A Prayer For Media

This is the National Day of Prayer. I was honored by being asked to offer a prayer for media as a representative of the media at a small prayer breakfast gathering in Johnson City this morning. I offer it to you as simply one of many prayers that ought to be offered today and everyday. The media is unquestionably one of the most powerful and influential forces in our world today. We must cover it in prayer.

Heavenly Father, today we bow our heads and we acknowledge you as the Sovereign God of the Universe. Your reign is supreme, over all of the establishments of man. It is under Your authority, God, that the institutions which make up the media have come into existence. Radio, television, motion pictures, Internet and all print media formulate one of the most powerful and influential forces in our culture today. In and of themselves, we understand that these can be great tools that, in the right hands, can bring life and prosperity, but in the wrong hands, can bring death and adversity.

Father, we pray for the leaders in each of these mediums. May they understand that with great privilege comes great responsibility. Proverbs reminds us, Father, that, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18) We pray that they would seek Your face and Your will and that what they sow would bear good fruit.

We pray, Father, for the actor, the director, the writer, the on-air personality, that we would be people of integrity, understanding that we are not to “let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29).

Father, we pray that You would raise up people of faith who would seek to do Your will and who would be motivated to take the reins of these mediums and utilize their great power and influence to accomplish Your special purposes in this world.

Finally, Father, we thank You that in Your love and grace You grant us the freedom of choice. We pray that You would give us all discernment enough to know truth, your Truth, Father. That we would recognize and turn away from that which would lead us to confusion and fear. Help us to find and give credence to that which leads us to the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is in His powerful name that we pray, that name that is above every name, to whom even the media must answer, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.