O Lord, be gracious to us.
We humbly seek forgiveness for our transgressions, encompassing the failings of our nation, the shortcomings of our people, and the sins of our fathers and leaders, both in government and in the church, and also in school, the workplace, the corporate world, communities, barangays, and families.
Wickedness darkened our nation due to political upheaval. But evil starts in the heart, in the home, in the hearts of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters. Dysfunctional parents are destroying homes. Due to domestic violence, hearts are embittered, arrogant tongues are sharpened with invectives and curses, and morals dissipate. With smartphones, pornography, and immorality ensnare the young and the old, many are hooked. In social media, fake news and lies posted there are like foxes that spoil the vine.
Appallingly, the politically motivated ministers and pastors are joining the fray, stirring political bitterness instead of peace. Are they now serving as allies and fighters of their political hero?
Merciful Lord, may You draw them to Yourself. Turn their hearts to You. Pull them out of the political mire and remove their political garments. Make them wear their priestly garments and offer praise to You.
Are we not like the people of Samaria where Jonah was sent by God to prophesy and warn them of an impending calamity? The people repented and were spared. You forgave their sins. Jonah 1-4
Please, Lord, will You not spare our nation, too, from Your wrath, because our nation is like Samaria whose people cannot tell their right hand from their left?
Instead of the voices of mudslingers posting in social media and of influencers spreading misinformation and fake news, stirring this nation to overthrow the government, let the voices of your anointed ones stir fear of God among our people as far as the north is from the south and the east from the west.
Because of Your wrath, calamity may come to devastate our land, shaking our wits, realigning our minds from politics to Your Divine Presence in Your majestic splendor.
Because fear of God will encompass our nation, wisdom will liberate us from political foolishness and from idolizing political personalities. Righteousness and justice will spring forth in the land of the living, our land whose God is the Lord.
In wrath, remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:2-19
2 I have heard all about You, LORD.
I am filled with awe by Your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as You did in years gone by.
And in Your anger,
remember Your mercy.
3 I see God moving across the deserts from Edom,
the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens,
and the earth is filled with his praise.
4 His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.
Rays of light flash from His Hands,
where His awesome power is hidden.
5 Pestilence marches before Him;
plague follows close behind.
6 When He stops, the earth shakes.
When He looks, the nations tremble.
He shatters the everlasting mountains
and levels the eternal hills.
He is the Eternal One!
7 I see the people of Cushan in distress,
and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
8 Was it in anger, LORD, that You struck the rivers
and parted the sea?
Were You displeased with them?
No, You were sending your chariots of salvation!
9 You brandished Your bow
and Your quiver of arrows.
You split open the earth with flowing rivers.
10 The mountains watched and trembled.
Onward swept the raging waters.
The mighty deep cried out,
lifting its hands in submission.
11 The sun and moon stood still in the sky
as Your brilliant arrows flew
and Your glittering spear flashed.
12 You marched across the land in anger
and trampled the nations in Your fury.
13 You went out to rescue Your chosen people,
to save Your anointed ones.
You crushed the heads of the wicked
and stripped their bones from head to toe.
14 With His own weapons,
You destroyed the chief of those
who rushed out like a whirlwind,
thinking Israel would be easy prey.
15 You trampled the sea with Your horses,
and the mighty waters piled high.
16 I trembled inside when I heard this;
my lips quivered with fear.
My legs gave way beneath me,
and I shook in terror.
I will wait quietly for the coming day
when disaster will strike the people who invade us.
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.
———————————leo.e.m.calderon.21mar25
First Prayer Series . Second Prayer Series.