Photo: Sang yun Lee

The Bible is pretty clear on this privilege and responsibility. Battles are won in the invisible and the visible.

‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land’ (2 Chronicles 7:14).

‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:1-4).

So we’re calling all believers, in London especially, to come together for a time of unified prayer on Thursday 19th March in Parliament Square. I will be reading from Those Who Show Up from 4-6pm, and then we will be praying together from 6-7pm.

Click here for the event details and here for details of the book (including the Foreword by Archbishop Justin Welby).

One of the prayers from the book that we will be using is called ‘God of all Government’: 

God of all government,
Send workers into the harvest field of political life.
Call your people. Not simply those who pay you lip service,
But those who hear your voice and know your name,

Those who will not serve two masters,
Those who will choose kingdom over tribe,
Those who are not ashamed of the gospel,
Those who will speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 

Those who will seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow,
Those who will seek to reconcile more than separate,
Those who will seek to co-operate more than compete,
Those who will seek peace more than power.

Those who will choose your glory over self-promotion,
Those who will choose truth over expediency,

Those who will listen to the still, small voice more than the megaphone of the media,
Those who will care for the least of these, rather than genuflect to the greatest.

Those who find their identity and security in divine election more than election by man,

Those whose citizenship is in heaven, and whose primary allegiance is to another King,

Those who cannot help but speak of the reason for the hope that they have,
Those who know your grace for their failings. 

Call out an army that will march on its knees in humility
To fight not just with the weapons of this world
But the invisible ammunition of your kingdom.
 
Amen