Prayer for the Nations begins with US

Psalm 67 is the cry of one of God's people for the nations to know God's ways and His salvation and ultimately to become His worshipers. But this prayer for the nations does not begin as you'd expect. It does not begin with, "Lord, save them!" It begins rather with, "Lord, bless us" v.1.

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us"

This may have the familiar ring of selfishness to it...but wait! In v.2 the purpose of receiving this gracious blessing of God is seen,

"That your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations."

The two purposes for which God's blessings are asked:

1. That GOD's ways and salvation may be known. God bless us so that the nations may see what kind of God you are. You are a God, you are THE God whose ways are gracious and righteous. You are THE God who keeps covenant with His people.

2. That seeing God's ways and saving power, the nations may be become WORSHIPERS of the one true God. The narcissistic rulers of this age and the gods made in fallen man's image are all revealed for the manipulative death mongers they are when held up to the God of saving grace.

"Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!" v.3

But note...the revealing of God's ways and salvation so that the nations become His worshipers happens because of God's blessing to His people. Therefore, we should pray with all our might for God to bless us so that He will be revealed to the nations.

What kinds of blessing from God should we pray for? Here are 4 suggestions:

1. God bless us that we might be HOLY. Godliness in God's people shines like light in this dark world. Careful and joyful obedience to God's Word makes us light and salt in this dark, rotting place. Will you pray for God to make you a holy, obedient disciple for the sake of His reputation and the salvation of the nations?

2. God bless us with the resources and heart for MISSIONS. Beginning in our Jerusalem and going to the uttermost parts of the earth...that is God's heart and His mission. Will it be ours? Will you pray that God might use you to cross barriers of culture and language and economics to tell and demonstrate His ways and gospel?

3. God bless us with the willingness to embrace the WORLD THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO US. The people of the uttermost parts are immigrating at amazing rates. They are near you and near me. Why are they coming? To make a better living? To escape tyrants? To raise children in freedom? To get an education? Yes...but more than any of these things they are here for people like us to love and share the good news. Will you pray that God might hook you up with someone from another nation living in your area for His glory and their salvation?

4. God bless us to clearly understand the gospel and to winsomely share it with others. Too many professing believers do not know the gospel that Jesus and the apostles preached. They have only heard watered down easy believism that produces professors but not possessors. Will you pray that God would help you to learn the biblical gospel this year and how to share it wisely and winsomely with others?

These prayers for blessing WILL BE ANSWERED, for they are God's will for each of us. So...pray for God to bless you!! Do it daily. Persist in it. But remember that His glory and the nation's salvation and worship is the blessing's purpose.