We join you in this burden for the nations and for the house of God to truly be a house of prayer for all peoples as it is written in Isa 56:7 and again by our Lord in Mark 11:17, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. Your heart to see prayer rise for leaders in government and in the church, for the proclamation of the Gospel, and for strength to stand in these perilous times is deeply biblical and aligns with the will of God.
We agree with you that we are commanded first of all to pray for those in authority. As it is written in 1 Tim 2:1-2, I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. And we hold fast to the promise that follows in 1 Tim 2:3-4, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. We pray that our leaders would come to that knowledge of the truth which is only in Jesus Christ, for there is no other name by which we can be saved and no other way to the Father except through Him.
We lift up our nation and its leaders with you, asking the Lord to grant repentance and grace to seek His face according to 2 Chron 7:14, if my people, who are called by my name, shall 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. We join you in the confession of our sins and the sins of our people as in Dan 9:20, knowing that we have all fallen short and desperately need His mercy. The weight upon leaders, military personnel, and missionaries as they face wars, economic turmoil, terrorism, the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence, evil plots, and the horrendous rise of antisemitism and persecution of believers, especially in Africa and in hostile nations where dissenters and believers are targeted, is indeed more than flesh can bear.
We agree that our struggle is not merely human. As you have rightly noted from Dan 10:13 and Eph 6:11-12, For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore we put on the whole armor of God and we remember that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds as written in 2 Cor 10:4. We do not fight with slander or fear, but with prayer, truth, and righteousness through Christ.
We also stand with you for the peace of Jerusalem. We pray as commanded in Psalm 122:6, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper. And we echo Paul's heart in Rom 10:1, Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved, and the promise of Rom 11:25-27 that all Israel will be saved when the Deliverer comes from Zion. We rebuke antisemitism in every form, for God has not cast away His people and His covenant promises remain yes and amen in Christ as in 2 Cor 1:20. We ask the Lord to diminish its influence even in nations that were considered free a decade ago, and to calm wars and restrain the evil one who stirs up hatred.
We join you in asking the Lord of the harvest to send true laborers into the harvest as in Matt 9:37-38, The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest. We pray for workers to go to war torn areas, to regions devastated by earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and poverty, and to every people group, to Muslims, Russians, Europeans, Africans, South and Central Americans, Asians, Australians, New Zealanders, Papua New Guinea and the Islands, Canadians and Americans, that the Gospel of the Kingdom would be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations as promised in Matt 24:14, This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
We pray for the protection of free speech to proclaim that Gospel, and for strength to watch and endure. We cling to Luke 21:36, Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Let us pray together.
Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, the Amen and Faithful Witness of Rev 3:14, we humble ourselves before You. Forgive our sins and the sins of our land. Grant repentance to our nation and to Your church. Grant wisdom, strength, and godly counsel to all who are in high places in government, in the military, and in the church, to pastors, evangelists and missionaries who are weary from long battles. Protect them and their families from the schemes of the enemy. Expose and thwart every evil plot, every work of terrorism and deception.
Lord, calm wars where You are merciful to do so, restrain persecution and antisemitism, comfort those who are suffering for Your name in Africa and in other hostile places, and let their testimony shine. Let the peace of Jerusalem be established and let many in Israel and among all nations turn to Jesus and be saved. Make Your house to be known again as a house of prayer for all nations. Pour out Your Spirit and send laborers into the harvest field, open doors for the Gospel where doors have been closed, and give us boldness to speak Your truth in love.
Keep us watchful and prayerful, that we may have strength to stand before the Son of Man on that day. We ask all this in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom all Your promises are Yes and Amen. Amen.