prayer for Canada

What a roller coaster week! I must admit I've been more than a little exercised by what's been happening in Ottawa. The possibility of my country falling into jeopardy has made me realize how much I love Canada.

Though I've struggled with an array of emotions from anger to despair, I return again and again to the only posture that I believe will make any real difference. It's prayer. It's bringing the issue to God, the way Hezekiah spread out the threatening letter he got from Sennarcherib, and asking for Divine help.

I have a wonderful book of prayers on my bookshelf. Praying with Fire by Barbara Billett is a slim, coil-bound book full of prayers based on Scripture. This morning I found myself praying the prayer for Canada.

If you're feeling similarly shaken by recent events, why don't you join me in this prayer (abbreviated from the book version - complete prayer found here -- beginning at "Confess aloud the following prayer over Canada every day..."):

1 Timothy 2:1-3

Father, in Jesus' name, I give thanks for our nation and its government. I bring before you the men and women in positions of authority. I pray and intercede for our Prime Minister (and the Governor General), and every Premier of every province. I pray for every person who is in authority over us in any way. I pray that the anointing of the Holy Spirit be upon them to lead them and to guide them.

....

It is written in Your Word that the heart of the king is in the hand of You Lord, and that You turn it which ever way You desire. I believe that the hearts of our Prime Minister and the leaders of Canada are in Your Hand and that their decisions are divinely directed of the Lord.

....

Father, I ask you in Jesus Name to pour out your anointing of divine favour, wisdom and discernment upon the leaders in the Name of Jesus. I ask you Lord that they would have great liberty in sounding the alarm and blowing the trumpet regarding every unrighteous strategy that is trying to be implemented in this nation. I pray that there would be an exposure of the hidden things of darkness in the government in the Name of Jesus.

I ask You, Lord, to remove every deceitful worker and unrighteous person from being in any position of authority in our nation of Canada, in the Name of Jesus. I thank You, Lord, for replacing them with righteous men and women.

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I thank You, Lord, that this nation stands together in one accord and that You, Lord, command a blessing where there is unity! In the name of Jesus, I serve notice to every attempt of Satan to bring division to this nation and I declare that every spirit of division is bound and broken from our nation of Canada. I command you rulers of darkness, principalities and powers and spirits of division and witchcraft to loose Canada and its leaders in the Name of Jesus.

.....

I thank you, Lord, that the Word of God is prevailing and growing mightily in the hearts of the people of Canada. I thank you, Lord, that Your Word is upholding, maintaining, propelling and guiding the leaders of this nation. I thank you, Lord, that You are watching over Your Word to perform it and that Your Word shall not return void in the Name of Jesus!

I stand in agreement with every person who confesses this Word over the nation and its leaders in the Name of Jesus. The Bible says that when two shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father which is in heaven. I confess and believe that the angels of God are hearkening to the voice of God's Word today and are going forth to bring Your Word to pass in the Nation of Canada! I confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings over the Nation of Canada, in Jesus Name! PRAISE THE LORD!

Prayer references: 1 Timothy 2:1-3; Proverbs 2:10-11,20;28:2 (Amplified Bible); Matthew 18:18, 19; James 3:15; 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5; Proverbs 21:1; 2 Corinthians 11:13; Psalms 5:12; Proverbs 2:10; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Psalm 33:12; Ephesians 6:12; Psalms 133; Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4,6; Hebrews 1:3; (Amplified Bible); Jeremiah 1:12; Isaiah 55:11; Psalms 103:20