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“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled: we have turned away from your commands and laws. we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame – the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, bothe near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against You. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws He gave us through His servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey You. “Therefore the causes and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us an against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to Your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything He does; yet we have not obeyed Him. “Now, Lord our God who brought Your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for Yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from Jerusalem, You city, Your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and Your people an object of scorn to all those around us. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, Lord, look with favor on Your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your Name. We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For Your sake my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your Name.” Daniel 9:1-19 NIV
The confessions of a prayer warrior.
I pray this prayer also as our nation come to a pivotal election in less than a week. Here we are at this intersection and nothing is settled. Many are still confused and undetermined which way to pull the lever. Red or blue. That is the question looming before us.
Daniel’s world was in a topsy turvey mess also. His nation had called right wrong and wrong right for generations now. Sound familiar. Daniel didn’t get tossed about in the hurricane of politics. He got on bended knee and came in sackcloth and ashes. He was in mourning over the state of the union. He identified with the sins of his people. He who never bowed to another idol confessed his sin. “We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and rebelled.”
How many times have I done that lately? I’m usually on the other end of that stick. I would rather point fingers than take my share of the blame, but if I want God to forgive and heal, I must admit and identify with the sin of this nation that I love. I am called a child of God but I have been complacent. I have turned my back instead of standing for what I know God would have me stand for. We are still One nation under God and He wants it to remain so. We are covered in shame, but God is merciful. Everything God does is right and good.
Hear O Lord our prayers and petitions. Give ear O God and listen. Open Your eyes and see. Guide us and give us wisdom. Help us make right decisions as we go to the polls this week. We do not make request of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.