Everywhere I go, people talk about how we need to pray for our country. Many people on social media have commented that America desperately needs prayer, and they often posted the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Since the shocking news of recent shootings, I’ve been searching for answers about how to pray and what I can do for our country and for our community at this time in history. Here are some thoughtful comments I found that helped me.

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, wrote an article to pastors about what to say to their congregations. He said, “Pray specifically for the families of those killed – by name.”

Bo Jackson posted on Facebook, “Before you go to sleep tonight, I challenge every single one of you to do something nice for a complete stranger. Our world needs that.”

A young father from New Orleans posted some thoughts on his Facebook page that I asked to share with you, “Somewhere along the way we lost decency. It’s not that we didn’t desire it, but we forgot the core human belief that all men are created equal. Somewhere along the way we lost civility. It’s not that we always agreed, but we all agreed not to be cut-throat enemies.

“Somewhere along the way we lost respect. It’s not that we always were respectable, but we at least didn’t read ill motives first in others….Somewhere along the way we lost truth. It’s not that we didn’t know it, but that we ran from it….Somewhere along the way we lost God. It’s not that we lost Him, we just really told Him that we could handle things, we could run the show and it would go just fine because we were tolerant and wiser than He.

“Well, He’s not really lost. He’s abandoned. He’s discarded. America, how long must you run away from Him?” he pleaded.

Author Ravi Zacharias published a prayer for our nation online. Here’s an excerpt. “God, our heavenly Father, our minds go back to the day when Jesus knelt beside his beloved city and wept, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes’ (Luke 19:42).

“We sense so deeply the same reality. We weep for our cities even as we bury our dead. The sound of gunfire is the grim sound of what has already shattered our relationships. We are witnesses of distrust, revenge, and anger. We see no one to lead us and guide us. To whom shall we go?……We need you. Our nation needs you. Our leaders need you. Many a home today will not have a loved one returning. Without you we have no hope. With you all things are possible—even for beauty to come out of ashes. We pray for the day of unarmed truth and unconditional love. Please answer our prayer. In the name of Jesus your Son, our only Savior, we ask this. Amen.” (Read his entire prayer http://rzim.org/global-blog)

 

Jan White is an award-winning religion columnist. She can be reached at jwhite@andycable.com.