70 Days – Righteousness Exalts a Nation – Day 17

GiveHim15 will be collaborating with Love Ministries in a very special 70-day prayer focus. We are going to take a stand for righteousness in the United States of America  from February 9th through Passover, April 19th.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34; NASB)

DANIEL’S INTERCESSION: REPENTANCE FOR A NATION

It is so important for us to recognize the times and the seasons of God in our lives. Belief determines behavior. Daniel understood through the prophetic word given through the prophet Jeremiah that the captivity of Israel would last for seventy years. He recognized the timing of the Lord and responded to the call of intercession. Daniel’s intercession became a catalyst for the deliverance of the children of Israel and their restoration to Jerusalem.

“In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So, I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.  We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame — the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. O Lord, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you… “Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.  O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” ( Daniel 9:1-19; NIV)

Give Him 15 minutes of prayer:

• Ask the Lord to cause you to recognize His times and seasons, so that you will know what to do and how to respond in intercession.
• Read Daniel’s model prayer of intercession for a nation out loud.
• Ask the Lord to place a fresh mantle of intercession upon you for this nation, as you stand in the gap to build up His wall of righteousness.

A prayer you can pray:

“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.  We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

“Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame — as a nation because of the sins of innocent bloodshed, idolatry, immorality, broken covenants, blatant rebellion and a total disregard for righteousness. We have been unfaithful to you. O Lord, we, our leaders, and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you as a nation. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.  O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from our nation of America. Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. You have given us this 70 Day Decree prayer mandate to see reformation and transformation come to this nation of America. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your righteous remnant. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the of this nation which bears your Name. We appeal to your great mercy. Oh Lord, listen! Oh Lord, forgive! Oh Lord, hear and act! For your sake, Oh my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name. Remember Your promise, righteousness exalts a nation. We humbly ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The 70 Day Decree:

Lord God, we present ourselves unto You a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). We acknowledge and declare that we are filled with the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:11). Your Word tells us that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34). We stand before You in the land You have given us, and we decree and release the righteousness of Christ into our territories, spheres of influence, our cities, states, and nation in order to bring healing, revival, awakening, and reformation to America. Father, let Your Spirit of righteousness be released and established in us, and in every place in which You have given us jurisdiction. Let Your righteous Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)! Prepare the soil of this nation and realign us with Your righteousness! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.