We invite you and faithful Christians across the state to join us in prayer for our state and nation. Understanding that the problems and challenges that we face as a culture are not political in nature, but primarily spiritual. As such, fervent prayer and fasting is the best way to engage in this spiritual warfare.

As the 40 Days for Life fall campaign is now underway, Christians everywhere can (and should) dedicate time to pray for the protection of human life. This year’s campaign comes as we see a surge of visitors seeking an abortion, most traveling from neighboring states. According to the Illinois Department of Health, there were more than 50,000 abortions performed in Illinois in 2021, with some 11,000 of those for out-of-state residents. We have reasons to believe that these numbers will more than double now that 14 other states have banned abortion and several others imposed greater restrictions in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

We also must pray for the institution of marriage as God defined it; the protection of our children from corrupting influences and addictions; the preservation of religious liberty and the influence of local churches in our country. Serious threats to each of these have raised unprecedented challenges for us and the nation. When confronted with challenges, our Lord calls us to sacrifice and pray.

As Christians, we are called to do all things “heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,” as we seek His will and His Kingdom. We need to strengthen our spiritual muscles by spending time in God’s Word and in prayer. Set aside time each day, perhaps early in the morning, before your busy day begins.

To say we have much to pray about is an understatement. But none of it has taken God by surprise. None of it! He sees and knows all things. And He has given us a promise that should greatly encourage us to spend more time with Him in prayer:

…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

As we seek Him and ask for forgiveness, we can ask for His mercy on our land – His mercy which is new every day. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

It makes sense that if our land is in turmoil, based on 2 Chronicles 7:14, God’s people are responsible. If our land could be healed as a result of Christians repenting and praying, then it is obvious that those who proclaim Christ have failed to do so.

Our land is immersed in chaos and corruption. We see how it has spiraled down to a point where government is increasingly being “weaponized” to target and silence political opponents and critics. It is truly shocking. This is a reflection of the character of the men and women serving in Springfield and Washington D.C. over the past several decades. Pray for your elected officials (1 Timothy 2:1-2) – that they would come to know Jesus Christ and His Word.

If God is able to open eyes (Acts 26:18) and turn even king’s hearts (Proverbs 21:1), which He is, we must pray to that end.

It would be wise to acknowledge that as a state and nation we have failed to honor God and have instead turned away in rebellion. As a state, we are guilty of shedding innocent blood through abortion. We have turned to idols and rejected God’s commands in so many ways. Yet it is right and good to plead for His mercy and forgiveness.

Here are some additional prayers to lift up before our Holy God over the next several weeks.

Please Pray:

• Violence and lawlessness are seemingly out-of-control in our cities and suburbs. It is apparent that the love of God has grown cold in our culture (Mat. 24:12) and therefore, it is not surprising to see that there is no love of fellow man. Pray that God’s truth and His peace would supersede the anger and brutality of man as people turn back to God and repent for their wicked ways.

• As we learn about corrupt politicians, lawmakers, judges, business people that selfishly seek their own gain at the expense of others, some even plotting against the lives of the innocent, we pray for justice. Ask the Lord to expose malfeasance, nepotism, fraud, graft, exhortation and every crime committed by those who claim to be a “public servant.”

• Pray that ungodly officials be removed from office and let another more righteous person take their place. Let their authority be stripped from them according to Isaiah 22:20-22.

• That God will open the eyes of policy-makers and candidates for office to the sanctity of life. Pray that they will become defenders of innocent human life and not enablers of sexual immorality and death.

• Pray that Planned Parenthood and other groups who make a profit through human suffering and immoral activities wither and dry up immediately.

• That the judicial system will uphold First Amendment rights of sidewalk counselors and Pregnancy Resource Centers as they challenge SB 1909, the new law to punish pro-life advocacy. Praise God that it is being challenged in federal court by the Thomas More Society. Pray for the attorneys working on this vitally important case.

• Pray for the Church to walk in God’s love and experience God’s love in a way that gives Him the glory. (John 13:35) Pray for unity within the body. Pray that disaccord, disunity, offense, and rejection would have no place in the church.

• Pray for local political leaders to come to the knowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. And if they do know the Lord that their relationship with Him would grow and prosper.

• Pray that local officials would seek Godly wisdom and that laws would NOT be passed that go against God’s Word. Pray that God would surround public servants with people that know the Lord and would be a mouthpiece for Him.

• Pray for protection against any scheme of man or the enemy that would cause our local officials to make wrong decisions; both governmental and personally.

• Pray that in the 2024 election season, pro-life candidates will have the time, energy, and funding needed to saturate their districts with their pro-life campaign messages and materials.

• Pray that efforts to indoctrinate children in government schools–especially the new law that mandates teaching about homosexuality and the “trans” ideology positively in government schools–will fail and that local school boards will reject this agenda for their students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

• Pray that parents/grandparents and church leaders would rescue impressionable young children from government schools and then prioritize the discipleship of these children in the Christian faith.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
~ Isaiah 26:3

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to which also you were called in one body;
and be thankful.
~ Colossians 3:15