Dear Saints,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about the National Day of Prayer.
Much useful information appears on the National Day of Prayer Official Website. If you wish to know more, click here for a Brief History of the National Day of Prayer .
The theme for this National Day of Prayer 2009 Observance is "Prayer, America's Hope." The theme comes from Psalm 33:22 which states: "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."
Personally, I prefer to read Psalm 33 in its entirety. It says,
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth--He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of His army; no warrior escapes by His great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance, despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You." ---Psalm 33:12-22, The Holy Bible.
Please consider Psalm 33 my personal perspective on the importance of our nation observing the National Day of Prayer. This Psalm along with a number of other scriptural passages motivates me to serve as National Day of Prayer Regional Coordinator for Tidewater, Virginia, a location that is not only the most strategic military site in the United States; but, is also one of the most historically significant for the founding of our nation. It is here that the full land mass of our nation was first dedicated to Christ Jesus. It is here that those first settlers came with the idea that this nation would be a place of escape from religious persecution. Those settlers knew that no matter their land of origin, they could come here to exercise their faith in Christ Jesus freely. Consequently, it is here that we rightly commemorate the planting of the first cross. And, it is here that we take seriously the responsibility to guard the spiritual legacy of our nation.
I firmly believe that the sovereignty of our nation depends upon right acknowledgment of the Sovereign of the Universe. The often quoted verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, still conveys pivotal truth for our nation. In humility before Almighty God and in true repentance as prayer warriors, we petition Almighty God for continued mercy and grace over our nation, for all authorities, and for the well-being of all our nation's citizens independent of their individual beliefs. We do this because we believe the Holy Bible. What the Holy Bible says is true, that "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17
There is so much at stake with our nation these days.
Now more than ever, we must not fall asleep on our watch.
The enemy of our souls would want our focus on everything but Christ Jesus. He likes seeing God's Body divided and silently warring within itself, cancerous.
That is why the National Day of Prayer is so important. First, observance of the National Day of Prayer gives us the opportunity to exercise the right to pray in public. This is especially crucial in today's environment because we do not want to lose that right.
Second, observance of the National Day of Prayer is important because it gives us the opportunity to re-navigate our nation's gaze back to our Sovereign God and His Commandments as our standard of governance.
Please join me in prayer that we who are" the Church" will wake up and shake off the beguilement of those things that divide the Body of Christ. Our focus must be on right relationship with Christ Jesus and obedience to the Holy Bible. All other ground, as the song says, "is sinking sand."
If the Holy Spirit so leads, please consider agreeing with me on the following prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
May the Resurrection Power of GOD be evident throughout the entire Body of Christ on May 7th! May it be so undeniably present that it ignites a complete Holy Spirit filled turn around in the direction of our nation. May we immediately begin to operate as ONE NATION UNDER THE GOD OF THE HOLY BIBLE, and do so until the return of Christ Jesus. We plead the blood of Christ Jesus saturate our nation and everybody in it. Let all those who do not know You cry out to be saved, Jesus! Let us become workers found approved, rightly communicating the Holy Bible, Your Living Word. And, may salvation and sanctification become complete.
Dear LORD, What we are asking for is revival the likes of which has never been seen before on planet earth. Let this revival be sustained, Father. May Your Son, Christ Jesus be lifted high so that All can see Him and be saved.
In this year of Our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus 2009--May YOU Arise, Oh GOD! May YOU get all the glory for what YOU alone can do through YOUR Church on behalf of our nation.
Let Your resurrection power ripple throughout the entire United States beginning right here on May 7th in Tidewater, Virginia! Let that same move of the Holy Spirit become contagious and spread throughout the world. This is our prayer in the matchless name of Jesus, the One Who Was, And Is, And Is to Come! Amen!
HALLELUJAH! AMEN!
Saints as I mentioned before, one of our main goals is to preserve the right to public worship. To that end, we must participate in all the various City Hall or County Court House observances on the National Day of Prayer this Thursday, May 7, 2009. To find out the locations and times, just CLICK HERE.
I encourage All congregations in the area that call on the name of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, to open their doors for prayer on May 7, 2009. Just make a visible outdoor announcement, that Church is open for prayer in observance of the National Day of Prayer. A formal National Day of Prayer sign is not required. Some Churches may choose to have formal events. Others may simply wish to offer the opportunity for the public to pray silent prayers of petition to God to watch over the stewardship of our nation. Independent of choice in program, and for at least this one day of the year, it would be a wonderful tribute to God for all churches to acknowledge Jesus Christ's sovereignty over the affairs of our nation.
I hope that this brief note will be of help to you. Thank you again for your attention.
Soli Deo Gloria! Amen!
--Olivia M. McDonald, :) <><
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