An Important Prayer for the World
The world has come a long way since God created a perfect paradise in the Garden of Eden. When God first created the world, it was absolutely flawless. Everybody and everything lived in beautiful harmony. Pain, sadness and destruction were nonexistent—because sin was nonexistent. But once sin entered the world, everything changed. And as we all know, things have changed drastically since life in the picture perfect Garden of Eden.
A quick glance at the news exposes the state of our world. Violence, division, pain and turmoil abound. Especially in a big election year, as it is here in the United States, it can be easy to feel discouraged or even depressed when taking stock of how divided our country truly is. Rather than sitting in that sadness, though, we can pray.
To be perfectly honest, I spend most of my prayer time talking to God about people and situations I am intimately familiar with. When it comes to my country’s leaders and our collective big issues and struggles, I’m not great about being faithful and fervent in prayer. But I came across Daniel 9:4-19 several weeks ago, and reading it moved me deeply. This is a prayer Daniel prayed in light of a prophecy about Jerusalem’s destruction. Daniel 9:3 says Daniel turned to God and pleaded with him in prayer, petition, sackcloth and ashes.
We can pray for not just our country, but our entire world. Here are Daniel’s words. I encourage you to take a few minutes and read through them as an earnest prayer to the Lord. When you read the word “we,” envision yourself and your loved ones. When you read the names of specific places, think about your own city, state and country. Let’s pray:
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, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes 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 curses 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 and 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, your 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.
Amen.