National Day of Prayer

May 7, 2009 is the National Day of Prayer. At Noon today a service observing the day will be held on steps of the Greene County Courthouse. If you can’t attend, I encourage you to make prayer a priority on this day.

For whom shall we pray? I believe David’s words in Psalm 122:6-9 reveal to us a focus for our prayers in six areas.

1. Country- Military Leaders (v.6a) “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:” May God protect and guide the men and women who voluntarily serve our nation.

2. Commerce- Business Persons (v. 6b) “May they prosper who love you.” May our economy be characterized by Biblical Ethics and fair labor practices.

3. Crime- Law Enforcement Officers (v.7a) “Peace be within your walls,” Daily, local law enforcement officers take risks to protect property and persons in our towns and county. They need and deserve our intercessions.

4. Capital- Governmental Leaders (7b) “Prosperity within your palaces.” Pray for those National, State, County, and City governments.

5. Companions- Fellow Countrymen (v.8) For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” We must pray our neighbors will develop a personal relationship with Jesus, the real peacemaker.

6. Churches- Communities of Faith (v.9) Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good. Pray for all churches in our community, not just the Baptist.

While many decry our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, the paramount hindrance to our peace is dependence upon ourselves. We need God to help us deal with our sin problem. He has provided the remedy for our sinfulness in the person of Jesus Christ. May our nation be a nation of praying people seeking and serving God.