“At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it. However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.” – Jeremiah 18:7-8
As Christians, our primary citizenship is in heaven. Nonetheless, it is biblical and appropriate to pray for and pursue what’s best for our earthly home as long as it doesn’t conflict with our Kingdom work. While we certainly cannot say whether God has decreed destruction for this country, there seems to be no shortage of disaster right now and we should take that seriously!
What’s best for any earthly nation is to turn away from evil, to reject policies and elements of culture that rebel against God’s revealed will in the Bible, and to embrace the Lord. Therefore, let us pray for an awakening in this nation, a great turning away from the false gods of self, greed, and pleasure, and a turning toward Jesus Christ. Let us pray for the hearts of parents and children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters to be renewed in love and turn toward each other. Let us pray for the widespread embrace and practice of biblical love, kindness, justice, and mercy. Let us pray for a viral pursuit of personal holiness.
None of this is about imposing our values on others. Rather let our prayer be for hearts to truly change and with them values, priorities, words, and actions.