Psalms

I come before You lifting a prayer from centuries ago…but so relevant today. May the Lord answer you when you are in distress…protect you…send you help and grant you His unfailing support. May He remember all your faithfulness, give you the desire of your heart and make your plans succeed.

Now this I know:
Some trust in chariots and some in horses. They are all brought to their knees and fall.
But we trust in the name of the Lord. He gives victory to His children with the mighty
power of His right hand; He answers us from heaven. We will rise up and overcome.
Lord, give us victory over the evil that threatens to destroy America!
Answer us when we unite in prayer before Your throne.

AMEN

Scripture: adapted for today from Psalm 20…a Psalm of David

When I begin to believe that I’ve got something handled…that’s when I surely make a mess of things.

I would think by now I’d have learned to be fully dependent on You…but I must continually be retrained.  When I finally recognize I need help, You always lift me to my feet.  Thank You for forgiving my headstrong ways and my self-centered priorities. America has become headstrong and self-centered…but too proud to turn to You for guidance.  Your advice is old-fashioned and not “woke”… she stubbornly refuses to acknowledge her failures and is rushing toward catastrophe.

I call out to You today asking you to hear my prayer of desperation for America…we need help.  We are lost in the darkness without hope unless You rescue us.  You are our salvation.

AMEN

Scripture: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2

When all around me is falling apart, I will not be shaken because You are unshakable. If I let my imagination run to what might be…You always reassure me about what WILL be.

Though our headlines leap from catastrophe to catastrophe…from the latest report of violence to the latest report of food shortages…from the latest inflation news to the latest international crisis, with You by my side, I will not be frightened. You have become my ever-present security for whatever tomorrow may hold. You have never abandoned me…I am secure in Your love.

Help me be steady when all others panic. Let me be a quiet reassuring presence for those who fear the future. May my voice speak hope to a world in turmoil. May others see You in me.

AMEN

Scripture: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;…” Psalms 24:4

You are the source of the best good news in all history…Jesus rescued us from our sins at Calvary!

Recent headlines also announce the less dramatic but nevertheless good news. Surveys show that most parents are refusing to get their young children vaccinated… tip of the hat to engaged parents. Recent news, and enhanced photography from outer space upsets “settled science” concerning how the universe functions…just when a man’s convinced, he’s got God all figured out, it turns out he doesn’t. It has recently been documented that Monkey Pox is NOT a threat to the general population…only certain groups engaged in risky behavior.

Thank You, Lord, for shining Your light onto deceptions emanating from the darkness. Please be a beacon of truth leading America away from the path of destruction she seems so determined to pursue.

AMEN

Scripture: “The LORD is [still] king! Let the earth rejoice!” Psalms 97:1

Thank You for placing a song in my heart and laughter on my lips. I am burdened today by the truth that America has lost her smile.

The darkness that envelops her is depressing and killing the joy she once represented. Now there is only division, distrust, anger, and joyless victimhood from sea to shining sea. Laughter is good for the soul, but the very soul of America has been blighted by a joyless existence and desperation without hope.

Lord, restore laughter to the land, return hope and a future for this once great country You founded and nurtured. Use me today to bring a smile to the people I meet…a chuckle to a stranger You bring across my path. May the joy of my salvation light the way those lost around me.

AMEN

Scripture: “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” Psalms 126:2

Thank You for blessing my life and thank You for blessing America from her earliest days. You showed favor to us in the past…we desperately need You to show us Your favor again.

Help us return to Your guidance and reject the foolishness of man’s wisdom. Grant us Your salvation. Cause America to turn back to You, remain steadfast and reject man’s delusion’s so that Your glory may again dwell in our land. You bring peace and healing to those who follow You.

In You, graciousness and truth have met together and truth sprouts bringing forth fresh perspective. If we return to You, You promise You will hear from heaven, will bless us again and our land will yield its produce. Your footsteps will guide us to Your blessings for America.

Hear my cry for help!

AMEN

Scripture: Adapted from Psalms 85 for contemporary America

I am grateful for the guardrails You set in place to guide me into wise decisions and healthy relationships. Obedience is my gateway to Your blessings.

But in America today we find Your “old fashioned” ways too restricting…we don’t need Your help deciding right and wrong. As a result of our decisions to abandon Your standards, institute social justice reforms minimizing the consequences of crime and our embrace of a social media that spawns evil, we have children murdering children. The Independence Day and Uvalde killers were both teenagers without parental guidance and robbed by Social media of their humanity…but we blame the guns…not the depraved hearts Silicon Valley is creating.

Without guiding moral principles, is right and wrong to be decided by the latest Tic-Tok influencer?

Father, the darkness envelops us…help us find our way back to Your light.

AMEN

Scripture: “I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalms 119:102-103

I cannot understand the vitriol and rebellion rampant in America against You.

In 1962 the courts removed prayer from public schools. In 1963 they removed Scripture from public schools. That marked the beginning of the decline of American students’ standardized test scores and the decline of our literacy standing in the industrialized world. Ten years later, the courts enshrined in law the legality of killing unborn children. So, for at least 50 years, we have been asking You to leave our public square and let us manage our own affairs without You…and look at the terrible mess we’ve made.

Today I call out, “Do not turn Your back on us”. Return in a bold, dramatic fashion. We are not capable of living together in unity without You. Show Yourself mighty…humble us…rescue us.

AMEN

Scripture: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,” Psalms 33:12a

If ever a moment reflects Your heart of inclusion, it is this season when in the cold winter air we hear our favorite Christmas hymns…we watch people engage strangers with smiles and a hearty “Merry Christmas!”

Christmas reminds me of how we ought to live together in a community. It is a time to put others first…to forgive an unintended slight…to wish the best for others. The yearning for “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men” is a true reflection of Your heart of forgiveness that knows no bounds. Each of us needs a place to go without fear and to know, without doubt, we are accepted. No prior bad act can keep me from Your unmerited forgiveness.

May my guilt be forgotten and Your praise forever on my lips.

AMEN

Scripture: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers.” Psalms 103 12-13

You know every detail of my life and love me anyway. You have locked away my past…forgiven every failure.

In spite of all You know, You have secured my future. Heaven awaits because You have forgiven my arrogance and selfishness and heard my cry for help. O, that America could taste again the blessing You have stored up for those who turn to You. Our pride and our stubbornness blind us to Your goodness and prevent us from enjoying the plans You have for each of us. Somehow, we’ve been deceived into believing we can handle things better than You can.

Father, humble us…teach us that You are the answer to every issue. Call America back so she can once again be a beacon of Your love.

AMEN

Scripture: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” Psalms 51:12