7 Prayers That Work

Dear Lord God, You oppose oppressors. You punish evil-doers. You de-throne tyrants . You protect your children. You draw hearts to seek you in every circumstance. So I pray for your righteous judgment on Russia and their aggression against Ukraine. I lament the loss of life and livelihood. I pray against war because war is not from you. I pray for a revival in Ukraine,  for a sweeping of the Holy Spirit through their towns and cities, for a longing and dependence on you for  salvation , protection , comfort, freedom , and eternity. You make yourself known to the nations. Lord, protect the Ukrainian people , especially the believers there, so they can minister to their countrymen. Lead them to operate out of love, not hate, for their fellow-man. I pray for a swift resolution to this conflict. Lord, set the prisoners free! I pray for  vengeance  against the Russian aggressors. Lavish your love on Ukraine and the people of Russia who are under Putin's thumb. I pray fo...

Oh, Lord,  I could have been born anywhere-- Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, North Korea, Argentina, Afghanistan, India, Mexico.... But I was born in the United States. I don't know why you gave that to me; the privilege and responsibility overwhelm me with gratitude. My country is not perfect. It's not the Promised Land.  It's not heaven on earth. But I am free. I have opportunity . I can speak out. I can vote people in or out of office. Thank you , Lord. I'm grateful for this privilege. I don't discount it. I will not malign what you've given me  or demand more, as if I'm entitled  to this freedom, prosperity, and support. I deserve much less. And so many millions around the world don't have a fraction of what I do. Thank you for my freedom. Thank you for my voice. Thank you for my vote. I promise to use each to honor and glorify your name. In Jesus' name,  Amen. " You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your  freedom  ...

I'd like to share a prayer of praise formed from Psalm 66.   It seems pertinent in helping assuage our fear over the global implications during this COVID-19 pandemic. Praise our God, people of the world! Let the sound of our praise be heard by everyone. He has preserved our lives and kept us from going under forever. Yes, He is testing us-- God is refining us like silver in the fire, drawing our insecurities, fears, and faithlessness to the surface, not to kill us or harm us, but to perfect us-- to make us completely pure. He has brought us into the prisons of this world, giving us burdens to bear and offenses to carry. Why? Why would God do this, if He loves us? Here's why: He leads us through fire and water, through the deserts and wilderness of our spiritual journeys to lead us into a place of abundance. He brings us into the open spaces of freedom. Without the fire, we would never recognize the gift of choice, love, and abundance. Lord, I w...

Oh, Lord God of love and vengeance,  You uphold the cause of the fatherless and widows. You put the orphans in families. You release those imprisoned by sin into freedom. You bring justice for the abused. You feed the hungry and clothe the naked. You sit with the lonely. You heal the sick. You remember the abandoned. You lift up the fallen. You embrace the unloved. You are all we need. Always and forever. You are everything we could ever long for,  hope for, or strive for. No, you are more than that. I praise you and believe in you  that you will serve justice and give hope to _________ as he/she fights against the evil forces that come against his/her life. I pray for God's Holy Spirit to pour out like fire from heaven  on ___________ and the needs sitting before him/her. Decimate the evil that pushes in and the enemy that sows doubt, fear, and worry. I pray against the Liar of all lies, against his forces of evil and against the peopl...

Dear Lord God, I am blessed to live in America, a free country, even though I chafe under the ambition and corruption so often present in public officials. I am proud of our soldiers and civil servants, even though I read stories of their brutality and injustice in the news. I appreciate the protection I have to believe, write, live, and worship, even though I recognize our country's moral decline. We are a sinful people and a sinful nation, and yet you choose to love us and use us. You have blessed us with opportunity and responsibility, and so much good has been accomplished in the world through our nation. Because of your love and mercy. Thank you for the men and women who have served our country, faced danger, missed loved ones, endured trauma, fought to recover, and came home. Thank you for the ones who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives so we could enjoy freedom. Bless their families and cover them with your loving care. Thank you for tr...

Dear God of all comfort, Settle over the families today who are missing their loved ones. Reach into those painful places and smooth the fear and anger; stave off the bitterness, and help them find joy today. Give them new purpose and vision--help them to envision and begin a new life without the ones they've lost. Lord of heaven, comfort us as a nation. I don't ask that you make our lives easy, because nothing with value was ever easy. But give us passion and purpose to live for you, and in so doing, serve our fellow-man. Make us Christ-followers first and Americans second. May our patriotism grow from a love of countryman, not a hatred of foreigners. Lead the citizens of this land to be strong, compassionate, and honest leaders. May we be a people of integrity--that is what brings honor to the dead. Leadership inspires future heroes. Make us leaders who hold human lives above personal values, ambition, and pride. May we see justice through your eyes alone. I pray ov...

It's easy to forget that I am in a daily battle. I'm at war. And I'm not talking about fighting with my kids over their homework or the dry cleaners over pants that have vanished. I'm talking about real spiritual warfare--the kind that's kicking me in the butt. I know a spiritual war is going on because I am praying against stuff that sometimes happens anyway. If I didn't know better, I'd say that my prayers weren't working. But I've been at the Christian life for awhile, so I know that's not true.  I'm just at war. And in a war, nobody wins all the time. War always creates setbacks and casualties on both sides. Everyone emerges with scars. Spiritual warfare is the reason that life is hard. So this spiritual war between good and evil becomes the reason that I pray, whether I realize it or not. My desire to push in against the enemy, to take back ground I've lost through wrong choices, to conquer new territory in my heart and mind-...

Today I read a great post about forgiveness by Gwen Theilges, appearing on Rodney Coe's website "Lift up your day," for which we both guest-write. I wanted to share it below: I’ve knelt at an altar, placing the names of people at His feet before. I’ve felt anger and betrayal, and if I told you each story, I’m willing to bet you’d agree that I’m justified in feeling wronged in at least a few of the situations. But, here’s the thing. Well, the things…First of all, there have been people kneeling at literal and figurative altars placing ME at the feet of Jesus before. I’ve wronged people. Sometimes I had the best of intentions, but unfortunately did something to hurt another person. And other times? I just got it wrong. No, let me use the real word – I sinned. And therefore sent someone directly to an altar trying to forgive me, or worse yet, directly in the opposite direction – where bitterness increases and peace is elusive…that place where we go to not lay pe...