As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. -- Isaiah 55:10-11

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Prayer for America

I sing to joy to God my strength;
I shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin making music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious hard, and lyre.

Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast,
for the Lord has decreed that we worship Him with exuberance, delight, fascination, and honor.
This is an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He established this as a statue for Joseph when he went out against the land of captivity.

The Lord has removed my burden from my shoulders.
He has set me hand free from hard labor.
I cried out to Him in my distress and He rescued me.
He answered me from a thundercloud.
He has tested me to see if I truly trust Him to meet all my needs.

Hear, America, the Lord is warning us,
Listen to Him!
Father, America chooses to have no foreign gods among us,
we do not bow down to alien gods.
You are our Lord and our God. There is no one but you.
You have delivered us from slavery into a land of Promise.
We open wide our mouths, and You alone fill them.
Forgive us when we have not listened to you.
Forgive us for not submitting to you.
Forgive us for following our own ways and devices.
Forgive us and do not turn us over to our own stubborness. If you do, we will die.

We choose to be your people. We choose to listen to you.
We choose to follow your ways.
Because we choose to be your people and follow your ways,
you quickly subdue our enemies
and turn your hand against our foes!
Those who hate you cringe before you,
and their punishment lasts forever.

Lord, in your great love and mercy, feed us with the finest of wheat, which is the Bread-the broken body of your Son;
satisfy us with honey from the rock, which is you Son Jesus.

Thank you, Holy and Mighty God, for all your mercies.
Amen.

--Psalm 81

1 comment:

Jan Parrish said...

Yes Father, we are full of praise and thanksgiving for all that you've given us, but we need your mercy. Heal our land, turn our eyes to yours. Led us to repentance. In Jesus Name, Amen.