Father, so often we lay the blame for our sick nation on unbelievers when it’s Your people , the Church, who are responsible. Forgive us. Your specifically told us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, 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 forgive their sins and heal their land.

    You also said in Hebrews 12:5&6, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons:”My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, for whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives.” Now, we are being chastised because too often we have emphasized the blessings, more than the Blesser. To many of us have ignored Your guidebook, the Bible, for less than 15% of all believers today can quote the Ten Commandments or John 3:16. 

     Forgive us for letting the affairs of our government fall into the hands of wicked men and women because we have been too busy building our own empires to notice what was going on. We have believed Satan’s lies that we deserve our heaven here on earth. Like spoiled children we’ve demanded, “I want it now. It’s my right!”  We’ve misinterpreted prosperity to mean the gathering of stuff and enjoying this world’s pleasures instead of being rich toward You-- being Your child, knowing Your Word, letting You live through us. These are the true riches. You also told us in Luke 12: 21 that we are a fool if we lay up treasures for ourselves and are not rich toward You. So many of us have hoarded our blessings, or squandered them away, while half the world is hungry, cold and lost. You have specifically told us to share, but we have failed. Can You forgive us? 

     Meanwhile our nations is rampant with crime, drug problems, divorce, abuse and every imaginable wickedness that man can concoct.  We’ve even murdered millions of babies. We don’t deserve Your mercy, but we plead for it.

     So now we pray “ Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will you be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.”  (Psalm 85:4-7)

 Amen --Rebecca Somoskey