PRAYER FOR POLITICAL LEADERS

Father, when the King of Judah heard Your words through Jeremiah, he boldly cut up the scroll and burned it. “The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.” (Jeremiah 36:23–24) Just as the leaders of Judah did not show any signs of repentance, so the leaders throughout America seem to think they

don’t need Your wisdom and power. The world doesn’t mind hearing a politician say “God bless America” at the end of speeches, but it is obvious that they don’t care about what You consider to be sin. People don’t mind hearing of Your love, but they don’t like hearing of your wrath against sin. They equate Your love with Your having no standards.

May we be like Josiah, who repented at hearing Your words. May we have the same response as the Assyrians at the preaching of Jonah. You have every right to say to America, “Your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.” (Isaiah 59:3) The pride and self-reliance of man is an abomination to You. Because of all this, we plead for mercy and ask that the gospel would go forth in Holy Spirit-anointed power. We join with the apostles Peter and John: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through

the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29–30)

Holy Father, Jesus has already satisfied Your wrath, having died for everyone’s sins. Our country needs a major revival and heart transplant. Apart from an acceptance of Jesus, we have no hope. Amen.