We make an alter where we are so that we can come to you, Lord, and ask for mercy.

We are a nation founded to promote Christian liberties and values and to glorify God. We are failing at both.

We confess our sins, repent of our wrong doing and ask for MERCY.

Like the prophet Daniel, who begged for mercy for his people, I beg for mercy for mine. And I pray his same prayer today because you are the same God and our sins in America are just as grave.

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.
7“Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame…. because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8We and our (rulers) are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. 9The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us. (We have) transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore…curses and…judgments… have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. …yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth…the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
15“Now, Lord our God…who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your …hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on (us) . 18Give ear, our God, and hear…We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay…
(Daniel 9)

We not only confess the sins of a nation, but we confess the sins of a church.

The church is your instrument to change the world. A light on a hill. But as the church in American or light has grown dim. Our hearts grown cold. Instead of engaging the world with truth we have retreated in fear.

We know that our liberties are a gift from God, but we’ve allowed the enemy to silence God and remove Him from our government and schools and so our liberties are being taken from us.

This is our fault. We ask for mercy.

We have become so distracted by the world that we are no longer changing it.

We ask for mercy.

Your word tells us that if we humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways you will bring healing. As the church in America we have indeed been wicked as we have stopped guarding over the innocent. The unborn, the orphan, the widow. We have abandoned our post and trusted the government to do the job of the church and we have both failed.

We ask for mercy.

You have set us apart to be a spotless bride for your son, but our hands are dirty and our hearts are divided. As the church of America, we need revival….but it will only come when the people of God get right with God. Across this nation, your church and our hearts are full of pride, self-righteousness, criticism and slander. We are known for gossip, back biting and slander.

We have allowed out traditions and prejudices to trump the gospel. When the world looks at us they see judgment, hypocrisy and hate. But the scriptures say they should know us by our love for others.

We ask for mercy.

For too long we have put our trust in our buildings our bank accounts and our programs.
We depend upon our own strength, intellect and power…making them an idol instead of depending on the Spirit of the Living God.

Have mercy.

We beg you to send your Spirit to meet with us. To cover our sin with the blood of the lamb so that we might be found not guilty. We repent of grieving your Spirit and ask you to take charge of of your church. That you would forgive us for failing to be salt in light in in our part of the world.

Fill us with your spirit Lord, and cleanse us. We need to hear from you. We are desperate for you. We are an unworthy people in need of healing. We ask for mercy today. We deserve none, but we need it and you are the only one who can give it.

Psalm 139 says,
23Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Our nation cannot thrive without a church that is alive. Our church will not be effective as long as we as individuals hold onto our sin. So search us lord and show us our sin so that we might repent and ask for mercy.

As we make an alter before you, a holy God, shine light into our hearts, put a mirror in front of our faces, let us see the truth of our sin so that we can beg for your mercy.

 

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