Fifty Days of Prayer for the National Election 2012 – Day 4

Day 4 – September 21 
Focus:  The Church 
Through the Church, the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.  (Ephesians 3: 10 TAB) 
In today’s culture, the Church is often relegated to the sidelines, considered irrelevant and out of touch. God has a completely different perspective on what His people are to be and how we are to function. Though seemingly powerless in the eyes of the world, the Church—through righteousness, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit—releases the wisdom of God into any and every culture. May the Church rise up and fulfill her destiny for America and the world.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father,
In the Name of Christ Jesus, we commit ourselves to walk in the Word. Your Word living in us produces Your life in this world. We recognize that Your Word is integrity itself – steadfast, sure, eternal – and we trust our lives to its promises and provisions. You have sent forth Your Word into our hearts. The Incorruptible Seed, the Living Word, the Word of Truth is abiding in our spirits. The Seed is growing mightily in us and in our children, producing Your nature, Your life. It is our counsel, our shield, our buckler, our powerful weapon in battle. Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. It makes the way plain before us. We do not stumble, for our steps are ordered in the Word.
We, Your Church, will not stop praying and asking You to fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  (Col. 1: 9)   We ask You to give us the Spiritof wisdom and revelation, so that we may know Jesus better.  (Eph. 1: 17)  We call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding; we look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure. Then we will understand the fear of the LORD and find knowledge which comes from You. For You, the LORD, give wisdom, and from Your mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Prov. 2: 3-6)  Thank You that we may call to You and You will answer us and tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know. (Jer. 33: 3) Thank You that we can call upon You and You will answer us; You will be with us in trouble, You will deliver and honor us.  (Ps. 91: 15)  We will call, and You, Lord, will answer; we will cry, and You will say, “Here I am.”  (Isaiah 58: 9a)  And it shall be that before we call, You will answer; and while we are yet speaking, You will hear.  (Is. 65: 24)  We will call on Your name, and You will hear and answer us. You will say, “They are My people”; and we will say, “The Lord is our God!”  (Zechariah 13: 9b)  
We pray for Your Church in America. We need Your guidance and wisdom for this election. We desire the highest purpose and result: to bring about America’s salvation and spiritual revival. We want to be in harmony with the intercessions of Christ on His throne and of the Spirit praying within us. What we desire may be good, but it may not be the best. Align our wills with Yours. Give Your people faith to believe that our prayers are effective. And give us faith that proclamations (and yes, even our votes) will make a difference – setting up the stage for a holy movement of our God. Give Your people the inspiration to know how to become involved in the political arena of our nation, always standing publicly and boldly for Christ. We are not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power You use to save everyone who believes. Give Your people, Your Church, influence and favor In campaigns, public speaking, and policy making.
We pray for the clergy of our city and for every priest and pastor across this land. We pray they will utter words that bring life, and that they will be Your spokespersons. May they “extract the precious from the worthless.” May the favor of the Lord our God rest on them; establish the work of their hands— yes, establish the work of their hands.  (Psalm 90:17) We pray every man and woman in the ministry will be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in their prayer life, being both alert and intent in their praying, with thanksgiving. We pray that You will open a door to them for the Gospel, and that they will proclaim the mystery concerning Jesus Christ. May they proclaim Christ fully and boldly and make the Gospel clear, as is their duty. (Col. 4: 2-4) We pray for fruitfulness – for the Gospel proclamation to be effective; the glory of God to rest upon that proclamation; for protection from unreasonable and wicked people.  (2 Thess. 3: 1-2)
We pray for the character of all Christian leaders in our nation. We pray that these men and woman will have wisdom from above and that they will receive it in faith without wavering or doubting. (James 1: 5-6) We pray that all pastors, priests and ministers will guard and keep the trust You have given them. May they turn away from irreverent babble and godless chatter, with the vain and empty and worldly phrases, and the subtleties and the contradictions in what is falsely called knowledge and spiritual illumination. Keep them from missing the mark as regards the faith. May grace, divine favor and blessing be with them. (1 Tim. 6: 20-21) We, Your people, pray for the Church, her witness and influence. We pray we will conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1: 27)  in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted… If our government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.”   (Noah Webster, The History of the United States)
We, the People of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government; for our civil and religious liberty; and desiring to perpetuate its blessings, and secure the same to ourselves and posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution.  (Preamble to the Constitution of Arkansas)