(An adaptation of the Prophet Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:1-19)
By Dr. DAN ERICKSON
It was during the third year of Obama’s Presidency; I, Daniel, cried out to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
“O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commandments. But we, your people and this nation have sinned and have acted wickedly. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commandments and instructions. We have refused to heed your written revelation.
“Righteousness belongs to you, O Lord. You are in the right in your discipline; and as you can see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of God, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. We, your church and government leaders, are covered with humiliation because we have and continue to sin against you.
“O Lord, you are compassionate and forgiving, even though we have willfully rebelled against you. We have not obeyed you, for we are not following the instructions you gave us through your written word. Your Bride and our Nation have disobeyed your teaching and have turned away from you by refusing to listen to your voice.
“O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by saving your people Israel from Egypt in a great display of your power. Please perform another rescue! We have sinned and are full of wickedness. In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please have mercy again and turn your furious anger away from your Bride and this Nation.
“O Lord our God, hear the prayers of your servant! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, choose to show grace and mercy again on your Bride and this Nation.
“O Lord my God, bend down and listen to my cry. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your Bride—the Church that bears your name—lies in ruins. I make this plea, not because we deserve mercy, but because of your kind compassion.
“O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for the sake of your Bride, the Church, that bears your name.”
Amen!
Lord, have mercy on our souls and imagine the possibilities!
