DAY 270
Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic
A series of daily reflections for people of faith
by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor
Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland
pastorrobert@paxpres.org
Week Thirty-nine Wednesday 9 December 2020
Country Focus: The United States of America
The USA is the third largest country in the world both in land mass and population. As a nation of immigrants, it is not surprising that there are 365 identifiable people groups in the United States and 180 languages spoken in American homes. The USA has been for over 100 years and remains the number one missions-sending country in the world. Some 75% of the population claim Christianity as their religion, and Evangelicals make up approximately 30% of the population with Pentecostal and charismatic churches claiming an increasing percentage of that figure, the fastest growing branch of Christianity in the US.
Prayer Focus
+ Pray for the 4,000 Adyghe Muslims, the least reached people group in the US.
+ Pray for national healing of the deep divisions plaguing the USA over the past few years.
+ Pray for Evangelicals to repent of melding faith and politics, to get their eyes back on Jesus.
+ Pray for traditional denominations in decline, for a sovereign Holy Spirit revival.
+ Pray for thousands of American missionaries abroad in a growing hostile anti-American
atmosphere that has increased markedly over the past few years, for safety and wisdom.
+ Pray for all elected leaders for humble hearts putting people above party, for an end to the
hurtful and uncivil rhetoric of recent years and a modeling of true non-partisan leadership.
+ Pray for a sovereign healing of all racial and ethnic wounds.
+ Pray for the many grass roots food banks and other caring outreach efforts exhibited by so
many American churches, civic groups and individuals – God’s blessings on them all.
+ Pray that the prayer sung in the national song below will actually be answered.
Jesus’ Prayer Request each Wednesday:
“’The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus – Matthew 9:37-38.
For additional information on praying for the USA, go to: operationworld.org.
Reflective question: What in our country troubles you the most? Make that your prayer focus.
Reflective Scripture: 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Reflective hymn:
“America the Beautiful” – Katherine Bates (1859-1929)
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
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