Praying at 2 am.

It's after 2 in the morning. What am I doing up so late? Actually, I went to bed at 11 but woke up early.  God has been putting something on my heart.  It's a question asked by Henry Blackaby in his series, "The Prayer Life of Jesus": "If the destruction of America could be held back according to your prayer life, would it stay the hand of God?"  Would it?  I don't know.  Yes, I try to pray effectively every day.  I pray for my family and my church families.  I pray for special intentions, for those that are sick or having surgery, or waiting for transplants.  I pray for the lost: unsaved loved ones, the lost sons and daughters of friends, and the family of a pilot lost at sea.  I pray for those who need jobs.  I pray for the dark places of this world: for God to send missionaries to Eritrea, to the 4000 Wa people on the border of Myanmar, and for Reunion Island, for spiritual darkness to be overcome by God's light.  I pray for the marriages I know are not strong or ones that are struggling.  I pray for the health and expansion of churches, for mission leaders, for specific missionaries.  I pray for expectant friends, that their unborn babies will grow healthy and strong.  I pray for peace in various places in the world: Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Kenya.  I thank God for the prayers He has answered.  All this is perhaps notable, but would it stay the hand of God if He were about to destroy America for her sinfulness?  I doubt it.

God has convinced me I need to be specifically praying for my country, asking for God to forgive her, praying that the people of America will 'humble themselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways' (2 Chronicles 7:14).  I need to pray earnestly for America and her leaders to turn to God.  I am sure that America is on a downhill spiral, turning her back on God.  How long before God grows tired of the insults?  Why does He wake me at 2am to pray for my country?  I'm awake, Lord.  I'm listening.  I'm praying.