Daily Devotional – January 22, 2020 “Prayer”

Our Father,

God, as I come petitioning your throne, I first thank you. Thank you, God, for another day, for keeping grace and sustaining mercy, for forgiveness and repentance and for protection and provision. Now Father, I need your ear to attend to the cries of our land and your hand to rest upon your children. God, I feel like Solomon when he prayed at the dedication of the temple. For he said in Second Chronicles 6:19, “Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you.” Here am I, oh God, pleading for you to hear my prayer and plea. I may not be outside or within a temple but hear me from where I am because we need you.

When innocent babies are being gunned down in our city, we need you. When homicide rates are on the rise, we need you. When uplifting each other is being replaced with bullying, we need you. When worship places are no longer following your word, we need you. When prophets, prophetess, intercessors and healers are quiet; we need you. When your people are being led astray because they won’t study and pray, we need you. When we complain more than we cry loud, we need you. When abuse, anger, bitterness, selfish actions, suicidal thoughts and sin are overshadowing our thoughts and service, we need you.

Father forgive us. Forgive us of our sins. Forgive us for taking you for granted and hear our pleas. Forgive us, oh God and don’t allow your wrath to burn against us. Forgive us and heal the land. I know things happen, evil is present, and we sometimes must endure but your word says, if I pray and ask in faith, it shall be. God, comfort the brokenhearted and the grieving families. God be a present help for those who are sick. God, rescue those who are lost. God, protect those who are in the cold without shelter. God, stop the senseless murders, protect our children and bring swift judgment to those responsible.

Father, my list of asks could go on and on, like that of Solomon but you know the cry of my heart and mouth. So, all I’ll ask is for you to read the prayer within the beats of my heart and tears that I shed. We need you, God to let the manifestation of your power be seen. Raise up a people who will lay down on their face for an entire nation. Raise up a people who will fast to see your glory touch their city. Raise up a people who aren’t ashamed to pray, even in hostile environments knowing you’ll show up. Start with me, God. Use me, in thy service for I’m willing and I believe.

By faith,
Amen.