Pray for Your People

2 Chronicles 20:5-7a

"Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?"

Let us consider "the long prayer" in the worship service, the prayers of the church. Traditionally on certain holidays our president will call the nation to thanksgiving, some have called us to repentance and fasting. We see Jehoshaphat do that in our text. It is important that God’s people hear their leaders interceding for them. Fathers need to pray out loud in the presence of their children, for their children. Husbands, pray for your wives. Pastors for their churches. Princes for their people. So most often the prayer of the church in our worship service is spoken by the worship leader, an elder. But it is also fitting for members to take a turn leading us in prayer. Congress invites various clergy to open its sessions with prayer. Fathers should give their children training and time to lead the family in prayer. When we pray all together it is an expression of our unity in the Lord Jesus, in whose name we pray.

This aspect of worship works against our sinful tendencies to neglect prayer, to neglect leading in prayer, practicing prayer. To neglect praying for your church family, your nation, and to be mindful of the communion of saints together in all you do.

This reminds us of our need to confess our sins.

10/28/12