September 17, 2025 -Prayer for Our Nation

EZRA 9:1-10:44

NEHEMIAH 1:1-2:20

Chronological Bible Readings

Ezra 10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.

Last night at our small group The Table we talked about the importance of confession in our time of prayer. Not just privately but corporately. Whether it is 2 people praying together or 200. We should be acknowledging our brokenness and sinfulness. I think it not only is an essential part of prayer that is us acknowledging our sin before God and seeking His forgiveness, but it reminds us of how sinful we are and how much we need Jesus. It reminds us that we cannot live a Christlike life alone and that we need Him. The scripture we were studying was James 1:19-27 which talks about the importance of not just reading and knowing the law but if our faith in Jesus is true and complete then there will be a noticeable change. We will not just listen but we will act according to the law. We talked about how none of us can live according to the law perfectly so we will all stumble but God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleans us from our unrighteousness. When we don't spend time in confession, we can begin to forget how far we have fallen.

James 1: 26 says ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

When we start to focus on all the "right" things we do and don't think about all the sinful things we do then all the right becomes useless. Our witness becomes tainted.

The Israelites had fallen into the sin of the culture around them. They allowed themselves to be "polluted by the world". What was required was confession, weeping and repentance. Ezra was driven to the ground in sorrow over the sin of the people and did what was needed.

Nehemiah 1:5 Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

Another important part of prayer is praise. Praise points us to the greatness of God. Before we ask Him to hear us, we should praise Him. Praise usually leads me to thanksgiving then to confession. Nehemiah goes right to corporate confession. When we pray for our nation we need to do the same. Praise God and confess not just our sin but the sins of our nation.

Lord, God of all creation. You are the Lord God Almighty. Maker of heaven and earth. I am not worthy of the grace that you offer. Thank you for making a way out of sin. We live in a nation that does not obey your law. As a nation we have fallen from a people who know you and follow you in the majority to being a majority of people who deny you and have turned from you. Even those of us who profess your son Jesus Christ as Savior have allowed ourselves to be polluted by the world. We justify sin. We compromise our principals as to not offend the non-believers. We look for ways to say that sin is not sin or to excuse sin in our lives as well as those around us. We do not spend enough time in your word writing it on the tablets of our hearts so that we might know it so well that we are able to stand firm and speak truth in the darkness of lies that we are surrounded by. Those who do stand for truth are attacked, physically and verbally as well as murdered for it. May their suffering not be in vain. May You use it for good as those who are martyred have been called and stood firm in living according to your purpose. Your word is truth. You are the only source of righteousness. May the hearts and minds of this nation be turned to you. Humble us and cleans us from all unrighteousness. Wash away the pollution of lies that we trudge through every day and give us eyes to see and ears to hear You and Your voice that we might follow Your commands and strive to be like Your Son Jesus Christ in whose name I pray. Amen.