Praying for a nation in a time of crisis

Fear and hatred seem to be rife in our nation at the moment. I was very much encouraged by a post that recently appeared on Floydd and Sally McClung's blog. This has been distributed throughout our congregation to encourage us to pray to God for our country with urgency and humility.

As we meet with friends and family this weekend around dinner tables or even braai fires, may we not succumb to the hopless despair and fear that are gripping so many. May we not jump on the band wagon of judgement and mud-slinging, but instead proclaim Christ as sovereign and our hope in Him eternal.

You can read the whole article by clicking here. I include here the guidelines Floydd gave on ...

How to Pray for  a Nation in Crisis:
How to pray in a time of crisis:


1.Focus on God’s character. Acknowledge God’s goodness, His greatness, and that He is ultimately in control. (Daniel 2:20-22 and 9:4,7,9). Refuse to be more impressed with sin or evil people or wicked rulers than with God’s greatness and goodness. Faith for a nation in a time of crisis comes from being impressed with God, not circumstances.

2.Thank God for what He has shown you in the past as you prayed for your nation. (Daniel 2:23, 9:3). If you have not prayed with fasting and brokenness and humility for your nation, ask God for forgiveness.

3.Declare to God in faith that He raises up kings and presidents, and He removes kings and presidents. (Daniel 2:21). Daniel believed his own king in Jerusalem was removed, and the king of Babylon was raised up to judge the people of Israel. God brings governments down if they do not govern righteously. God uses wicked nations to bring judgment on His people.

4.Confess the sins of your nation in humility. Name the sins of the people specifically. Notice Daniel identified with the sins of his people. When he prayed he said, “we have sinned”. (Daniel 9:3-6, 9, 13)

5.Acknowledge that the judgment of the Lord on His people are deserved because of the sins of their sins. (Daniel 9:11-15)

6.Call upon the mercy and forgiveness of God. Daniel believed there was only one hope for the nation, and that was the mercy of God. He appealed to God to be merciful. (Daniel 9:4,9,18-19).

7.Pray for God’s own sake, for His glory. As you pray, be more concerned for God than for the people or yourself. Too often our prayers are based on what we want or what we feel; our prayers become self-centered. (Daniel 9:18-19)