After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Rev. 7:9-10
Dear heavenly Father, our country honored a “national day of prayer”—a tradition which should be celebrated every day, because there’s so much to bring before you. My list includes thankfulness for heavenly citizenship. Thank you for making me a citizen of the realm from which I eagerly await the return of the true King, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s already reigning, and one day he will return to transform all things—including transforming my body to be like his glorious body (Phil. 3:20-21). What comfort and what joy that good news brings!
Secondly, as broken as our country is, I’m very thankful to be an American citizen. I praise you for the many freedoms we still enjoy and the multiplied privileges that go with being a citizen of this great nation. I bring our sitting president before the occupied throne of heaven, and I ask you to be at work in his heart and through his hands.
As with all “kings,” you set them up and you sit them down at your discretion, so I trust you for the accomplishment of your sovereign purposes through our president, in keeping with the eternal wisdom of your heart. I don’t look for a lasting city in our country but for the City whose builder and maker is God—that would be you!
Lastly, the more I understand the gospel, the more I find it easy to pray in light of the apostle John’s vision of the “every nation” day of prayer. Oh, for the Day when men and women from every nation, tribe, people, and language will be wearing the white robes of grace-secured salvation while waving palm branches of praise and shouting in perfect harmony, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:10).
Because that Day is coming, free me to be a better citizen of two countries until the kingdom of God arrives in fullness and King of Glory arrives in splendor. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ sovereign and saving name.
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