Fifty Days of Prayer for the National Election 2012 – Day 1

Focus:  Calling the Church to Repentance.  
We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it, not one of us can stand in Your presence.  (Ezra 9: 15)
“Run up and down every street in Jerusalem,” says the LORD.  “Look high and low; search throughout the city! Seek in her open squares if you can find even one just and honest person, one who does justice, who seeks truth, and I will not destroy the city. But even when they are under oath, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are still telling lies!” (Jer. 5: 1-5)
“I have separated the people with My winnowing fork and scattered them at the city gates of the land. My people have not repented and changed their ways. So I have destroyed them and taken away their children.”  (Jer. 15:7)
Jesus began to speak against the cities where He had done most of His miracles. The people there had not turned away from their sins.  (Matthew 11:20)
Does God pervert justice?Does the Almighty pervert what is right? (Job 8: 3) LORD, will You destroy an innocent nation?  (Gen 20: 4)
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness and relenting of evil. Perhaps He will relent and give you a reprieve, leaving a blessing behind Him instead of this curse.   (Joel 2: 12-14)
Our God is the Rock. His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God Who does no wrong, upright and just is He.  (Deut. 32: 4) The LORD is upright; He is our Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him. (Ps. 92:15)  Morning by morning He dispenses His justice, and every new day He does not fail,yet the unrighteous know no shame. (Zephaniah 3: 5)  
Almighty and Righteous God,
Against You, You only, have we sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge. (Psalm 51:4)  We have wearied You, LORD with our words. (Mal. 2: 17) This day we are covered with shame— (Daniel 9:7)  In all that has happened to us, You have remained righteous; You have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly. (Nehemiah 9:33)
Although we draw near to You with our mouths and honor You with our lips, our hearts hold off and are far away from You. (Matt. 15: 8)  Help the people of this nation who have heard the Gospel to apprehend that there is peace with You through Jesus Christ, Who is LORD of all. (Acts 10: 36)  We pray that we will again be a nation of people who worship You, Your Son Jesus, and Your Holy Spirit.  Father, we see that sin is rampant everywhere, and the love of many has grown cold.  (Matt. 24: 12)  You have this complaint against us. We do not love You as we did at first! (Rev. 2: 4)  Because without You we are not able to please You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts. Restore this nation to our first love, through Jesus Christ our LORD, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father;
We have erred, and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against Thy holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
And we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
And there is no health in us.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare Thou them, O God, who confess their faults.
Restore Thou those who are penitent; According to Thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of Thy holy Name. Amen.
General Confession, 1662 Book of Common Prayer
“Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that their liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”  (Thomas Jefferson)
We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama.   (Preamble to the Constitution of Alabama)