for You are my Father; from You, I do not and will not stray.

I give thanks and sing praises to You, Lord, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 36 -
(All Scripture references: NASB)

 

[AirDancer]

With felicity in my heart, greetings, O Lord God, for this day You have made! I thank You for the wonders that have been the highlights thus far. The joys – simple or grand - that enter our lives are expressions of the pure love You have for each of us!

Even though these are trying hours, O Lord, You give us Your assurance that You protect us with the knowledge that we shall spend all of eternity with You. I praise You for Your loving kindness towards us, for these are days of chaos and distrust. It is comforting to know You have not forsaken us.

There are many who design their wickedness in opposition to Your plan for all of us. They are determined to enslave us and profit from the toils of our lives and of those who came before us. Their natures have existed for centuries, and their purposes have remained the same. Their greed will be their undoing, even as they plot against Your children, Lord God:

“Woe to those who scheme iniquity,
Who work out evil on their beds!
When morning comes, they do it,
For it is in the power of their hands.
2 They covet fields and then seize them,
And houses, and take them away.
They rob a man and his house,
A man and his inheritance.” (Micah 2: 1-2)

It is against those who covet that which does not belong to them that I pray for Your continued blessings, O Lord. Whether is it material or spiritual, everything we hold and behold belongs to You and is from You.

It is the same with this election, Lord God. Those who covet that which is not theirs have attempted to take what is not theirs. In the coming days, additional attacks against honesty and truth will surface. O Lord, I pray You will spread Your arms wide to encompass this country. Embrace us and this land; place Your shields around the election process to prevent further evil from occurring, in accordance to Your will.

You share Your amazing love and grace with us, O Lord God. And it is for this that I give thanks and sing praises to You, Lord, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 37 -

(All Scripture references: NASB)

 

[AirDancer]

Thank You, Lord God, for this beautiful day. The wonders that You have created bring joy to us in such simple ways, from the blooming of flowers and changing colors of leaves to the uniquely designed preying mantis to the playful antics of squirrels. And watching the guileless smile of a small child as she discovers something new in her ever-expanding world, well, Lord God, such blessings are remarkable. Thank You for sharing all this with us!

I cannot fathom a life without You in it. I can only imagine the emptiness within that requires filling, a need that only You can fulfill. To know that such a void exists in many today, I pray that their hearts are touched, so the vast barrenness will be full of Your loving kindness and glory. Replace their fears, which they use as shields around their hearts, with the marvelous knowledge of Your truth and faithfulness.

For it is written of them:

“The expression of their faces bears witness against them, and they display their sin like Sodom;They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

10 Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their actions. 11 Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him, for what he deserves will be done to him.” (Isaiah 3: 9-11)

Direct our paths so we are in contact with those whose hearts are set against You. Grant us the means to show Your love and constancy to those who are afraid. Bless our fellowship with one another so we can strengthen and comfort those who are in need. We will not cede in our efforts to do Your commission, O Lord; our faith-filled purpose to share Your Word and Your special joy will not cease.

Even when we are faced with obstacles that might seem insurmountable, we know that all things are possible through You. We stand firm in the assurance of Your loving embrace and protection as we strive each day to bring the message of Your Word to those whose eyes are still blind and hearts are still hardened against You. We do this joyfully, O Lord, in accordance to Your will.

Because You share Your amazing love and grace with us, O Lord God, I give thanks and sing praises to You, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 38 -

(All Scripture references: NASB)

 

[farouk]

Yes, 'vanity of vanities' is what the Preacher said in Ecclesiastes, about life apart from God.
Paul to the Corinthians says that the Lord Jesus, to believers 'is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption'.

 

[AirDancer]

Good morning, Lord! Thank You for giving to us this day You have made. Thank You for all You put before us, whether joys or challenges. We accept Your will for each of us, and I pray You will find us worthy of Your continued blessings.

Today, I am before You to pray for a situation that is looming. You know I have special interest in this matter, for I have a loved one who may be involved. This issue, Lord God, centers on the health and well-being of all in law enforcement, EMT service, fire departments, and those whose lives may be at risk.

O Lord, the threats are building of extreme behaviors if one particular presidential candidate is successful. Attacks, riots, mob actions have been promised in various areas around this country. The safety of those hired to protect the peace and to rescue any in dire health conditions have been told to prepare for the worst. Lord God, you know how seriously these threats have to be taken by those in charge; You know their escalating concerns for their fellow citizens.

And while every department, every area of public service, prepares for the potential of extreme crimes, You know that many of the individuals in these fields have added their voices in prayers to You for peace and calm, for the disarming of those who seek to harm, as well as for the safety of all around them. Your sons and daughters unite in prayer, humbly and fervently asking for Your intercession in the aftermath of this election. Lord God, we seek Your protection for all of us in this country.

Matthew 18:20 tells us: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” With multiple voices united in prayer, O Lord, we stand on this promise that You are with us.

And I ask this day for all who read this simple prayer to add an ‘Amen’ in response and support.

With praises raised to You, Lord God, because You will bring comfort and peace, in accordance to Your will, I thank You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 39 -

(All Scripture references: NASB)

 

[Eugene]

Thank you dear sister for bringing these prayers forth for our nation daily. It has made me aware of the need and I'm wondering if it might not extend to 365 days a year. May God bless this effort to you personally, and to the good of all men. Thank you dear Sister AirDancer in Jesus' name for what you have done.

 

[AirDancer]

I thank you, Eugene, in our Lord's name for the compliments, for I am undeserving of them; all the praise and thanks go to our Lord God. He has directed me each and every day; there were many times when I prepared to write or had already written a prayer, only to have our Lord guide me elsewhere. The day I quoted from Psalm 91 was one such example. I saw 'Psalm 91' at several different times, including on a license plate! (Yes, I really got the message that day!) On Day 16 when the entire verses of 'Amazing Grace' was presented, again, it wasn't my plan to quote the song of thanksgiving, but that is how I was directed. He spoke, and I listened.

Our Lord is truly amazing! And I really do love the way He moves us!

 

[farouk]

Re. Amazing grace:

I love that hymn:

'Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved,
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!'

 

[AirDancer]

Amen, Farouk ...amen!

 

[farouk]

PS: When sung, it's often the custom to re-sing the first verse of the hymn at the end.

 

[AirDancer]

For the past 39 days, prayers have been lifted up to You, O Lord. Prayers for Your children; for our elected officials and employed church leaders. For those in service to our society, whether law enforcement, fire fighters, EMT workers. And equally important, we’ve prayed for those who do not have their faces and hearts turned to You. The prayers have been heart-felt and sincere; we need Your assistance in our lives.

As You know, Lord, many of us have voted. More will continue to vote, not only today but in the following days. As selections are being made, O Lord, I pray for Your guidance. Direct the hands as votes are cast; convict the hearts so, however the choice is determined, the voter will stand firm in their preference.

And, Lord, I pray that as the totals are tallied, You bring us together in unification. Heal the wounds that have damaged this nation. Erase class or ethic divisions that polarize these peoples. And above all, reignite love and respect within our hearts so we are able to reach out to our neighbors. We are, each in our ways, facing challenges, and we need Your strength and protection as we proceed through and beyond the trials of these days.

Continue to move us in the ways You prefer. In accordance to Your will, bless our efforts as we share Your Word, Your love, Your grace, with those who do not know You as yet. I also ask for special healing for all of us, each and every one of us, regardless of where we live. We love You, Lord God, and we praise You in Your constancy, Your faithfulness, Your loving kindness.

“11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. 15 That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.” (Ecclesiastes 3: 10-15)

Thank You, O Lord, for Your guidance during this day and the previous 39 days of prayers. I praise You for the blessings wrought through this prayer thread; Your amazing grace has brought comfort and peace to within the hearts of many who have been touched by Your words.

For myself, I know how You have eased the concerns I held for someone I dearly love, a lovely child of Yours, who faces the potential of violence and turmoil in the days ahead. You hold this person (and so many more!) in Your loving, protective embrace. And I cannot thank and praise You enough for Your assurance.

To You, all the glory and honor and praise is given!

I sing of thanksgiving for all You do, Lord God. And I thank You for this journey with You, in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 40 -

(All Scripture references: NASB)