Happy President’s Day!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was gifted a devotional book through the psalms of ascent.  I’ve enjoyed my time meditating on the psalms.  A while back, I went over Psalm 122, and it stood out to me in a new way.  I’ve been learning about the puritans and their beliefs about how Christ should impact every area of life, and I think it gave me a new perspective on this psalm.   

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is built As a city that is compact together; To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord— An ordinance for Israel— To give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there thrones were set for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. Psalm 122:1-9

This Psalm of ascent would’ve been sung going up to Jerusalem for Passover.  There was joy in remembering God’s mighty deeds.  And the people prayed for Jerusalem, their capitol city and where the house of God was.  And I think there are some great principles to apply from this psalm to our lives today: we should be praying for our churches and for the nation in which we live. 

David expressed joy over going to the house of the Lord.  He desired to worship God and be in His presence.  While the presence of the Lord goes with us wherever we go since the Holy Spirit resides in believers, it is still a necessary Christian discipline to regularly meet together with a local church congregation (see Heb. 10:25).  It should be a joy to meet together in corporate worship of the Lord.  I understand it’s not always a joy to go to church, but out of obedience and love for the Lord, we must continue, in the strength of the Lord, to meet together and ask the Lord to supply us joy in His presence. 

I think this psalm also points out the importance of praying for our churches.  Jerusalem was the central place of worship for Israel, so David’s prayer for Jerusalem’s peace and prosperity was not just about the nation prospering but also about the worship central for Israel being a place of peace.  It is good to pray for the peace and prosperity of the church.  Note that we’re not praying for prosperity in the health-and-wealth, prosperity-gospel sense.  We’re praying for peace and prosperity in the church’s mission to spread the gospel to all nations.  We’re praying for peace between members of the church and between man and God, and we’re praying for spiritual fruit to be prosperous in our lives as we seek Christ first in all we do.  Yes, it is okay to pray for the finances or good health of our church body, but we must remember that we don’t command God to do as we ask.  We are to pray in accordance with God’s will and complete faith in His sovereignty, whether He answers us with a yes or a no. 

This psalm is also a reminder to pray for our nation.  We should pray for its peace and prosperity and seek its good “for the sake of the house of the Lord.”  We’re to desire good for our country. 

Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ Jeremiah 29:7

This was part of God’s instruction sent to the Jewish exiles after they were taken to Babylon.  The Lord told them to seek for the welfare of Babylon and pray for Babylon.  If the Lord gave this command to Judah while in exile, how much more should we seek the welfare and pray for the nation in which we are citizens!  Yes, we are citizens of heaven first and foremost, but nowhere in Scripture does it say that because we are citizens of heaven, we shouldn’t seek the welfare of the nations in which we reside.  The way we interact with the nations we are a part of is a part of our witness as Christians. 

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

We pray for our rulers so that the church may flourish in her mission.  This is why politics should matter to believers: we want to be able to pursue godliness, dignity, and the spread of the gospel.   If the Lord reigns over all aspects of life, then that includes politics.  We must not only pray for our leaders but also vote in a way that honors the Lord and speak out for truth and righteousness in every sphere of life.  There is no sacred and secular divide; Christ is either Lord over all or He is not Lord at all.  Christ did not save us so that our faith would stay confined to church going and spiritual disciplines (which are all important!).  He came to transform our entire being and way of living. 

On this President’s Day, I would like to take time to pray for our nation, and I invite you to join me with a prayer of your own.

Father God, thank You for the blessing you’ve given me of being born an American citizen.  Thank You for the rich heritage we have in this nation of those who sought You wholeheartedly and sought to put your principles into practice in our nation.  I pray for your forgiveness in the ways I have not lived in obedience to You, and I ask You to forgive our nation for the ways we haven’t honored You.  I pray for America’s churches, that they would experience revival and renewed passion for You, for Your Word, for holiness, and for evangelism.  I pray that You will forgive us for losing our zeal for You and for becoming lukewarm.  Let us return to our First Love.  I pray for the hearts of the lost to be softened to the message of the gospel and your truth.  I pray for your church to be bold and to witness to those around us of the goodness of the gospel.  I pray for our state and national leaders of government, that those who follow You will stand boldly for righteousness, and that those who are unsaved will come to the knowledge of the truth.  I pray that anyone who is planning evil would be thwarted.  I pray that You will direct the hearts of our leaders like channels of water and cause them to pursue righteousness.  I pray that the name of Jesus Christ may be lifted high in America once again.  In Your mercy, may Your peace and prosperity guide us once again.  In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

With love,

Kelsey