Praying for our Nation October 20,2012

Saturday, Oct. 20
Pray for the restoration and protection of our freedom of religion:
• Repent for the silence and passivity of the church as our religious freedoms have eroded.
• Pray that our freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, including
freedom of religion, be restored and protected.
• Pray that the flood of restrictions on religious freedom that have come about in recent years be reversed.
• Pray for the election of candidates who support freedom of religion – and freedom of expression by people of faith.
• Pray for the election of a President and governors who will appoint judges who are committed to protecting freedom of religion and speech.
• Pray for the more than 1,000 pastors – including our own senior pastor – who are taking a public stand against the legal assumption that pastors and churches have no right to express an opinion on political issues.
• Pray for the Supreme Court to ultimately rule that the “gag order” inserted into a bill decades ago by Sen. Lyndon Johnson on political expression by non-profits – especially religious institutions and leaders -- is unconstitutional.
• Pray that ungodly and unconstitutional requirements that violate the beliefs and freedoms of Christian-oriented educational institutions, health care providers and businesses be removed.
• Pray that God would raise up men and women to serve in our government with wisdom and integrity and lead us back to being "One Nation Under God."
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Ps. 33:12)
Pray against the demonic assaults against religious freedom in our land:
• Come against the spirit of anti-Christ which is working through ungodly people, including many in government, to “detach” America from its Christian roots by re-writing American history and seeking to remove the laws of God – and all talk of God – from our public life.
And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:3) Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti- christ who denies the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22) Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Anti-Christ is coming, even now many anti-christs have come, by which we know it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
• Using the mighty weapons of the Spirit, come against the onrushing tide of secularism, which has become America’s de facto state religion.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
• Come against the spiritual forces of darkness working through advocacy organizations such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation that seek to impose a total ban on expressions of faith in all public arenas.
• Pray for the boldness and effectiveness of faith-based advocacy groups as they challenge actions by schools, local and state governments and other public institutions that restrict freedom of religion and religious expression.
• Pray that government leaders at all levels will not be intimidated or deceived into taking actions that restrict religious freedom.