A Prayer for the Nation of Scotland
On the day that over 1500 years of Christian teaching and practice on marriage was overturned – 16th December 2014
Our Father in Heaven,
The God of all grace and comfort,
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Our Creator, Sustainer and Provider.
You are the God of Truth, Holiness and Love.
You have blessed this small land of Scotland with many visitations of your Spirit.
You made us the land of the people of the book.
You have used us to help bring your kingdom throughout the world.
And yet today we confess that we have turned our backs on you.
We despise your Word
Our leaders, media and educators mock your laws.
We have turned the grace of our Lord Jesus into a licence for sin.
Since we have not thought it worthwhile to retain our knowledge of you,
You have given us over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done
We have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.
We not only continue to do what is wrong but we approve of those who do wrong.
Today O Lord we have turned our back on your gift of holy marriage
We think we know better than you.
We rejoice in our stupidity
Thinking they are wise, our leaders have become fools,
Exchanging the glory of God for images in their own making.
We have sown the wind. We will reap the whirlwind.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon your church.
When we should have spoken we have been silent.
When we did speak we offered our own words, not yours.
When we have spoken your words we have not demonstrated them in our actions.
Our hearts are cold, our lips sealed, our minds dulled.
We are disunited, confused, self-seeking.
Forgive our sins, hypocrisy and indifference.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
We plead with you O Lord, that you would revive, renew and restore your church
That we would be conscious of your presence, thankful for your goodness and filled with your Holy Spirit.
May the love of your Son fill our hearts, renew our minds and motivate our lives.
Grant us vision, boldness and love.
O Lord we pray for this nation of Scotland.
We cannot bear the thought that our nation would perish.
We know that righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people.
Lord grant us righteousness,
that the people of Scotland may be blessed,
that we may be as great a blessing to the peoples of your world in the future as we have been in the past.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
May your kingdom come and your will be done.
O Lord, renew and use Scotland for your glory,
Give us Scotland or we die.
In the Name, and for the sake of, our Lord Jesus Christ
King of kings and Lord of lords.
Amen