“The Hope Of The Nations”
May 2, 2013
Listen to this message on your audio player.“In His name the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:21).Today is a national day of prayer here in America. Our daily text is the theme verse this year and indeed we pray that our nation’s hope will be in God and that this will be true of all nations.
Christians all over the country are praying for our nation. We are out very early this morning for chaplain visitation after which we will be attending the National Day of Prayer activities here in Lancaster County at Lancaster Bible College.
Here in America Christians often say “God bless America” as a means of petitioning God for His blessings on our land. A bumper sticker we regularly see here in Lancaster County states, “God bless the whole world – no exceptions”. We suppose the intent is to not limit a petition for God’s blessing to just America but that is certainly not my intention when we say it. Wherever you may live we encourage you to pray “God bless my country”. Even though you may not be having an official day of prayer, today’s message will apply to all and the prayers offered will be pertinent regardless of where you live.
Rather than share a regular message we will share two prayers and encourage you to join us.
The first is a brief prayer written by Brooksyne:
Father, it is in Your name that we, as a nation, put our hope. In Your name we cast down all that pertains to evil as we also raise up a standard that goes before us in our battle against the powers of darkness. We lift our hearts to You, gracious Father, seeking forgiveness and favor. As You view our troubled, sin-ridden nation we ask once again for mercy, for a visitation of Your Holy Spirit to overshadow, convict and heal our land. Revive us again in devotion to You. Do not give us over to our sins, as we deserve, but give us, instead, over to passionate prayer and a heart of repentance and an obedient spirit that moves Your heart. “May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ we pray”. Amen
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, is this year’s Honorary Chairman. Here is the prayer he has written for our country:
Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.
How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, “America, America, God shed His grace on thee.” Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence.
Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from our courtrooms, classrooms and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have “forgotten God.” But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.
Scripture tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said, “Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6)
That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to you. You have told us if we will humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2 Chronicles7:14)
Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much.
We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We expect to post a regular message tomorrow.
Today’s Suggested Musicand SupplementalResources
Yesterday and through the remainder of the week we will share music on prayer adding to the list day by day with recently added songs at the top.
“Turn the Tide – A Prayer for America” Video Abigail Miller (Outstanding!)
“Heal Our Land” Video Wayne Watson
“Heal Our Land” Video Planetshakers
“How Long Has It Been?” Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
“Waiting Here For You“ Video Passion Worship Music
“Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing“ Video Fernando Ortega
“Hear Our Prayer” Video Don Moen
“Hear Our Prayers” Video The Glorious Unseen
“You Said” Video Hillsong
“I Must Tell Jesus” Video The Grace Thrillers
National Day Of Prayer website
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“The Blessing Of Prayer”
May 3, 2012
Variegated tulips on the grounds of Hotel Hershey.
Listen to this message on your audio player.
”The Blessing Of Prayer”
Today is the National Day Of Prayer here in the USA. All over the country groups will be gathering to pray and for many the focus will be spiritual revival and a return to God’s ways. Our country is in desperate need of divine intervention!
Here in Lancaster County we have a very well planned day of prayer with a rally tonight at Lancaster Bible College where David Jeremiah, a veteran pastor, will speak.
Our encouragement messages go out to believers in many different countries so we try to write for the spiritual edification of all true believers regardless of where they live. We are unaware of other countries that might have official national days of prayer as we have here in America. However I genuinely believe this is a very important day here in the country where God has providentially ordained that I should live out my life on this earth. Wherever you may live you should pray for your country and every point we make today will apply regardless of your location.
America is in deep trouble and is in need of genuine repentance. Although there is an active remnant of true believers, the vast majority of our population gives little or no attention to God. Our government and court systems increasingly pass laws and policies that will surely lead to persecution for the believers. Our arts and entertainment industry is a cesspool of immorality. Broken marriages and troubled households abound and in recent years a massive effort is being made to drastically redefine the God ordained institution of holy marriage. Violence fills the land. Our educational system has been very successful at breaking down the moral constraints. Brooksyne and I see this brokenness first hand in our ministry to the workplace, but it’s evident to anyone who turns on the news or reads a newspaper. I believe one of the greatest evidences of this escalating trouble is spiritual blindness.
I have often pondered the daily verse and committed it to memory many years ago. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple is being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God’s Name.
The phrase “My people” in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people and their specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive error when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God’s land in the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers foundationally hold heavenly citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship).
Having said that, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that “My people” today refers to the redeemed in Christ who live throughout the world.
God requires these conditions of His people:
- Humble themselves
- Pray
- Seek My face
- Turn from their wicked ways
God promises these blessings for His people:
- Then will I hear from heaven
- And will forgive their sin
- And will heal their land
As God’s people we are indeed called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek His face and to turn from our wicked ways. Wherever we may live let us who love God apply these conditions! The eternal, unchanging God is still speaking from heaven, forgiving sin, and extending His saving touch to all who look to Him. Regardless of what happens to America or the land where you live, His promise to the individual who earnestly seeks Him is always bright and good.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Father, we come into Your presence with thanksgiving in our hearts and give You praise. We ask you to be merciful to our land because You are a loving, forgiving God. You have called on us, Your children, to be a people of prayer, devotion, and denial of self. We pray for our land to repent of neglect and defiance of Your holy commands. In the name of Jesus we come against the powers of darkness that seek to engulf the light of Your salvation that brings help, hope, and forgiveness to sin sick souls and secures their eternal dwelling in heaven. Help us not to grow weary in our intercession, for we want to be faithful in prayer so that, at a future date, we will witness the harvest of souls. We pray for Your will to be accomplished in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
“Day Of Prayer Song” Video Arnie McCall
“If My People” Video Men’s chorus
“If My People Pray” Video Avalon
“What if My People Pray” Video Casting Crowns
“Jesus Saves” Video Travis Cottrell
“Search Me, Know Me” Video Kathryn Scott
Ministry Update (Revised 12/11)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible.
“Let Us Pray”
May 7, 2009
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
(photo by Doris High)
Listen to us share this message on your audio player.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Today is the “National Day of Prayer” here in the USA. Our encouragement message goes out to believers in many different countries so we try to write for the spiritual edification of all true believers regardless of where they live. We are unaware of other countries that might have official national days of prayer as we have here in America. However I genuinely believe this is a very important day here in the country where God has providentially ordained that I should live out my life here on this earth.
America is in deep trouble and is in need of genuine repentance. Although there is an active remnant of true believers, the vast majority of our population gives little or no attention to God. Our government and court systems increasingly pass laws and policies that will surely lead to persecution for the believers. Our arts and entertainment industry is a cesspool of immorality. Broken marriages and troubled households abound and in recent years a massive effort is being made to drastically redefine what constitutes marriage. Violence fills the land. Our educational system has been very successful at breaking down the moral constraints. Brooksyne and I see this brokenness first hand in our ministry to the workplace, but it’s evident to anyone who turns on the news or reads a newspaper. I believe one of the greatest evidences of this escalating trouble is spiritual blindness.
I have often pondered the daily verse and committed it to memory many years ago. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple is being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God’s Name.
The phrase “My people” in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people and this specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive error when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God’s land in the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers foundationally hold heavenly citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship).
Having said that, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that “My people” today refers to the redeemed in Christ who live throughout the world.
God requires these conditions of His people:
- Humble themselves
- Pray
- Seek My face
- Turn from their wicked ways
God promises these blessings for His people:
- Then will I hear from heaven
- And will forgive their sin
- And will heal their land
As God’s people we are indeed called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek His face and to turn from our wicked ways. Wherever we may live let those of us who love God apply these conditions! The eternal, unchanging God is still speaking from heaven, forgiving sin, and extending His saving touch to all who look to Him. Regardless of what happens to America or the land where you live, His promise to the individual who earnestly seeks Him is always bright and good.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father in Heaven, We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness. Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear to us. We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor. Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord. Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from. Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line. Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart. “May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
Today’s prayer is the same as the one posted on the National Day of Prayer website.
Click on the link to open and play.
In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.
“If My People Pray” 2 Chronicles 7:14 from the Integrity Scripture memory series Audio
“If My People Pray” Video by Avalon
Some random notes:
* Today’s text brings to mind an incident from Bible College over 30 years ago. Once we had a US congressman from southwest Missouri as our chapel speaker and he referred to the daily verse but mistakenly said 2 Corinthians 7:14 (rather than 2 Chronicles 7:14). We had a very colorful student who came out of an addictive background who had the nickname Hallelujah Frank due to his very expressive worship nature. Hallelujah Frank ran up to the front right after chapel was over to correct the congressmen concerning the mistaken reference, embarrasing the college administrators as I recall, in the brusque way he handled the congressman’s innocent error.
* Yesterday Steve Higgins, a friend from Massachusetts, shared an interesting perspective: “I recently read an article in, of all places, the Boston Globe and the person being interviewed said something I found intriguing. One of the biggest dangers we face in the church today is becoming admirers of Jesus and not followers. Isn’t it great to come to church, pat each other on the back and talk about all of the good things Jesus did? It’s almost to some even in the church that he is just another cult hero. But to be a follower takes commitment. Commitment is something many of us never truly make anymore.”
* Our friend Doris High took the outstanding close-up of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak used at the top of today’s message. See here for more from her Rose-breasted Grosbeak collection.
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