prayer

We Need to Pray

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I read yesterday that one prominent newspaper which had publicly stated earlier they would not endorse either presidential candidate printed a scathing opinion piece about one of them. It was not an official endorsement of the other candidate, but it could have been. The piece left no doubt of their vile hatred for this particular candidate, because they named names and referenced incidents specific to this person. So. Was it an implied endorsement that they hoped no one would catch? Because they obviously said the quiet part out loud. They were warning voters against one candidate but didn’t go so far as to suggest voting for the other one. You can decide for yourself if that’s an endorsement or not.

Both candidates publicly insult each other. They stoop to the lowest of lows with their accusations and spin.  One speaks in what’s now referred to as word salads, while the other one slings insults out faster than he can toss fries. Shouldn’t this be a sign that we should pray for their dignity?  Because what is said in public is magnified in private. 

One candidate has an unusual first name, which can be pronounced a couple different ways. She has gone on record at different times in her life using each pronunciation, yet now people are publicly called out for using the wrong pronunciation. The other candidate verbally bullies people in public and seems proud to do so. I could list many other faults and offenses of each of them. But like it or not, one of them will be placed in the Oval Office to lead this once great but now faltering nation. Shouldn’t we faithful followers of Christ be on our knees begging God to convict them of their unconfessed sins? Shouldn’t we be praying that they appoint godly people as their advisors and advocates? Shouldn’t we pray for their safety? Shouldn’t we pray that the dangerous rhetoric stops before situations turn violent?

Do we intentionally use offensive names and words when we discuss the candidates? Would we say those same words about these individuals if Jesus Christ was standing next to us? Perhaps if we prayed for our candidates by name with conviction and the love of God, we might speak truth about them with a gentle and humble attitude. 

Not only should we pray for them, but we should speak about them respectfully. We don’t have to agree with them, but our government heads are in those exact positions because God has ordained their days. Even though they may speak and act against biblical principles, God has allowed them this moment in history. We must pray for their salvation. We believers must rally together and intercede for them, because who else can and will do so? They need God’s help, and we who call ourselves Christ followers must pray for our elected officials.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Many have voted early, so the vote has been cast. For those who are waiting until election day, there are still two days before you punch the ticket. Yours will be one of the million deciding votes. But just to state the obvious. Every vote is a deciding vote.

Do we really want our elected leaders to be men and women who love and serve God? Do we want a strong moral and ethical leader of the free world? We need to pray that people of the highest caliber and most noble character throw their hat in the ring when the next election cycle begins. We need to pray that God nudges godly people to run for office. We can’t leave our nation’s sovereignty in the hands of godless fools or our nation won’t stand.

When I reference ungodly people, I speak of those who haven’t acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. I’m not saying they’re horrible people.  They’re capital G Godless people. We all serve a god of some sort. It may not be Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.  But we serve someone or something. We bow to another authority whether we acknowledge it or not. Just as Joshua commanded the people of Israel, we too must choose today who we will serve.

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord , then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:14-15

Word has it that millions of believers won’t even vote. Perhaps they think they should vote only for someone who has openly confessed to being a born again Christian. Or perhaps they will only vote for someone they agree with on every issue. But do we hold everyone else we do business with to the same standard? If we did, we might just be sitting alone running the world by our unqualified selves. Wouldn’t that be a dreadful sight? Here is our choice this year. An unremarkable woman or a self-absorbed man.

Some say this is the most important election in the world. It’s make or break time. Do or die time. And we must get it right. But just know this. God already knows the final tally of the votes. He knows who will move into the White House. He who created the world allows good and evil to happen. He allows good and evil leaders to be inaugurated. We must trust him.

God is sovereign over the entire universe. He is still and always in control, and he allows evil to take place. We are a fallen people, and just as those before us made poor decisions and walked away from God, so has our nation. We are reaping the consequences. Be mindful of that. But also know that it isn’t too late to turn this country back to God. Oh. It would be a massive undertaking. But it isn’t an impossibility. God is a God of miracles. If we as a nation would humble ourselves and pray, he will hear our prayers. That’s why we must pray. Even for those we disagree with and don’t like. They too are made in the image of God. And they too will someday stand in judgment before him. We know the effects of others praying for us in our time of need. Let’s humble ourselves and do the same for candidates we stand for and against. 

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Years ago there was a person in my life who rubbed me the wrong way. I just didn’t like them. We had different personalities. And different life stories. Different approaches to just about everything. And when I would see them, I would breathe an internal sigh of disgust. No. I’m not proud of myself. 

And then one day I realized I should pray for that person. They had become a Christian, but they carried a load of baggage that needed to be set aside. As we all do. So I began praying. And guess what happened. That person didn’t necessarily change, but my attitude toward them began to soften. Where once I was annoyed to be in their presence, I now had a softening of my spirit toward them. It didn’t change the fact that we still had many unresolved issues. And we never became best friends. But I now saw them as I am. A sinner saved by God’s grace in need of discipleship and love and correction.

Let’s learn the same lesson as we compare our own failings to those of our presidential candidates. We’re no better than them.  Our ugly words and demeaning actions are not in the public arena as theirs are. But we  are always on display in front of God. 

Shall we pray.

Where Do You Get Your Confidence

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria had threatened the nation of Judah. His plan was to attack and capture the city, much as he had done to many other neighboring enemies. His tactics for conquering the city were intimidation and threats. He knew that the other nations who had surrendered to defeat did not have gods that would work for them and against him. He knew their gods had no power. But he had heard of the great God of Judah. He had heard the stories of triumph and success that came with this mighty nation he now wanted as his own. So he had to use intimidation to make the people cower to his words of coercion.

Sennacherib had come for the country of Judah. He attacked and conquered their fortified cities. And, of course, King Hezekiah was very concerned. He had tried to align himself with the Assyrian king giving him all the Temple gold and silver. He thought it a better decision to pay off this evil king and become his subject rather than trusting in God. But Sennacherib wanted more. He wasn’t satisfied with just silver and gold. This payment only emboldened Sennacherib against Judah.

Sennacherib asked Hezekiah what he was trusting in that made him so confident. And honestly. Hezekiah was trusting in an alliance with Egypt rather than trusting in God. He got caught up in man’s assurances rather than God’s, and it could have cost him everything if he hadn’t set himself back on the path of following God’s leading.

Sennacherib threatened the people and tried to bribe them into following him. He belittled them. He tried to plant doubt in the people’s minds about their king and revolt against him. He reminded them of all the victories the great army of Assyria had accomplished in defeating the surrounding nations. And he reminded them that the gods of those nations couldn’t save their people. So how could the God of Judah stand a chance?

The king of Assyria knew that Hezekiah, the king of Judah, had destroyed all the shrines and altars to false gods. He insinuated that Hezekiah’s act of removing shrines so the people could only worship in Jerusalem was the wrong thing to do. He pitted the false gods of Assyria against the One True God of Judah. The one good thing that Hezekiah had done was remove the altars to idols. And he took advantage of Sennacherib’s false insinuations, because Sennacherib tried to use his lies against God and Hezekiah. He insulted God. He told the people of Judah that the God of Hezekiah would not be able to stand against him, just as the gods of all the other countries he captured couldn’t. He was bold in his assertions and assumptions of victory because he didn’t know the strength and power of the God of Hezekiah.

Oh sure. The king of Assyria intentionally put fear in the hearts of the people. He told them that Hezekiah would try to deceive them, all the while saying deceptive words himself. He knew if he could get them to cower before him that he would have subjects who would serve him. He and his men threw insult after insult upon Hezekiah to make the people of Judah wary of anything Hezekiah told them. He planted doubt in their minds. He wanted to terrorize the people so the act of capturing the city would be much easier than facing a slew of strong courageous fighters. He wanted weaklings who could be controlled.

Sure. The people were discouraged and shaken to the bone. They knew Sennacherib and his men had a history of torturing and abusing their captives. They knew he meant every word he said, even though his words were lies. When a tyrant or dictator gains power, he is never willing to relinquish it. He will do whatever it takes to maintain control over his subjects. And Hezekiah and his people had heard the stories of the horrible mistreatment of Sennacherib’s political enemies.

When Hezekiah’s men returned to the palace to present this awful message to the king, the king of Judah knew they were in big trouble. Changes had to be made. And the first change he made was a change of heart about God. He knew the God who could calm a raging storm could also part the seas. He knew God was a God of miracles, and that’s exactly what they needed. He sent one of his men to the prophet Isaiah to hear a word from God.

And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord : “O Lord , God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord , and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord , and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God. “It is true, Lord , that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord , are God.” 2 Kings 19:15-19

Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave Hezekiah a promising message of assurance that Assyria would not enter their city. God would defend and protect his people. The city was spared from the Assyrians.

You can read the full story at 2 Kings 18-19.

What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? 2 Kings 18:19

We have much to learn from the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Two strong kings, both following different paths of leadership, clash in their beliefs and leadership styles. One is on a path of obeying God and the other is headed down the path of destruction and futility. One might wonder which leader will triumph, but the real hero of the story is God. The sovereign, omniscient God of the universe who sets the course of all men, knew exactly how to handle this rogue, manipulative king of Assyria.

God knew Hezekiah could have chosen the alliance with Egypt, which wouldn’t have honored God. But Hezekiah saw the writing on the wall, and he turned his confidence over to God’s power to fight his battles.

Satan will often attack us just as Sennacherib’s words attacked Hezekiah when he asked what he was trusting in. If our complete trust isn’t in God, what are we trusting in?

We must be prepared to be criticized, because our behavior is determined by facts which the princes of this world know not. (Meyer)

God is an ever-present help in times of trouble. We don’t need to feel discouraged or anxious because his will is perfect. He has ordained every step of our days, and he will guide us through each heartbreak, uncertainty, and dark day that we face. Each of our anxious thoughts are covered by him. We are not alone. We are never alone with God as our guide. That knowledge gives us the courage to get out of bed each morning and face the day with full confidence that we are surrounded by God’s army.

Just as Hezekiah prayed a mighty prayer of faith, we too have that same pipeline to God. We must know that every prayer of our heart goes straight to God’s ears. He hears our cries for help and repentance. The call to humbly present our requests to God is great because of his sovereignty. God deserves our respect and worship. He leaves nothing to chance. He is ready and able to do the impossible if we ask. As the nation of Judah placed their total dependence on God, so too must we.

We Are Not All Right

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

He is the mayor of a large liberal city. During his campaign, he said he wanted to improve public safety, but his city is overrun with crime. He said he wanted to build a stronger, healthier city, and now the place is being swarmed with illegal immigrants brought in from the border. He said he wanted to reduce inequality, yet he now says the asylum seeker crisis will destroy his city. After the Hamas attack on Israel, he says enough is enough. He condemns the antisemitism that is being spread by this terrorist group, and he stands strong with Israel.

He has said that we are not all right. And he’s right. We are not all right in this world. The world seems to be collapsing in on itself with no plan for course correction. Oh. We can’t move back the hands of time to a kinder, gentler day. We just can’t. Time continues to move forward even during days of unnecessary evil. It’s just the way life goes. One second becomes two and so on. The peace we once had is gone. The safety we once felt is gone. The time to be complacent is long gone. The courage we never knew we needed is now badly needed.

We can’t return to the good ole’ days, because today is all we have. Tomorrow is not a guarantee, and yesterday is spent. We’re told we need safe spaces where we won’t feel threatened. But what exactly is a safe space, and who is it safe for and safe from what?

In the New Testament, Paul warned his traveling companion, Timothy, that times will be difficult in the last days. And they thought they were living in the last days. Oh. If only they could see us now.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

We’re told that in the last days, there will be wars and rumors of wars. Nations will go to war. There will be famine and earthquakes. There will be persecution of believers. There will be false teachers and false prophets.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

There were courageous believers in the Bible who lived through harrowing times. They were persecuted. Their faith was challenged. Their lives were threatened. Things were not all right in their world. Yet they held firm to the conviction that they would serve God regardless of the cost. Two people I think of time and again are Daniel and Esther. Their faithfulness to obeying God’s leading and standing strong in their faith during challenging cultural times is a reminder that my faith doesn’t have to waver in today’s cultural crisis. I too can live in obedience to God’s commands without defiling my relationship with him, even when culture today is pushing in direct opposition to biblical truths.

Daniel lived over sixty years in a foreign land. Taken as an exile as a teenager to Babylon, he never returned home to Israel. His name was forcibly changed to represent a false god. He was indoctrinated with mystical and ungodly teachings. He worked for an employer hostile to his faith during his entire career. He achieved honors and promotions in his career all the while serving kings who disregarded God as the One True God. Yet every time he was pushed to defile his faith in God, he refused. He stood strong in his convictions, regardless of the cost. He never lost faith. He was faithful throughout his life, enduring much loss. And he was highly respected by the kings he worked with throughout his adult life. God honored Daniel’s faithfulness, yet Daniel never lived as a free man.

Esther was a young Jewish woman born into exile in the Persian city of Susa. When the Persian king, Ahasuerus, banished Queen Vashti for refusing to entertain his guests, he began the hunt for her replacement. In a sweep of all the young virgin women, Esther was placed in his court. Each candidate was to spend one night with the king. The one he favored would become queen. Esther, giving up all her hopes and dreams for the future, was forced into a life not of her choosing. Yet God saw her and placed her in the king’s court where she was crowned queen. She found favor in the king’s eyes, and yet the King of Kings favored her and heard her prayers. Her people were not all right. Their lives were being threatened, but through a series of events Queen Esther was able to save her Jewish people from annihilation.

As a nation, we are not all right. We have open borders where young military age men are streaming into this country unchecked and unvetted. We have elderly leaders in top political positions who are unfit for office. We have a presidential candidate, a former head of state, who could end up in prison. Our country is funding a war that is none of our business. Corruption runs deep in the deep state, but it’s a risky business to bring it to an end. Something is very wrong.

We’ve replaced God in schools with extreme ideologies that corrupt young minds. We now push equity over equality. We allow unqualified candidates to edge out the more qualified ones for jobs, and then we are confused when the work suffers. Something is very wrong.

We’re forced to consider everyone’s selected pronouns. We scream in protest when women’s feminine products are removed from men’s restrooms. We applaud when men win women’s sports events and beauty contests. We name a biological man as woman of the year. We’re extremely concerned about the atrocities being exacted upon innocent lives in Israel and Palestine. We hear of babies being beheaded in the Middle East, all the while smiling on the beheading and dismembering of innocent unborn babies in this country. We are not all right.

Our country is focused on issues that have turned our culture into an unrecognizable mess. We’ve been heading down a dark abyss for decades, and we’ve lost our way. Our country is in chaos, and it doesn’t have to be this way. The powers that be have a plan in place to destabilize the country and keep us in a constant state of chaos. We are not all right.

We are not all right. That is definitely true. Is it too late to turn this nation back to God? Can we find our way back? That is the question we are facing. Can this country be turned around to afford more people time to answer the call to surrender their lives and their wills to Jesus Christ? Because that is our only hope. But it’s not just about this great nation we live in. Our country is not the entire world, and evil abounds in every nook and cranny of the globe. Evil and corruption are found in the elite board rooms all the way down to the dirt floor hovels all over the world.

It appears that we’re moving closer and closer to the time Jesus Christ will meet his followers in the sky and take them to heaven with him. But until that time comes, Satan will continue to expand his reach into every area of life. God is allowing Satan to exert more and more power in the world. Our hope is to pray for God to extend his mercy to us and delay his judgment on many unsuspecting souls. It’s time to pray without ceasing, because the day is coming when Satan will have full control for a short time. Then Jesus will soundly defeat him in record time.

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

No. We are not all right. But God can make all things right in our hearts if we bow before him and confess him as Lord and Savior of our lives. Then, regardless of our circumstances, everything is all right.

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5

Never Stop Praying

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I think of the prayer requests that I’ve received recently. And I’m reminded of how fragile life really is. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow.

There’s the one who lost his father from a tragic fall. There’s the child who’s having surgery. I think of the one who’s been unfairly accused and faces an uncertain future. Then there’s the one who has health issues that seem never ending. The one who recently started chemo. And another who’s finishing chemo and preparing for the next steps. 

I think of the one who was in a car accident. And the family whose loved one is in hospice care. I think of the sister whose faith has taken a turn toward recklessness. The son who is fighting depression. And the daughter who is still struggling with health problems months after her accident. I remember the one who received a daunting mental health diagnosis. And the one who hasn’t yet received a diagnosis. And there’s the one who is struggling with health issues and is searching far and wide for relief.

Another one feels they must lie in order to avoid combative conversations. I think of the one who apologized for possibly offending another. I recall the one who has a bad attitude about their work situation. They all need to pray, and they need others to pray for them.

Her loved one is dying. He doesn’t have long to live. His days are numbered. She isn’t sure how to talk to him. She isn’t sure what to do. I said all we can do is pray. It sounded so helpless. But wait. Prayer isn’t helpless. Prayer is the act of turning over our troubles and concerns and struggles and needs to an Almighty, All Powerful God. It isn’t an act of weakness. Prayer is one of the most powerful acts a believer can do.

Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I wonder why we use prayer as a last resort, instead of as our first line of defense. Or offense. God is always available. He is ready and willing to hear our prayers. Prayer is power.

Have the habit of prayer, turning your thoughts into acts by connecting them with the idea of the redeeming God.

(Coleridge, Notes on the Book of Common Prayer)

Prayer. The act of talking with God. Sharing our concerns and needs and gratitude and praise. It’s a time to bare our souls and just lay out all our fears and desires. But we can’t forget to offer thankfulness. God is so good to us. He has blessed us beyond measure. He knows everything we will do and what we won’t do. He knows everything we need and everything we want. God can do more than we ask or imagine. We must remember to thank God for everything.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

There’s the sinner’s prayer asking for forgiveness. There’s the prayer of thanksgiving. God hears our every prayer. He answers our prayers in the way he sees fit. For that, we should be thankful. 

We should pray seeking wisdom as we make decisions. And for speaking words of truth. We must pray for discernment. And whether we like it or not, we should pray for our political leaders and for those in authority. We need to pray for those who are against us, not just for those who are for us. We must pray for others, and not just for ourselves.

We must pray. Because when we pray, we draw closer to God. We don’t pray to change God. Prayer actually changes us, even when we are praying for others. Prayer moves God to work in our lives. We can and must pray boldly, and God will hear us. We must not be afraid to pray for anything and all things.

And when those prayers aren’t answered in the way we want or expect, we must still cry out to God. We must still bring our requests to him knowing that he always hears us. God’s will is always accomplished. We must ask ourselves. Are we praying for God’s will or our own? Regardless of the answer or lack of, we must pray. Regardless of how long we wait to see heaven move. We still pray.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12

A Prayer for the Nation

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for the freedom this great country was founded on. For over two hundred years, we have been afforded the right to freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom to live as we choose. For that we are grateful, as we see so many other nations that have repressed and oppressed their citizens. I fear we as a nation are moving toward censorship and persecution of Your faithful followers. Grant us the wisom to follow your ways.

 I pray for the one who now sits in the oval office to have a clear mind and a strong body. For he needs to give this country his best efforts. I pray that his attentions will be undivided as he leads this land. May he be for the values that center around faith, family and country. May he put God first in his every waking breath. I pray that he will seek to be morally and ethically pure. That he will listen for the still small voice guiding him toward truth and purity. May his intentions, thoughts, words and actions be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. May we honor his position and show respect for him, as well as the one who is a heartbeat away from the same position.

I pray that the new administration will not turn their back on your mighty hand of leading. I pray they will humbly seek your face. For it is arrogance and shamelessness that will cause a nation to fall from your grace. I pray that they will lead without reproach. Open their hearts to seek you and to find you when they seek you with their whole hearts.

I pray for those who stand for stopping heartbeats that have never beat on their own. I pray that the hearts of those individuals will once again beat for the unborn. Oh. That they would seek forgiveness for ending the lives of so many innocent ones. May they have a heart for family values. May they stand for the right to life for all conceived.

I pray for those who seek to push an immoral, ungodly agenda onto this nation. May their plans be thwarted and their goals unrealized. I ask that you place courageous believers in high positions to uphold truth and dignity for a nation founded on godly principles. May they not be swayed by financial offerings or greedy ambition. May they seek only your heart for this great nation.

I pray for those who seek to do harm to the one who has left the highest office in the land. I pray that they will repent of their hatred and venom. Heavenly Father, forgive them when they run to you for forgiveness. And have mercy on their souls when they repent. For they know not what they do. Their hearts have been hardened to the truth. And they no longer seek to show honor where honor is due.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

I pray for the one who has left the oval office. His words and actions have pleased many, but gravely offended others. May he seek your forgiveness even though he believes it isn’t required of him. He too will one day bow before you, as will his accusers. I pray that as he moves to private citizenship that you will guard him from the schemes of the devil. Those of his own making and those who are bent on destroying him. May evil plans not succeed. I pray that you will shield him from danger and protect his family from the evil intent of others. Bless his honest endeavors and may his ventures succeed.

I pray that any hypocrisy and corruption will be exposed at the highest levels. I pray for truth to be shared and applauded and evil to be on full display and punished to the full letter of the law.  Root out the evil and wickedness while it is still day. For the night will fall and the lost will not be saved. Father, heal this nation.

You alone, Father, know the plans you have for this great nation. Have we squandered the good from our children’s future? Will they suffer for the sins of their forefathers? Will they be prepared for the persecution that may fall upon them? Draw their hearts to you. God have mercy, I beg.

Is this change in leadership our final call to repentance? Is this our last opportunity for revival? Father, set our hearts toward our eternal home. For our only hope is in you. Not in a man sitting in a basement or in an oval office. Deliver us from the hypocrisy that is feeding our newsrooms.

 Oh. I pray for believers to desperately seek you while you may be found. May we repent of our selfish ways. May we have contrite and humble hearts. Show us your grace and mercy, I pray. Forgive us for abusing your grace. We so take it for granted.

I pray for those who ignore you. And for those who blaspheme your name. When they finally bow before your throne and call you Lord one day, may they see the folly of their ways. Will you have mercy on their souls or will you allow the harshest eternal punishment? You are Lord and You are God. Your ways are higher than our ways. Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Do as you will.

I find myself reaching more and more for my Bible. God, I’m searching for reassurance that you are faithful when our country is faithless. I yearn for the peace that only You can give. I seek comfort in knowing that my heavenly Father loves me even when I am unlovely.

Father, I pray that the revival will begin with me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Uncharted Waters

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

John was sent to live in exile on the island of Patmos as a result of anti-Christian persecution. His crime: he preached the word of God and he lived his life as a testimony for Jesus. He lived and survived alone on that island. All alone.

But he wasn’t alone.

During John’s exile, God was close to him. God was all he had. God spoke to him through a vision. John wrote down everything he saw in the vision. The name of his book is Revelation. It is the last book of the Bible. It’s a unique book full of visions and prophecies. God spoken words in a time of aloneness but never alone.

What does a man do all alone on an island? How does he spend his time? How does he survive? What goes through his mind? Will he be bored with only God to talk to? Does he have God’s word stored in his heart? Can he can dig through the reservoir of his mind and find strength and comfort from his knowledge of Scripture? When all has been lost, is his faith in God alone enough?

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

We may feel like we’re living in exile at this moment in history. But we’re not. Some of us are living with family. Some are alone, but they keep in touch with family and friends. If you know someone who is truly alone, reach out. Check on them.

This time in history is a first for everyone. Uncharted waters for even the best of us. Now is the time to gather your family close. Those who live with you. Those you can be with. Keep in touch with family and friends. The contact means so much.

Oh. Things have changed. We can no longer shop in stores. visit a salon. eat in a restaurant. go to a movie. Sure. These closings are temporary, but they’re new to us. We’ve never experienced anything like this. This change will continue without an ending in sight. Who knew?

Private funerals. Private weddings. Even close family members can’t attend. Hospital patients alone without family or visitors. Everyone needs to stay in place.

Oh. It’s easy to be frustrated. My hair appointment was only 5 days away when it was canceled. My grocery store was out of potatoes. The bakery that makes my dogs favorite treats has been out of them for weeks. I’ve had to start working from home. Petty inconveniences.

Lean in. They say. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Look across the room at the one who stole your heart. Think back to the reason they won your heart. And pause. Remember the moments of first love. And recall the reasons you chose to say “I do”. Make the most of this time with your loved ones.

Watch your children as they do homework. Oh. You may have never planned to home school, but now you are. Make the most of it. Be patient. Extend grace. Show mercy. Have fun. Let these days be the good times your kids look back on when they are older.

Allow yourself to become bored. This could spur you on to learn a new hobby. A hobby that could be life changing. Or not. But who knows what change can do for you. Be willing to explore. Read a book. Take a walk. Try a new recipe. Let your hair grow. You have no choice in the matter. Embrace it.

Pay it forward to the grocery worker. Pharmacy staff. Delivery drivers. Bankers. Healthcare workers. First responders. City, county, state and national employees. Everyone needs a break every now and then. Don’t judge a person’s politics. Embrace differences. But keep your convictions.

Lasting self confidence is built in pure faith in God. Trusting and obeying God in the hard times of life builds a strong reliance on him that produces an unmatched strength of character. 

In Christ alone I place my trust. 

This period of isolation may be the time in your life where you reap the greatest blessings from God. This may be the season where you find life’s true meaning. Trust the master of the uncharted waters to lead you to new depths in your walk with him. 

Read a book. Study the Bible. Memorize Scripture. Live out the Beatitudes. Honor those in authority. Pray. Really pray.

That money you would typically spend at a restaurant or sports event or concert. That money you would use to pay for a haircut or a massage or a pedicure. All that discretionary money you aren’t spending right now. Put it into savings. Or give to a needy nonprofit organization. Send an extra check to your church. Give to others in need. After all, how many new clothes or shoes do you need if you’re staying home all day? How much food or toilet paper do you need to hoard when others can’t pay their rent? How do you expect charities to help when they don’t have the funds coming in? How is a church supposed to help in times of crisis if believers aren’t faithful in giving their tithes and offerings?

Be generous. Be the giver. Be the gift. Chart new waters.

Bold Prayers

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Do I dare to pray boldly? What request do I have that would seem rather bold and extraordinary to bring to God? Do I dare tell him the deep longings of my heart? Do I risk sharing heartfelt needs that only He knows? The ones He already knows.

When I think of my prayers, I think they’re bland. They’re not daring. They don’t make me uncomfortable. They don’t take my breath away with the thought that I just asked such a bold thing of God. But why not? Why don’t I pray extreme prayers? I don’t want to be complacent, but then I don’t like the thought of being uncomfortable either. I can’t have it both ways. 

I want to pray boldly. I want to see first world miracles. But what exactly is that? What is a first world miracle? What miracle could I possibly need today that would satisfy my deepest longings? Perhaps it’s not my needs I should focus on. Perhaps I should look at the bigger picture and consider the needs of others before mine.

Oh.  I get it.  People in third world countries pray for their basic needs to be met.  Sometimes on a daily basis. Missionaries in foreign countries pray for safety and protection.  They pray for God to provide immediate desperate needs. But I don’t live in a third world country. 

Oh. I trust God. I do. So why don’t I ask for things bigger than I can imagine? Why don’t I make requests that seem impossible? After all. Nothing is impossible with God.

And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.  1 John 5:14-15

I don’t have to wonder where my next meal is coming from. I don’t worry about where I will sleep at night. I have a closet full of clothes. I don’t doubt that my family loves me. I have enough money to pay my bills. My health is good. I have everything I need.

So what should my bold prayers look like? What should I ask for in bold faith? Perhaps the boldness comes in not asking for petty things.  The need isn’t always about having stuff.

Perhaps I’m afraid to pray bold prayers. Perhaps I’ll discover that my bold prayers are answered. Or maybe they’re not. Can’t I reach out in faith and pray those prayers that might just break open heaven’s floodgates? Imagine what might happen.

The King of kings says to come boldly to his throne.  He says we have the same power that caused Jesus to rise from the dead. This offer is free for the taking, because he’s already paid the price.

We need to pray specific, continual radical prayer says Greg Pruett. He also says we should intentionally pray the kinds of prayers that tap into all of Jesus’ open-ended promises about prayer in a way that achieves maximum Kingdom impact.

Oh. I’ve prayed bold prayers. Others have prayed bold prayers. And they’ve been answered. I think of the prayer for the unborn baby who received a diagnosis in the womb. Family and friends prayed for that baby. He was born perfect and healthy.

I think of two churches. One looking for a new location. The other was looking to overcome a tough financial situation. Both churches were praying. Believing God would provide the miracle. Little did they know that God was working on a plan to combine those two churches in one overwhelmingly beautiful location.

The thing about praying bold prayers is that I need to be comfortable with the answers God gives. I must be willing to accept his miracles as he performs them. They may not always be the answers I would have chosen or dreamed of, but they are still answers and miracles. I must be willing to accept the gifts as they are given.

What if I prayed for God to work his plan in my life, instead of asking for him to work my plan. What if I asked God to do the impossible instead of asking for the probable. What if I stepped aside and allowed God to do what only he can do. What if.

Running in Place

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

She said she’s in the middle.  The middle of life.

I’ve been thinking about that lately.  I’m not on the mountain top.  But I’m not in the valley.  Oh.  I was in both situations not too long ago.  No.  Not at the same time.  But unemployment was the valley.  Getting a new job was the mountain.  But now.  Now I find I’m in the middle.  And I feel stuck.  Oh.  I should be thankful.  And I am.  But I sometimes I wish I wasn’t where I am.

No.  I don’t want to be back in the valley.  I’m thankful to have a new job.  It’s just that the job is turning out to be something that isn’t comfortable.  Oh.  I have hopes of things evening themselves out.  Of feeling comfortable.  Of feeling that I can do this job.  But for now.  It’s tough.

Elisabeth Elliott said that when you’re in a tough spot, there’s something to do.  Just do the next thing.  Whatever comes next in what you do, just do it.  So that’s what I’m doing.  The next thing.  Don’t look too far ahead.  Just do the next thing.

I’m not running away from the job.  But I do find that I am running.  I’m running to Jesus more and more.  And isn’t that what he wants from us?  In spite of good or bad, I should be running to him.  Running for my life to the life giver.

I find I want to run from my discomfort. But instead I need to run to Jesus. Don’t try to escape the discomfort. Try to embrace it and hold on to the one who has great plans for me. This season could be the time of growth I need for the next phase of my life. Trust God and his plan. Run to him like I’ve never run before.

I’ve never been a runner.  Oh.  I’ve tried.  I’ve tried those starter methods of walking a few minutes.  Then running a few minutes.  In the hopes that I can build up my running time into more minutes.  It just never worked for me.  I couldn’t get my breathing to work right.  So I gave up.  I decided walking was my sport of choice.

Pray that you will not give in to temptation.  Luke 22:40

I think of Jesus.  When he was in the fight for his life.  His human life.  Oh.  He ran.  He ran right to his Father.

When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed and asked his Father to remove the cup of suffering from him.  The burden of going to the cross.  Of dying.  He asked to be excused from the discomfort.  From the pain and agony.  Was this his humanity speaking?  What did he know of the suffering that was ahead for him?

The next morning when he heard the angry mob shouting for him to be crucified.  I wonder.  Did he run again to his Father?  Did he beg for mercy once again?

But no.  The night before while crying out to his Father, he surrendered.  He had surrendered his will.  Your will.  Not mine.  Then he stood and walked through the pain.  The torture.  The suffering.  The death.

God refused to change his plans.  He allowed His only Son to be tortured and crucified.  He allowed His Son to die.  But his death fulfilled God’s ultimate plan.  His death provided a way for me to spend eternity with him.  His death was not in vain.

So why should I ask God to remove my discomfort?  Why should I expect God to give me an easy life?  Why should I expect God to remove obstacles that I want out of my way?  Perhaps I should pray that I don’t yield to temptation to walk away from the discomfort when I know I am fulfilling God’s plan.  Perhaps I will find peace in the surrender to God as he walks with me in my pain.  Perhaps in my suffering, I will be anointed with the same power that he has.  I pray that my discomfort will not be in vain.