Anne Graham Lotz: It’s Time To Pray!

by Anne Graham Lotz   •     •  

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Our nation is in a mess. Attacks on the streets, apostasy in the church, antagonism in the culture, anger in the electorate, arrogance in the leadership, atrocities on the border, agony at the pump—all seem to be evidence that God has given us over to ourselves in a Romans 1:24-type of divine judgment. And if we are under God’s judgment, the solution is not political, environmental, financial, military, educational, technological, scientific, medical or anything else we can name. There is only one solution. Returning to God! It’s time to pray!

Read 2 Chronicles 6:12-21

WITH HUMILITY
2 Chronicles 6:12-13

  • Who was Solomon? See 1 Chron-icles 29:26-28; 2 Chronicles 1:1-12.
  • Describe Solomon’s greatness, from 1 Kings 3:5-15; 4:29-30; 2 Chronicles 9:1-11, 22. 
  • From 2 Chronicles 6:3, give the phrase that describes the way Solomon approached God, as the greatest leader in the world of his day. 
  • In Daniel 9:3-7, what was Daniel’s attitude as he interceded for his people? 
  • Give phrases from the following verses that underscore the necessity of humility if we truly want our prayers to be heard and answered: 1 Kings 21:25-29; 2 Kings 22:18-20; 2 Chronicles 33:10-13; Daniel 10:12; James 4:6.
  • Give phrases from the following verses that indicate that effective prayer for a nation requires personal humility: 2 Chronicles 7:14; 12:5-7; 36:11-17; Daniel 5:22-23, 30-31; Isaiah 66:1-2.
  • What is your attitude as you pray for our nation? 
  • Based on the following verses, how important is it to pray with humility if we truly want our prayers to move Heaven and change our nation? Psalm 51:15-17; Joel 2:12-14; Luke 18:9-14.

WITH CERTAINTY
2 Chronicles 6:14-15

  • From 2 Chronicles 6:14-15, on what was Solomon’s certainty in prayer based? 
  • What was Daniel certain of as he prayed? See Daniel 9:4; 9:7; 9:9; 9:15.
  • How did Jesus teach His disciples to begin their prayers, in Matthew 6:9-10?
  • When Paul prayed, on what was he confident, and how did that affect his prayer, in Ephesians 3:10-21?
  • How are we invited to approach God? See Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16; 10:19-23; 1 John 5:14-15.
  • In Hebrews 11:1, what is another way to describe certainty or confidence in prayer? 
  • How important is certainty in prayer? See Matthew 21:22; Hebrews 11:6; 10:35-39; James 5:15-18.
  • If you lack certainty when you pray, would you refocus on who God is? Write down one of His character traits with a Scripture reference for each letter of the alphabet. Then wrap your faith in prayer around Him.

WITH AUTHORITY
2 Chronicles 6:16-17

  • From each of the following examples, who was praying and what was the basis for their prayers? 2 Chronicles 6:16-17; Genesis 32:9-12; Daniel 9:1-3; Acts 4:23-31.
  • What is the basis for praying with authority? See Jeremiah 1:12; Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 24:35. 
  • Do your prayers lack authority in Heaven because they are based on your wants or wishes? Desires or dreams? What others say or pray? What are your prayers based on?
  • Ask God to give you a specific promise from His Word for our nation. Write it out here, with the reference.
  • Would you pray with authority as you hold God to His promise and pray His Word back to Him?

WITH CLARITY
2 Chronicles 6:18-21

  • What did Solomon pray for in 2 Chronicles 6:18-21; 6:24-25; 6:26-27; 6:36-39?
  • List the things Daniel prayed for in Daniel 9:15-19. 
  • Relate each of Solomon and Daniel’s requests to your prayer for our nation.
  • Write out what you are asking God to do for the nation so that you are clear.
  • Read Ezekiel 36:37; Mark 6:47-52. How important is it to pray for our nation? 
  • When did Daniel receive clarity in prayer for his people? See Daniel 9:20-22.
  • If we lack clarity in prayer, what should we do? See Romans 8:26-27; Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:5.
  • When is it time to pray? Read 1 Peter 4:7; James 5:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 5:16-18; Colossians 1:9; 4:2; Ephesians 6:18.
  • How did God respond to Solomon’s prayer, in 2 Chronicles 7:1?

When nations rage and the people plot …  

When the kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord …  

When the foundations of our faith are being destroyed …

… What can the righteous do?  

We can pray!   

Pray for the church to wake up!

Pray for deep repentance of sin.

Pray for a desperate urgency to get right with God. 

Pray for the revival of the hearts of God’s people.

Pray for the Gospel to be preached with boldness and power.

Pray for a holy fear of God to fall on our nation.

Pray for the salvation of those coming under God’s judgment.

Pray with humility—having a broken, contrite heart.

Pray with certainty—focused on who God is.

Pray with authority—holding God to His Word.

Pray with clarity—asking God for insight and understanding.

It’s time to pray—now. ©2022 Anne Graham Lotz

 

This article is adapted from a study originally published in April 2016. 

Anne Graham Lotz has proclaimed God’s Word worldwide for more than 40 years. Her newest book, which she co-authored with her daughter Rachel-Ruth Wright, is “Jesus Followers: Real-Life Lessons for Igniting Faith in the Next Generation.” It is available from major booksellers online.

 
Above: Anne Graham Lotz prays during the Washington Prayer March in 2020.

Photo: Thomas J. Petrino/©2020 BGEA