Praying as a nation

At 5 pm this afternoon, President Noynoy Aquino is scheduled to lead the nation in prayer. Regardless of the differences in our faith, religion or political leanings, whether we are pro or anti government, this afternoon would be a good time to set aside our differences and opinions and start out the year by recognizing God, giving him thanks and dedicating our nation to him. Whatever we may feel about each other, we all want a better life and that can only happen when God is at the center of everything.

If you have the time, try writing your own prayer for this afternoon, set your alarm for 5pm and take advantage of the power of collective prayer. I know from experience that it is a very powerful moment and I have a long list of answered prayers during such events. In support of today’s National Day of Prayer: A Nation Praying In Unity, I’d like to share a prayer that came to me during a 5-day church wide fast at Victory Christian Fellowship. You’re welcome to pray it this afternoon and may God bless us all especially you and your loved ones.

Renew our minds O Lord and fill us with Wisdom. Help us to keep your word and the Bible always on our lips; to meditate on it day and night, to carefully do everything written in it and prosper and be successful from it. Grant us the desire, the time and the place to meditate and to spend quiet time with you almighty God, with you Lord Jesus and with the Holy Spirit of God. Grant O Lord that my family and I would be revitalized, anointed and appointed into your godly purpose and the work you have assigned for us. 

Help us to be witnesses, mentors and tent-makers in ministry. Increase our capacity to send, support and provide for others in need or desiring to serve you Lord. Grant us “Divine Appointments”, the favor of God, and the friendship of people. Remove ulterior motives and cast out the spirit of selfishness in us as we develop contacts and relationships. Give us spiritual eyes to see, and know those who are really truly in need of aid, comfort and prayers. Grant us wisdom-filled compassion and a cheerful joyful spirit. 

Bless us O Lord with the Holy Spirit’s gifts to know, to understand, and to be committed to your will. Provide us secure and regular sources of funding that will allow us to do ministry work as well as be part of relief work without worry or being concerned for our needs. As Tent-makers grant us Lord properties to build on, to provide shelters for your people while providing us income to “fund our Fight”. Help us Lord to be free of materialism and to shed things that serve no purpose or to give away what can be a blessing for others. Help us to be in agreement on these matters and keep out the dividing spirit from our midst.

 Likewise we ask you to bless those who bless us materially and spiritually. Share with them your vision and reveal to them their role and contribution to all that we do. Graciously grant them prosperity, honor and recognition. Protect their businesses, bless the work of their hands, bless their families, bless them with godly children who bring them true joy.

Bless our families, our brothers and sisters as well as their families. Extend your grace, your hedge of protection that you have bestowed upon us, on them. Give them the gift and the privilege of a personal relationship with you. Bless their children and meet all their needs. Grant them O Lord the privilege to serve you and to be a blessing to others. Bless the work of their hands and secure their boundaries, their possessions and their dreams. In your kindness hear their prayers and let this be a sign to them that the Almighty God is calling them.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, most Holy Spirit; we pray for your abundant overflowing love and provision to cover all those who work for us especially those who maybe struggling materially, financially or spiritually. Cut the cords of poverty, the curse of futility and hopelessness and disease in their lives and through out succeeding generations. As you make us “one house” let the blessings you bestow upon us reach them as cascades of provision, opportunity and grace that comes from you.

Bless O Lord all those who work with us in the market place as well as in ministry. Help us to continually be sensitive, aware and recognize their contributions, their value as well as their needs in work and in the privacy of their lives. Grant O Lord that we can bless them materially and spiritually, that by generously caring for them we would in turn be giving them an unimpeachable testimony of our changed lives and Christian walk.

Bless our spiritual leaders, our Pastors, missionaries, church volunteers and most especially their wives, their children, parents who also make sacrifices or live under the resulting conditions. Meet their daily needs and bless them with Heaven’s unexpected showers of gifts and promotions. Turn the hearts of people in churches to be a blessing for church workers. Protect your church workers Lord from any and all attacks of the enemy, lift your people in dangerous places from threats, violence or intimidations. May the enemies of God see only LOVE manifest in the walk and the ways of your people.

We lift up to you Almighty God, Lord Jesus, Most Holy Spirit of God all our community leaders as well as leaders of the country. O Lord we ask you to walk through our village, our city, our nation and cause for the wicked spirits to depart. Cast out the chaos and indifference as well as the selfishness and greed of people and businesses that have contributed to chaos and criminality. Let there be order and discipline in our streets and lives. Lord shake and awaken our leaders and cause them to realize and learn your good and perfect will, your declaration of good and the well being of the people.

As we move on to our specific prayers and needs we thank you and expectantly await for answered prayers in your perfect way and perfect time. For desires not in tune with you O Lord, swiftly remove them from our minds and our hearts. Thank You Lord and all these we ask in the mighty of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.