National Day of Prayer 5-5-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord, and long for Your coming in the fullness of Your glory -- here in my heart, here in our nation, and here in the earth. ... Today is the National Day of Prayer in America. You have blessed our nation beyond belief since our birth. Let us remember to humble ourselves in Your sight on the knees of our nation, that You may bless us still and let Your "grace be shed on thee." Let it not only be this day, but every day, as we exercise the freedom You have give us to freely call upon Your name in humility and prayer. Pride in Your blessing becomes the enemy of continued blessing. To the very degree we believe we have earned Your blessing or that our blessings come from our own efforts, we become the hindrance to Your continued blessings. Pour out Your Spirit of humility upon our hearts and upon our land this day. Convict us where we have allowed our blessing of independence from tyranny become a curse of independence from You. Forgive us as a people and a nation where we have grown to depend upon ourselves and take pride in ourselves -- relying upon our monetary wealth and our military might rather than our merciful and mighty God. Let it be by willing hearts that we humble ourselves on our knees before You. One way or another, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess "the name that is above every name" and proclaim "that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2.9-11). In writing this Scripture from verses 9-11 of chapter 2, it reminds us of a humbling day not long ago when we bowed the knees of our nation in brokenness and grief to call upon Your name from sea to shining sea. Let us willingly and prayerfully bow our knees today in humility before You. May Your people from every tongue and tribe and nation set aside their judgments for our obvious sins of pride and bow their knees in humility with us this day. Today is May 5th, and the 5-5 of the date brings this Scripture of 1 Peter 5.5 to mind: "... And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' " Thank You for Your promise, which we receive for our nation on this day of prayer: "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7.14). In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!