Teach Us to Pray

She Prays Edition

The events of January 6, 2021, in Washington D.C. were crushing. I spent most of the day celebrating Jolee, my birthday girl, unaware of the events. When the news came of angry citizens trampling the Capital, including the deaths, injuries, and disorder that ensued, I found myself experiencing several different emotions. Regardless of where you stand on the political aisle, yesterday should have been a sorrowful blow to democracy and a disfiguring smack in the face to a wrongful interpretation of Christlikeness.

Our troubles times seem unprecedented, but they are not. No one has stormed the Capital Building successfully before, but hostilities that have ushered people toward destruction are not new. Charles Spurgeon preached during the time of the American Civil War as well as the Crimean War between his own country and France against Russia. While hearts are heavy and tensions high here and now because of the Corona Virus, London and the surrounding areas experienced Cholera outbreaks, losing thousands. In fact, over 600 people were lost in the first two years of his ministry in one location.

Much political and theological unrest was present, as Darwin published his Origin of the Species in the midst of these years. The times were just as tumultuous then as they are today. What did they do in the midst of the chaos? How did the Church prevail? What did they do to ensure lives continue to be transformed by the Gospel rather than shut the doors and go home?

How did Spurgeon and the people of his day respond? They lived out their faith in the days and times in which God placed them. Believing God, they pushed through the political uncertainty, disease, and persecution to trust in the only One who is certain. They did so through the power of prayer.

In moments like today, in the aftermath of such catastrophic losses, while our hearts ache for our country, even in the midst of the pain we may be feeling as a result of Corona, we can follow this example from Spurgeon, himself.

Today, if you are not sure how to respond, or what you should pray, the Holy Spirit is present to help you. Ask Him for help, just as Spurgeon does here. The Holy Spirit will teach us how to pray. Then pray as He leads. Feel free to pray this prayer or use it as your guide. But pray.

Holy Spirit, teach us how to pray. Let us know what we should pray for as we ought. Our first prayer is, Be Thou adored. Reign Thou over the whole earth. Hallowed be Thy name. We desire to see all men submit themselves to Thy gracious government. We wish especially that in the hearts of Thine own there may be an intense love for Thee and a perfect obedience to Thee. Grant this to each one of us. We would each one pray, “Lord, sanctify me. Make me obedient. Write Thy law upon my heart and upon my mind.” Make our nature so clean that temptation cannot defile it.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” May our course be very clean, our path be very straight. May we keep our garments unspotted from the world and in thought and desire and imagination, in will and in purpose, may we be holy as God is holy.

Charles Spurgeon

Add your own prayer in the comments if you like. You never know how you might be an encouragement to someone else along the way.

May God be responsive to our prayers,

For His Glory,

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