Day 10: Prayer Focus: Sins of America (Abortion, Corruption, Pride, Greed) | 2 Chronicles 7:14

“if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

We have the privilege of living in a land with many freedoms, including the freedom to worship publicly. Around the world, there are many places where Christians are persecuted for Jesus’s name. Along with our freedoms come the evils and sinfulness of our nation. The same freedoms that give Christians open doors to share Jesus and worship Him give the devil a playground.

Solomon sought the Lord so he could build the house of worship his father had the vision to build. God agreed to let His presence dwell in the house Solomon would build. But He prepared the king to understand what would happen if Israel was wicked. He would withhold rain for the crops, bring locusts to destroy the crops, or bring pestilence among His people (b. 13).

Some are unwilling to accept the theology that God brings hardship on the nation that does not worship Him alone. The wickedness of our nation brings God’s judgment in many forms. While He does not bring sicknesses upon His people in the new covenant, God does judge America for its wickedness, as with any nation.

We see God’s judgment in the way our nation’s prosperity is challenged in various ways. For instance, abortion is never looked on well in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Israelites sacrificed their children to Molek and other idols. The prosthets speaking for God condemned such actions. In the New Testament, King Herod kills all the children two years old and under to try to kill Jesus.

But our nation will commit abortion in the third trimester, and even shortly after a child is born. God surely condemns such practices. They speak to the wicked heart of our nation. And we must speak out against it as the prophets did. While we are grateful that our Supreme Court struck down Roe V Wade, abortion is still legal in states that continue the practice and legislate it.

We see corruption in our political system. Hypocrisy reeks at the highest levels of government. One party points out the wickedness of the other, all the while ignoring the wickedness in its own party. Politicians lie, steal, do insider trading, get rich off the people, create election machines that keep them in office for decades, commit fraud and a lie. I know I’m just getting started.

Americans are proud people. We push our ideals on other people. We think we are the best at everything when statistics prove this is not the case. Many Americans use greed and selfish ambition to get what they want and fulfill their version of the American dream. Contentment is in short supply. Many of the values in American society go directly contrary to scriptural principles and a Christian worldview. Like one of the churches in Revelation, we live where Satan dwells.

We can thank God for the good things America represents. And we can pray for the evil things we come up against as Christians every day. As you go before the Lord together with your prayer partner, thank God for His hand in the good things we can celebrate about our country, but pray for the evil all around us. Along with repentance, God promises that when we pray and seek Him, he will heal our land and bring His blessings upon it and us. God called the people to seek the peace of Jerusalem. When the Israelites lived in other nations during the exile, they prayed for the peace and prosperity of the places they lived.

Let us lift this great nation with a godly beginning and foundation to the Lord. Only He can change hearts and heal our land. We can’t legislate morality, but God can change the hearts of wayward people back to Him. Let it begin with us.

Prayer Points

• God will heal our land and change the hearts of those open to our national sins
• Against abortion and the killing of innocent babies
• Against the corruption of our politics, business world, and society
• Against the pride and greed permeating our culture