Prayer Diary for February 2012

Bible Readings and Prayer Points for Individual and Church Spiritual Growth
Praying for a Nation that has turned its back on God
Jeremiah Chapters 1 and 2

 

Jeremiah lived at a very difficult time in his nation. The days of glory under King David and King Solomon were long gone. God had allowed the nation of Israel to be divided into two because of its unfaithfulness. As the northern ten tribes of Israel had plummeted ever lower, despite warnings from numerous prophets, they were finally overrun by and taken captive to Assyria.

The southern tribe of Judah had some brief revivals under godly kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, but the general mood of the nation was to reject the true God in favour of idolatry, immorality and general wickedness. Despite God sending a string of prophets to Judah to warn that she would go the same way as the northern tribes, the voices of those prophets were largely ignored.

Jeremiah came as one of the last in that line of men raised up by God in his love and mercy to warn that unless the nation turned back to him from its path of wickedness, he would fulfil his promise in the Old Covenant through Moses to allow them to be overcome by their enemies and taken into exile. The fact that they had Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem would not be enough to save them, as it too would be destroyed.

Jeremiah was a young man when God first called him to preach to a backslidden nation. He did not feel up to the task but God said he would help him to fearlessly preach God’s word. He was a lonely man because few responded to his message but instead saw him as an enemy of the state. He was arrested, imprisoned and starved. God had told him not to marry to prevent Jeremiah having the added sorrow of his family suffering in such perilous times.

Known as the “weeping prophet” because of how he wept over the sins of his nation and could foresee the judgment that would befall the land, he never gave up on the task of praying for and preaching to a rebellious nation. He lived to see its destruction.

We live in a nation that once held the Word of God in high esteem, taking it to many nations of the world. But our generation has turned its back on God and a people who reject God also reject the spiritual covering his brings. Our nation is in grave danger. How long will God wait before withdrawing his protection completely and allowing our nations enemies, both in the spirit and natural realms to overtake us?

This month we pray for a rebellious nation to turn back to God before it is too late

1^st – Jeremiah 1:1-3 Continuing to hear God’s voice

1. 1. Give us ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us, O Lord, we pray
   2. Speak to us through your Word, through prophecy, the wise counsel of godly people, and revelations of your Spirit and give us the discernment to know what you are saying, O Lord
   3. Remove from our lives and the life of the church any blockages that would hinder us hearing your voice, O Lord
   4. May we as individuals and as a church be continually hearing your voice, Holy Spirit, so that at any time we may be interceding and acting according to your will
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

2^nd – Jeremiah 1:4-5 God’s destiny for our lives

1. 1. O God, may we understand that you have a perfect plan for each of our lives; give us the desire to seek and find that plan rather than choose our own self-centred plans
   2. Help us to fulfil our daily lives, responsibilities and tasks as the ambassadors of Christ that you have called us to be amongst those in the world who do not yet know you, O Lord
   3. Help us to make a positive difference for Christ to the generation in which we live, we pray
   4. Holy Spirit, show us the decisions we should make and the actions we should take that will fulfil your plans for our individual lives and our ministry for you
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

3^rd – Jeremiah 1:6 The need to mature

1. 1. Give us the humility to know our weaknesses but the boldness to step out in faith to achieve all you want to accomplish through us, we pray
   2. May we not let false humility hinder us from having the courage to take the steps of faith to fulfil your will, O Lord
   3. Help us understand the power of your presence already within us, O Lord, so that we can serve you in this world with all boldness and confidence in you
   4. As we wait on you and are obedient to your Word, enable us to be daily maturing spiritually, we pray
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

4^th – Jeremiah 1:7-8 Go …

1. 1. Keep us from peddling excuses for inaction, O Lord, but instead to obey your command to go and spread the gospel
   2. When we lack courage to make our stand for Christ, fill us with a fearlessness that comes from you, O Lord, we pray
   3. Help us to remember that you use the weak and foolish things of this world to shame the wise and therefore to understand you can accomplish much through us
   4. May we remember that our first calling and priority is as servants of Christ, as salt and light, bringing changes for eternity in a corrupt world
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

5^th – Jeremiah 1:9 God’s words in our mouth

1. 1. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing  in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and  Redeemer
   2. May we draw so close to you, O Lord, that your thoughts become our thoughts and your words our words
   3. In all our activities in the world each day, may we be able to speak with the wisdom of God, both to non christians and to christians
   4. Holy Spirit, help us to speak and pray prophetically in a way that causes your purposes to be achieved
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

6^th – Jeremiah 1:10 Uprooting and building

1. 1. As your intercessors throughout our nation cry out to you, uproot the wickedness in our nation, O Lord
   2. In Jesus’ name we pull down every wicked spiritual stronghold that has taken root in the lives of our nation, of individuals and of the church
   3. Lord, cause there to be the start of a rebuilding in the lives of our nation, of individuals and in the church, of every principle of righteousness
   4. In the midst of apathy, apostasy, ungodliness and outright rebellion against you O God, rebuild your church in our nation and may we be at the forefront
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

7^th – Jeremiah 1:11-12 Watching to see God’s word fulfilled

1. 1. Lord Jesus, have mercy on our nation and fulfil your word to build your church, even in this backslidden land, not letting the gates of hell prevail
   2. Fill us afresh daily with the power of your Holy Spirit, so that we can make a difference for Christ in this fallen world
   3. Fulfil every prophetic word spoken over our lives and over the life of the church, we pray and help us to live in such as a way that they can be fulfilled through us
   4. May we not be ashamed of the gospel, but as we speak it, may we see the power of God to bring salvation to those who hear, O God
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

8^th – Jeremiah 1:13-14 Forthcoming disaster

1. 1. Have mercy on our nation and turn it back to you, O Lord, before you deem it necessary to send your judgments on our land
   2. As troubles afflict our nation and people become fearful and anxious, cause it to turn the hearts of the people to you, O God
   3. In the midst of natural disasters afflicting different nations around the world, may the people cry out to the One who can save them completely, we pray
   4. May your church stand unmoved in the midst of any trouble that afflicts our nation, knowing that rooted and ground in you, O Lord, we need not fear
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

9^th – Jeremiah 1:15-16 God’s judgments on nations

1. 1. We pray for all the nations of Europe; save them, O God
   2. We pray for all the nations of Africa; save them, O God
   3. We pray for all the nations of Asia, Australasia and island nations; save them, O God
   4. We pray for all the nations of North, South and Central America and the Caribbean; save them O God
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

10^th – Jeremiah 1:17-19 Fearless witnessing

1. 1. Make us wise but fearless in our witnessing for you, O Lord
   2. Move us with compassion for the lost, O Lord, no matter what their reaction to us is, recognising that, without Christ, they are heading for a lost eternity
   3. When our words of witnessing are rejected, may we not become discouraged, O Lord, but instead more determined to intercede more powerfully
   4. May every plan of the enemy to seek to overcome us as witnesses for Jesus, either as individuals or as the church be brought down, we pray
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

11^th – Jeremiah 2:1-2 Remember you first love

1. 1. Cause us to remember, O God, that although we are in this world we are not of this world and that our true citizenship is in heaven, and so act accordingly
   2. Keep us from the love of this world which offers only temporary attractions, but rather may you always be our first love, O Lord
   3. Enable us to be ones who influence others for Christ rather than we being influenced by the world, we pray
   4. As we grow in love for you, O Lord, may we become more motivated to take a stand against the ungodliness that surrounds us
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

12^th – Jeremiah 2:3 Walking in holiness

1. 1. May we continue to learn the joy that comes from walking in holiness, we pray
   2. Help us to encourage one another daily to walk in the paths of holiness, we pray, always seeking to be a model for others to follow
   3. As we seek to live according to your ways, O Lord, may we enjoy your protection from any who would seek to oppose us or seek our harm
   4. As we seek to walk in your ways at all times, O God, may we be filled with the power and anointing of your Spirit to be effective ministers for Christ
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

13^th – Jeremiah 2:4-5 No fault in God

1. 1. Have mercy on those we know who reject you, O God and soften their hearts
   2. For those we know who use the evils in this world to blame you, O God, and as an excuse not to turn to you as Lord and Saviour, save them we pray
   3. We pray for all those we know who makes idols of their possession, their careers, sport or individuals; turn their hearts to what is truly worthy of worship, we pray
   4. For our nation that has so quickly turned its back on the true God whom they held in respect for so many years, bring a realisation of the folly of rejecting you, O Lord
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

14^th – Jeremiah 2:6 Failing to seek God

1. 1. Help us not to get so busy or distracted with life that we fail to seek you continually, O Lord, but to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to you
   2. For those in our families who are not seeking you. as we lift them before you in prayer, Holy Spirit, we ask that you would bring them to repentance and salvation
   3. For all those we work with on a daily basis who are not seeking you, O Lord, may your presence in us bring them to a place of conviction and desire to know you
   4.  For our Parliament, government and local authorities who are not only failing to seek you but are rejecting you, O Lord, help them to see their folly of their ways
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

15^th – Jeremiah 2:7-8 Spiritual leadership

1. 1. We pray for all the leaders of churches in our nation who do not preach and live out your Word, O God; have mercy on them and change them, we pray
   2. We pray for every church in our land where the gospel is not preached, send a shaking that will make clear the absolute necessity to declare the Word of truth
   3. We pray for all the bishops in our land, that they would use their positions of public influence in the House of Lords and other places to turn the nation back to godliness
   4. We pray for all the pastors and elders of our church, O Lord, that they may always walk closely to you, preaching and living out the uncompromising Word of God
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

16^th – Jeremiah 2:9-12 God’s charges against the nation

1. 1. Forgive our nation for rejecting your authority over our lives, O Lord
   2. Forgive our nation for passing all kinds of laws that are offence to you as a Holy and righteous God, we pray
   3. Forgive our nation for choosing no longer to teach our children in schools, the wisdom of the Bible, we pray
   4. Forgive our nation for worshipping all manner of false gods and engaging in all kinds of idolatrous and ungodly practices, O Lord
   5.  O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

17^th – Jeremiah 2:13-16 Forsaking the true God

1. 1. Forgive us as a nation, O God, for rejecting you in favour of the gods of immorality, greed and selfishness
   2. Forgive us as a nation for removing you from guiding the making of the laws of our land and instead replacing your righteous standards with ungodly ones
   3. Forgive us as a nation for rejecting you from schools, colleges and the workplace, O Lord
   4. Forgive us as a nation, O God, for turning to false gods and occult practises
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

18^th – Jeremiah 2:17-18 Self-inflicted troubles

1. 1. Have mercy on our nation, O Lord, for making the breakdown of the family ever easier
   2. Have mercy on our nation, O God, for rejecting you and causing the ever-increasing need for anti-depressant drugs to treat to treat those without hope
   3. Have mercy on our nation, O Lord, for allowing a generation of children to be raised with little knowledge of your Word and your ways and without godly boundaries
   4. Have mercy on our nation, O God, for desecrating human dignity and self-worth through allowing pornography and every manner of sexual sin
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

19^th – Jeremiah 2:19-20 No fear of God

1. 1. Teach us to have a reverent fear of you, O Lord, that always has respect for your holiness in all we say and do
   2. Keep us from backsliding, we pray and for those we know are already backsliding, bring them back to yourself, we ask
   3. Bring a revelation to those who govern us, O Lord, that the lack of fear of God that results in ungodliness is destroying the very foundations of our society
   4. Reveal to those who govern us, O God, that much of the misery in our society is caused by pursing ways of life that run contrary to the revealed will of God
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

20^th – Jeremiah 2:21-22 The guilt of rebellion

1. 1. Forgive us when we rebel against your will, O Lord, no matter how trivial a matter it may seem to us and keep us on the straight and narrow pathway
   2. Forgive our nation for rebelling against your laws on sexual purity, O God
   3. Forgive our nation, O God, for rebelling against your laws not to take a human life and instead allowing hundreds of abortions each day
   4. Forgive our nation for rebelling against the command to have no other gods but you and to worship you with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, we pray
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

21^st – Jeremiah 2:23-25 Self-deceit and defilement

1. 1. We pray for all those we know who falsely believe that they can know salvation through another religion but not through Christ; open their eyes and save them
   2. We pray for all those we mix with who believe that death is the end and that there is no Day of Judgment; Holy Spirit convict them of their folly, we ask
   3. We pray for all those we know who engage in any form of occult practises being deceived by its power; open their eyes to the danger they are in and may they turn to Christ 
   4. Have mercy on this generation, O Lord, that always look to find other to blame without recognising the reality of personal sin
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

22^nd – Jeremiah 2:26-28 Trusting in the untrustworthy

1. 1. We pray for those we mix with daily who trust only in their material possessions to satisfy their lives; may they come to understand their need to trust in the living God
   2. For the people we speak to who trust in the theory of evolution, rejecting a Creator God, open their spiritual eyes, we pray
   3. For those we know who trust in their own good works to save them rather than the cross; open their eyes to their sinful nature and accountability to you, O Lord
   4. For those who trust in false religions and cults to save them, help us to show them the true way, O lord
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

23^rd – Jeremiah 2:29 The guilty refusing to accept blame

1. 1. Holy Spirit, whenever we sin in mind, body or deed convict us so that we may be quick to repent and seek forgiveness
   2. If we are harbouring unforgiveness in our hearts, convict us, O Lord, and give us the grace and strength to release those who have hurt or offended us
   3. Help us to explain the gospel clearly and persuasively, O Lord, to a generation that no longer understands the seriousness and the reality of personal sin
   4. May your presence be so strong in our meetings, O Lord, that we see people convicted of sin and repenting upon realisation that they have fallen short of your righteous standards
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

24^th – Jeremiah 2:30 Failure to respond to God’s correction

1. 1. Lord, when you discipline us for our own good, give us the discernment to understand and to change in whatever way you desire of us
   2. Holy Spirit, we ask that whenever we proclaim your Word we would not see it being ignored but a positive response from those who hear
   3. When you shake our nation through calamities that befall our land, may there be those who have the wisdom to turn from their complacent lives to you, O God
   4. Have mercy on those in our nation who seek to stop every expression of the presentation of the gospel; hinder their ungodly plans, we pray
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

25^th – Jeremiah 2:31 Consider the Word of the Lord

1. 1. May your Word always come to us like a double-edged sword, dividing soul and spirit and showing us the true pathway
   2. May we not neglect the daily reading of your Word, O Lord, which is lamp to our feet and a light for our path to guide us through each day
   3. As we read your Word, Holy Spirit, enlighten our minds and our understanding and speak to us through it, we pray
   4. Holy Spirit, bring to our remembrance the Word of God at any time of the day when we need to draw on its wisdom for whatever we are doing or saying
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

26^th – Jeremiah 2:32 Forgetting God

1. 1. Forgive us as individuals and as your church, O Lord, when we prioritise other, less important things before you
   2. Help us, Holy Spirit, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength at all times
   3. May we live each day in such a way that we are conscious of you in all that we say and do, O Lord, being your ambassadors to those around us
   4. Help us to be careful when all is going well for us, O Lord, not to allow ourselves to be drawn away from a close walk with you
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

27^th – Jeremiah 2:33-35 Skilled in sinning

1. 1. Turn back the tide and forgive our nation, O Lord, that teaches its youth how to live lives of immorality
   2. Turn back the tide in our nation, O Lord, which worships mere human celebrities but not the everlasting God who is their Creator
   3. Turn back the tide in our nation, O God, that loves to pursue material riches but at the same time fails to understand or seek true spiritual riches
   4. Turn back the tide of sin in our nation that mocks righteousness and delights in wickedness of every kind, we pray
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

28^th – Jeremiah 2:36 Changing to ungodly ways

1. 1. Have mercy on a generation that has replaced worship of the true God with worship of self
   2. Have mercy on a generation that has rejected seeking after the true and living God for seeking after self enrichment and self gratification
   3. Forgive the churches in this land, O Lord, that have abandoned the preaching of the true gospel, preaching a false gospel instead
   4. Forgive the leaders of this nation and have mercy on our land that has replaced righteous laws based on divine wisdom with sinful laws based on human ‘wisdom’
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me

29^th – Jeremiah 2:37 The shame that follows rejection by God

1. 1. O God, we pray that our generation would begin to understand the shame of sin, rather than delighting in it
   2. Holy Spirit, we pray that you would once again convict this generation to understand the shame of sexual immorality and the harm it causes
   3. As condemnation on the Day of Judgment looms before those who reject Christ, help us to snatch them from a Christless eternity even as one is snatched from the fire, we pray
   4. We pray for those who are currently proud of their sinful ways of life that they would be struck with conviction, repent, and learn to be proud of knowing and walking with Christ
   5. O Lord, send revival to our church, our borough, our city and our nation, we pray, and start your work in me