Tag Archives: God

Praying for America in the New Year

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Flag on BarnThe new year is a great time to dedicate yourself to praying for our nation. As we move into 2013, pray for God to reveal in our own hearts any prejudices that keep us from praying for those in authority over us. Are you unable to pray for your boss, our senators or even the president because you disagree with them? If the Bible teaches us to pray for those in authority over us, then we’re called to overcome those feelings. Remember as we pray for others in the new year that we must often ask God to change us first.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what areas of the nation He wants you to be praying for this year. If you need help getting started, please read The First Prayer page from this blog. You may also consider using our weekly devotional book, American Psalms: Prayers for the Christian Patriot.

A Prayer for the New Year
by Joshua J Masters
Father of New Beginnings, your love and compassion is new every morning.1 I come before you, standing at the threshold of a new year, with a dedicated and contrite heaBefore I step into this new season, make clear to me anything I need to leave behind. Reveal my sin. Expose any unforgiving or negative thoughts in my heart so they might be left here—for you have said:

“Forget the former things;
Do not dwell in the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.”
(Isaiah 43:18-19)

Whatever trials I’ve been facing, I place them in your hands. Teach me, in this new year, to seek a closer relationship with you—for you have promised to draw near to those who seek you.2 During this year, I am dedicated to reading your Word, listening for your direction, praying and fasting. I also commit myself to praying for America and for those in authority over me.3

Only you know the end from the beginning,4 and I trust in your sovereignty. You know exactly what our nation will face this year, and I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what I should be praying for.

Give me a heart for the president and his family, even when I disagree with him. Erase any prejudice of partisanship from within me so I might pray for your will over my own. Teach me how to serve my community and country by serving the Kingdom, and allow me to encourage other Christians to pray for our nation. I ask for your blessing on America this year. May you be given glory for our prosperity, and may we seek you in times of trouble.
AMEN.

1  Lam. 3:22-23
2 2 Timothy 2:1-3
3 James 4:8
4 Isaiah 46:10

For additional resources in praying for America, consider following this blog for our frequent Prayer Points and visit our Prayers for America page.

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© Joshua J. Masters and American Psalms, 2012.
Flag on Barn Photo Credit: Robert Linder

Immanuel, “God With Us”

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nativity2We all know the story of Christmas, but do we grasp its true meaning? We often forget that Christ’s sacrifice did not start at the cross, but when he left his Throne of Glory to enter our world as baby of hope–Immanuel. He saw that his children were lost, scared and alone. He saw the claws of a dragon sinking into the souls of his most beloved creation, and he gave up everything to bring them home and destroy the one who sought to bring us harm. In an 1854 Christmas Eve service Charles Spurgeon said:

“‘Immanuel.’ It is wisdom’s mystery, ‘God with us.’ Sages look at it and wonder. Angels desire to see it… ‘God with us.’ It is Hell’s terror! Satan trembles at the sound of it. His legions fly apace, the black-winged dragon of the Pit quails before it! Let Satan come to you suddenly and do you but whisper that word, ‘God with us’—back he falls—confounded and confused! Satan trembles when he hears that name, ‘God with us.’”

Christmas Eve with the troops in Afghanistan.

Christmas Eve with the troops in Afghanistan.

As we open our gifts and gather with family today, please remember to pray for the troops who are serving far away from their families so we can safely spend Christmas with ours. Pray for the leaders of our nation, and for God to reveal truth within our own hearts. May the God of true freedom bless this nation and the people of Israel; may Immanuel truly be with us in our nation and in our hearts. Please join American Psalms in this Christmas Prayer for America.

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© Joshua J. Masters and American Psalms, 2012.
Photo Credits:
Nativity Photo by Joshua J Masters
ISAF Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communications Specialist Petty Officer 1st Class Monica R. Nelson

A Christmas Prayer for America

Posted by joshuajmasters on
Christmas Eve with the troops in Afghanistan.

Christmas Eve with the troops in Afghanistan.

Immanuel,1 you are our Wonderful Councilor and Prince of Peace.2 Today we celebrate the birth of true freedom, which is in Christ. If you had not stepped into our world as a child, we would never have known the freedom and liberty of salvation—the ideals of our founding fathers never would have been formed. We thank you for our nation, but recognize that you didn’t come into the world for America, but for all mankind; you came that we might see a day without war and without borders. You came, born in a manger, so we might be reunited with an Everlasting Father who stepped out of eternity3 to save his children:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11, NIV)

Mighty God, thank you for sending your son to redeem us. You have seen the pain of this world and sent us an advocate and comforter.4  I pray for the leaders of our nation. In this Christmas season, may their households be blessed for their service, and may they be reminded of your grace in establishing their posts.5 May they seek your favor in the coming year and be granted the gift of wisdom. Above all, I lift up the men and women of our armed forces who cannot be with their families this Christmas. Protect our soldiers and comfort their loved ones. Remind us of their sacrifice as we worship your plan of salvation, singing with the heavenly hosts: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14, KJV)
AMEN.

(1) Matthew 1:23 (2) Isaiah 9:6 (3) John 1:1-5, 14 (4) John 14:16 (5) Romans 13:1

Please also see our Christmas Day post: Immanuel, God With Us.

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Please see the Condition of Use for this blog.
© Joshua J. Masters and American Psalms, 2012.
Photo Credits:  ISAF Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communications Specialist Petty Officer 1st Class Monica R. Nelson

The Cost of Freedom: A D-Day Remembrance

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Landing on the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944

“…The Tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
-General Dwight D. Eisenhower, D-Day order speech.

On the morning of June 6, 1944 more than 160, 000 Allied troops began their attack on Nazi strongholds along the beaches of Normandy, France in World War II.

5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the massive initiative where 9000 Allied troops were either killed or wounded. The cost was great, but it stopped the advance of Nazi Germany and allowed 100,000 troops to begin their advance through Europe, liberating those nations oppressed by the Nazis and eventually defeating Hitler.

Fellow soldiers built this memorial on a secured beach on D-Day

More than 65 years later,
D-Day still represents the greatest example of humanity’s stand against evil. Hitler sought to conquer the earth and annihilate the chosen people of God. He tried to bring about a world government of oppression and false worship; he tried to place himself upon a throne of greatness painted with the blood of God’s saints. But hundreds of thousands of Allied troops called out in one voice, “This evil will not stand,” and as many as 6000 soldiers died at Normandy to push the Nazis back.

Troops help wounded soldiers to safety on D-Day

We have a responsibility to remember the price that was paid to liberate our world. To many of us, D-Day is a thing of history, but all across this nation there are men quietly sitting this morning, remembering the horrific gates of Hell they walked through to protect future generations. These are the men to whom we owe our freedom. As we pray for our troops and remember the fallen, let us also give thanks to the God who delivered us from evil. He has purchased the deed to this earth with the blood of His son, and though Satan will try to destroy God’s people and bring the world into submission again, his power is counterfeit and fleeting. Until that day when he is chained, may God forever remind our hearts of freedom’s cost.

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© Joshua J. Masters and American Psalms, 2012.
Photo Credits:  U.S. Army Flickr Stream

Remembering Apollo 13

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Apollo 13 Recovery on the USS Iwo Jima

Apollo 13 Recovery on the USS Iwo Jima

TODAY IN HISTORY:
On April 17, 1970 the entire nation cried out to God for the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew. God’s mercy and the greatness He’s bestowed on America were revealed when, against all odds, the Apollo 13 capsule was safely retrieved by the U.S.S. Iwo Jima after an explosion crippled the spacecraft on its way to the moon four days earlier.

Of all the adventures mankind has embarked upon, has there ever been a mission that more powerfully revealed the majesty and power of God than that of NASA?

The Antennae galaxies Spitzer space telescope

The Antennae galaxies, Spitzer Space Telescope

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech; 
night after night they display knowledge. 
There is no speech or language 
where their voice is not heard. 
Their voice goes out into all the earth, 
their words to the ends of the world.”
(Psalm 19:1-4, NIV84) 

May we be reminded on this day, when God safely returned our American heroes to the earth He created, that God has granted us ingenuity and greatness so we can accomplish great things in his name.

May we continue to reach into space, discovering God’s majesty, and may His hand of protection be upon those who adventure in His name.

Considering the verse above, in what areas of God’s creation do you most see his signature?

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© Joshua J. Masters and American Psalms, 2012.
Photo Credits:
Apollo 13 Recovery, NASA Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Antennae Galaxies: NASA Image Collection