SELECT PSALMS FOR GUIDING PRAYER ON NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008.
PSALM 2: Why do the nations rage against the Lord and his Anointed? The nations are destined to be the Messiah’s heritage. Messiah, the same as Christ, means “the Anointed One.” Nations who take refuge in Christ are blessed. Jesus is the Christ, God’s Anointed King. Give thanks to God for King Jesus!
PSALM 46: Nations rage; but be still and know that God is God. Learn to trust in God, and set anxiety aside. He’s got the whole wide world in his hands. Pray affirming your complete trust in God, that you are putting all things in his hands and in the hands of Jesus.
PSALM 67: Let God judge our nation with equity and may God’s face shine upon us. Many evil trends in our nation are upsetting to those who know God’s ways. Pray that God will help us to rise up and turn the hearts of the wayward, the indifferent, the self-serving and the evil to his Son.
PSALM 82: Are you disillusioned by the rulers of nations? God rules over them and judges them. God’s goal is to inherit the nations for himself so that justice and compassion prevail. Pray for our rulers that they may rule with wisdom and justice, and be empowered to fulfill all their God ordained roles including upholding law and order, punishing evildoers, and promoting justice and peace for a better world in which to live.
PSALM 95: In times and circumstances that test us, we must guard our attitude. We must learn to trust in God who is a great King over all, and not grumble against him. God will provide through troublesome times, and his goal is to lead us into his rest. Pray for a stronger attitude of faith, ask for forgiveness, and enter God’s rest provided in Jesus Christ.
PSALM 110: God’s Anointed rules as King and serves as the High Priest over all the earth. His rule and priestly ministry leads God people to devote themselves to God. He will certainly be victorious over all the enemies of God so it is clear that God is all in all. Pray that God will strengthen his church to rise up against the gates of hell, to break through the falsehoods of our age, and to set the captives free from bondage to sin and the evil one.
PSALM 145: We have wonderful reasons to keep praising God every day for all his great works, his mercy, his kingdom, and all his blessings and care. Just as we bless God, our earnest desire in praying for our nation and all nations is that all flesh will bless God’s holy name forever and ever. Thank God for his promise to Abraham that all nations on earth will be blessed through his seed, which we believe is Jesus. Pray that you will see increasing fulfillment of this promise in our time. Bless God’s holy name!
