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Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're so glad to have you listening. I'm Lynette Kittle. In today's topic is why praying as a nation matters to God. We'll be right back after a brief message from our sponsor, Why praying as a nation matters to God? Written and read by Lynette Kittle. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened Jonah three ten. As America celebrates two hundred and fifty years as a nation, some ask does it matter if our nation prays together on national Day of Prayer? Does God even pay attention or hear us when we pray corporately as a nation. The answer is yes, it matters to God, and we can be assured of this because the Bible gives us plenty of proof that He often calls us to corporate prayer for a city or a nation. Most of us are familiar with the well known biblical passage Second Chronicles seven fourteen that says, 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Such is with the story of Jonah and the wicked city of Nineveh. God called for the entire city to pray and repent, and even the animals were included in the city's prayer, fasting and repents. As Jonah three four through eight describes, God led an entire city to repentance through corporate prayer. Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city, proclaiming, forty more days in Nineveh will be overthrown. The Ninavites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah's warning reached the King of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh. By the decree of the king and his nobles. Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks taste anything. Do not let them eat or drink, but let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger, so that we will not perish. In Jonah three ten, we read of God's gracious response to their corporate prayer, relenting rather than sending destruction. Likewise, looking back at America's founders, we see that they recognize the importance of corporate prayer and how establishing a nation's future doesn't just involve fighting a physical battle for victory, but also a spiritual battle too. They demonstrated this when they officially met and came together for the first time on September seventh, seventeen seventy four, as the Continental Congress of the United States, opening with prayer and the reading of Psalm thirty five by Reverend Jacob Duchey, which which begins with contend Lord, with those who contend with me, fight against those who fight against me. This was no easy feat either, as the outspoken members had to set aside their denominational differences to pray together, uniting members who were Congregationalists, Anglicans, Quakers, Dutch Reformed Baptists, Lutherans, Puritans, and Presbyterians coming together to overlook their differences, joining in one accord praying for a common goal. American conservative radio talk show host and writer Dennis Praeger explains, ultimately, they wanted people to be free to practice their religion and relate to God in their own way. They all knew God is the source of liberty. Providence Forum Executive director doctor Jerry Nukke points out how historians find in George Washington's writings and actions during the Revolutionary War that he relied heavily on prayer, believing that with the tremendous odds set against them, victory could only come with God's help. As well, the Great Awakening absolutely helped the cause of independence, writes Newcome. Even before the Great Awakening, the ministers, especially the ones from New England, helped shape the thinking of the colonists as to their God given rights. Christian historians believe the spread of the Great Awakening across the colonies greatly influence and strengthen Patriot leaders leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, where prayer and fasting played a critical role in helping America to establish its freedom. In Miracles in American History, author, historian, and speaker William J. Fetterer writes about the many national calls to prayer leading up too and throughout the formation of the United States of America, intersecting faith in life. Are you planning on joining in with our nation to pray for God's divine guidance and protection over our country? If not, consider praying with millions of believers across our land who will be praying together during this year's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary National Day of Prayer. Further reading a prayer to take part in our nation's National Day of Prayer. Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what you heard today, we want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow your daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day, so your days begin in conversation with God. If you're looking to grow in prayer or start your day with your heart focused on the right things, search for your daily prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow the show so you get a new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.
Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're so glad to have you listening. I'm Lynette Kittle. In today's topic is why praying as a nation matters to God. We'll be right back after a brief message from our sponsor, Why praying as a nation matters to God? Written and read by Lynette Kittle. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened Jonah three ten. As America celebrates two hundred and fifty years as a nation, some ask does it matter if our nation prays together on national Day of Prayer? Does God even pay attention or hear us when we pray corporately as a nation. The answer is yes, it matters to God, and we can be assured of this because the Bible gives us plenty of proof that He often calls us to corporate prayer for a city or a nation. Most of us are familiar with the well known biblical passage Second Chronicles seven fourteen that says, 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Such is with the story of Jonah and the wicked city of Nineveh. God called for the entire city to pray and repent, and even the animals were included in the city's prayer, fasting and repents. As Jonah three four through eight describes, God led an entire city to repentance through corporate prayer. Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city, proclaiming, forty more days in Nineveh will be overthrown. The Ninavites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah's warning reached the King of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh. By the decree of the king and his nobles. Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks taste anything. Do not let them eat or drink, but let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger, so that we will not perish. In Jonah three ten, we read of God's gracious response to their corporate prayer, relenting rather than sending destruction. Likewise, looking back at America's founders, we see that they recognize the importance of corporate prayer and how establishing a nation's future doesn't just involve fighting a physical battle for victory, but also a spiritual battle too. They demonstrated this when they officially met and came together for the first time on September seventh, seventeen seventy four, as the Continental Congress of the United States, opening with prayer and the reading of Psalm thirty five by Reverend Jacob Duchey, which which begins with contend Lord, with those who contend with me, fight against those who fight against me. This was no easy feat either, as the outspoken members had to set aside their denominational differences to pray together, uniting members who were Congregationalists, Anglicans, Quakers, Dutch Reformed Baptists, Lutherans, Puritans, and Presbyterians coming together to overlook their differences, joining in one accord praying for a common goal. American conservative radio talk show host and writer Dennis Praeger explains, ultimately, they wanted people to be free to practice their religion and relate to God in their own way. They all knew God is the source of liberty. Providence Forum Executive director doctor Jerry Nukke points out how historians find in George Washington's writings and actions during the Revolutionary War that he relied heavily on prayer, believing that with the tremendous odds set against them, victory could only come with God's help. As well, the Great Awakening absolutely helped the cause of independence, writes Newcome. Even before the Great Awakening, the ministers, especially the ones from New England, helped shape the thinking of the colonists as to their God given rights. Christian historians believe the spread of the Great Awakening across the colonies greatly influence and strengthen Patriot leaders leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, where prayer and fasting played a critical role in helping America to establish its freedom. In Miracles in American History, author, historian, and speaker William J. Fetterer writes about the many national calls to prayer leading up too and throughout the formation of the United States of America, intersecting faith in life. Are you planning on joining in with our nation to pray for God's divine guidance and protection over our country? If not, consider praying with millions of believers across our land who will be praying together during this year's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary National Day of Prayer. Further reading a prayer to take part in our nation's National Day of Prayer. Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what you heard today, we want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow your daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day, so your days begin in conversation with God. If you're looking to grow in prayer or start your day with your heart focused on the right things, search for your daily prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow the show so you get a new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.
