CONTENDING FOR THE NATION
2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (NET)
Jeremiah 29:7 “Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.” (NET)
2 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (NET)
Today as we pray and fast we have the opportunity and privilege to contend for this great nation in which we have been placed. A nation which has shaped and fashioned this world and continues to be a country of significant influence. The UK has an amazingly rich Christian heritage and on a number of occasions has seen God’s hand move mightily when her people gathered to pray. Archbishop William Temple, when reflecting on the ‘miraculous’ deliverances that Britain experienced during the second world war said, ““Why has God preserved us? We may, and we must believe that He who led our fathers in ways so strange, and has preserved our land in a manner so marvellous, has a purpose for us to serve in the preparation for His perfect Kingdom.” Let us pray and fast today with our imaginations fired with the idea that as we do, we are participating in God’s great plans and purposes in and through this nation. Let us contend for her destiny! So areas to pray into:
- Pray for our leadership – for wisdom, courage, discernment.
- Pray for the economy of the UK. Let’s pray for a flourishing of new businesses, a rise in employment, the generation of new jobs, lucrative trade agreements which do not only bless the UK but all those involved, innovation and invention (which has a tremendously strong history in the UK). Let us also pray that we increasingly reflect an attitude to business and finances which reflects integrity as well as care and love for others.
- Pray for the NHS and wisdom for those leading our health services at this time,
- Pray for the education sector, for the Deans, Principles, lecturers and teachers; and our children, that there would not be a long term impact on education as a result of the lockdown,
- Pray for an end to this virus and that we’d see a rapid decline in infections.
- Pray for unity and pray against forces that would attempt to divide us – whether that be in terms of geography, race, social background or age.
- Pray for an openness to the Good News of Jesus.
