INTRODUCTION
A Nationwide Call to Prayer
In a politically charged climate, sincere people will take action in accordance with their vision of what our country should be. Sometimes people will engage in deeds of wickedness fueled by evil purposes and desires. While this has always been so, the times in which we are living have produced wickedness in both high and low places. The purpose of these prayers of agreement is simply to call God’s people to prayerful action. The weapons of our warfare are not those of politics or persuasion but of prevailing in prayer. There are those who are called to argue in behalf of the seven issues receiving emphasis in this prayer initiative:
- Truth,
- Righteousness,
- Peace,
- Reconciliation,
- Virtue,
- Mercy and,
- Hope
Let us prayerfully encourage these our fellow warriors in this battle. Our purpose in these prayers of agreement is to, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “to overcome evil with good.” To this end, these prayers are petitions to God to inspire and empower His people to actions that only the Lord’s disciples will take—prayer and obedience. The 7 Days of Prayer for America initiative is intended to fulfill our duty to this country the Lord has given us. No other group of Americans will or can do this. So, let us agree together!
Matthew 18:19-20 NIV
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
Recommendations for Use
In these times of spiritual warfare, we need concerted and unified prayers from the Church of the Lord Jesus. Morning and evening prayer is an ancient practice of the Covenantal People of God. Inspired by scripture, these prayers enable each believer to frame the day in prayer. It is suggested that these prayers be prayed twice each day, in the morning as the day begins, and in the evening as the evening’s rest begins. The verses of scripture supplied with each day’s prayers are important. We should prayerfully read them aloud if possible. Why? Because “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of the Lord.” (Romans 10:17) There is power in confessing the Word of God.
These times of prayer may also lead to personalized prayers. Within the topic of the day (Truth, Righteousness, etc.) more specific needs may come to mind. At the end of each written prayer, feel free to add your own prayers for these needs. In this way, the Lord will be directing your prayers as you petition Him according to His will for your life. Without calling to specific action by individuals, these prayers are general, dealing topically with essentials of the Christian life. Keep a notebook handy to record specific calls to action from the Holy Spirit. There is work for each of us to do in these crucial days. A traditional hymn summarizes this moment.
Dr. Stephen Phifer
Morning and Evening Prayer
Dear Lord, we come before You today in the Name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. Our country is immersed in a flood of falsehood. Feelings have supplanted facts in the national mind. Lies serve to confuse and to bind people; Truth, more specifically knowing the truth, is a liberating and empowering force. O Holy Spirit, move us to speak the truth in every aspect of our lives, to live the truth in every moment of every day, and to present the Truth of Jesus to this confused and crippled country. Reveal to us the propaganda that assaults us daily and give us voices to counter falsehood with truth. May Your truth Set this nation free, O Lord! Amen and Amen.
John 8:31-32 NIV
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Luke 8:16-18 NKJV
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”
Morning and Evening Prayer
Dear Lord, You have called us to lives of righteousness. Each of us has a relationship with the Father through Jesus the Son because the righteousness of Jesus has been credited to our account. Standing in His righteousness, we ask You, Lord, to further cleanse our minds and hearts of any trace of wickedness. O Refiner’s Fire, come purify us so that we might offer an offering in righteousness. May the cleansing balm of the Holy Spirit reach the depths of our being so that no accusation of sin or wickedness or even of slothfulness can be lodged against us. Through Your righteousness, set each of us aflame so that together we are indeed a City on a Hill which cannot be hidden. O Holy Spirit, do Your work in us! Amen and Amen.
Malachi 3:1-3 NKJV
“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Morning and Evening Prayer
Lord Jesus, You promised us Your Peace, not a peace based in favorable conditions or prospects, but a Peace in the middle of the storm, in the face of wicked opposition, and a peaceful table spread with blessings in the face of our enemies. For 2000 years Your Peace has enabled Your followers to prevail against the odds, to overcome any enemy, to outlast any stormy blast, and to out-maneuver any invading army. The darkness is deep, but we are not alarmed. The winds howl but we shout our praise all the louder. The thief tries to steal our Peace, but You put it so deep inside us, he can’t get to it. As You surround us with Your Peace, fill us with Your courage and with confidence in Your victory. Amen and Amen.
John 14:27 NIV
Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Colossians 3:15-16 NIV
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Morning and Evening Prayer
Lord Jesus, You have called us to meaningful relationships with You and with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. In Your Word we see that Your church is described as a family, an army, a city on a hill, a holy-royal priesthood, a super-connected and well-functioning body, a holy nation, and a people purchased by God. Obviously, Your intention is that we be vitally connected with each other and also with You. The enemy knows this so he does all he can to put us at war with each other. Yet, we are given the ministry of reconciliation and it supersedes even our ministries of prayer and worship. You said that before we come to You with an offering we must first go and be reconciled with an offended member of this holy family. Make us ONE, O Lord, Amen and Amen.
Matthew 5:23-24 NIV
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
2 Corinthians 5:16-20 NIV
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
John 17:20-21 NKJV
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Morning and Evening Prayer
Lord Jesus, the ancient confession of the Old Covenant was some version of “The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.” Father, Your goodness is the basis of our faith. Since we are made in Your image, it is imperative that we must also be good. We must reflect Your goodness with our own virtue, an inner goodness that reflects Your faultless character. While it is true that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” it is also true that our lives have been changed by Your amazing grace. “Old things are passing away” as all things are becoming new. Through the power of the Holy Spirit resident in our lives we can be—must be!—good people! Enable us, O Lord, to live excellent lives springing from hearts made pure by Your cleansing blood. Save us from hate, from deceit, from lust, from secret sins, and from rebellion. This is what the world needs from the church. Help us to fill our hearts with good things from You so that good things spill from our lives each day. Amen and Amen.
Philippians 4:8-9 NKJV
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Ephesians 2:7 NIV
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Psalm 24:3-4 NIV
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
Morning and Evening Prayer
Lord Jesus, we rejoice today in Your mercy! You have every right to cast each of us into outer darkness, yet You have called us into Your throne room! Since we are receiving such mercy, it is imperative that we extend mercy to everyone we meet in this life. At the heart of this mercy is humility. You have given us an amazing promise: “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.” The difference between Your resistance and Your grace is huge. Having received such mercy, we must extend mercy to others. While we resist spiritual forces with spiritual weapons, it is imperative that we deal with people with mercy. Amen and amen.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Micah 6:8 NIV
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
James 4:10 NIV
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Morning and Evening Prayer
Dear Lord, Your promises give us practical hope. Your sterling character gives us faith and courage to face whatever we must face. In the midst of this “thick darkness,” You have shown a light around us that is both a lamp for our feet and light for our path. Teach us to number our days aright. Show us Your will for us and then empower us to do it. Our confidence is in You! You have even given us “The Blessed Hope” of your sure return. We will see loved ones again. We will fall at Your feet in worship. We long to hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” With this hope we have fuel for each day’s journey, strength and skill for each day’s tasks, and a destiny safely sheltered in You. Amen and amen.
Romans 12:9-13 NIV
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
1 John 3:2-3 NIV
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Psalm 42:5-6 NIV
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer
© 2022 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved
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