Jesus is King. He is the hope of all nations. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Let’s keep that as our central focus. Read more here.
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
Andy Stanley wrote an article published in Time Magazine before the 2020 election. Here are some excerpts to inform how we approach this election day with our God:
“Nothing divides like politics, because nothing divides like fear. But what exactly, in the context of our current election, are we afraid of? The answer is the same for everyone at the macro level: we fear loss. We are afraid of losing control, safety, power, opportunity, status, rights, freedom.”
He continues: “Our hope is not in the perfect political party. Our hope is the message and teaching of Jesus. During our oh-so-short history as a nation, both of our current political parties and their leaders have gotten it wrong; they have failed us morally; they have failed us in terms of their leadership. Why would we as followers of an eternal king allow ourselves to be divided by temporary political systems, leaders or platforms? And why would we allow ourselves to be divided by fear? Jesus’ most oft-repeated command was fear not, fear not, fear not. Instead, we must love one another as we struggle and sacrifice for the unity Jesus prayed for.”
Lord God, during this election, we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country, and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.
We ask for eyes that are free from blindness so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters, one and equal in dignity, especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, as well as deceit and poverty. We ask for ears that will hear the cries of the unborn and those abandoned. We ask our minds and hearts to be open to the voices of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom. We pray for discernment so we may choose leaders who hear your Word, live your love, and keep in the ways of your truth as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
– Author Unknown
The word of God urges us to pray for our government leaders, and we can correctly apply that to praying for the upcoming elections. But Paul gives this reason or aim:
“…that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:2-4).
We want to pray for elected leaders to lead and make righteous decisions that would give us greater freedom to live peacefully—to live righteously, and to give ourselves to the redemptive plans of Christ so that people can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Read more about Praying for the Elect and the Elections.
The Lord’s people need to hear from their shepherds. They need to hear not what they want to hear, but biblical truth that helps them see government the way God sees it. Pastors, we need you! Pray for pastors to remind God’s people what is true.
Prayer is coming into perfect fellowship and oneness with God. Read more here.
Distracted Devotions is a real struggle. The enemy and his minions know that your daily time to consciously abide in Christ, delight in His Word, seek His face in prayer, and meditate on His truth is the secret to your victory.
Come to Me… —Matthew 11:28
God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.
Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me….” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.
Visit the website to read more:
https://utmost.org/updated/today/
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths [or in Sheol, or in hell], you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
God’s presence is His Spirit. God told the prophet Jeremiah that He fills all things, that He fills the heaven and He fills the earth. It’s not the visible, manifest form of God that fills the heaven or the earth, but it’s that invisible, imperceptible presence of God the Holy Spirit which permeates the entire universe.
No matter where we go, that invisible hand is stretched out to hold us. No matter how far we may sink down or how high we may rise, we cannot go below the level of God’s presence or ascend above it. God’s presence is always with us. He hears every word we speak; He knows every thought. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Sometimes we may feel bereft and forsaken, but it’s only in appearance. The presence of God is always there, this side of the ocean or the other, up or down, successful or in defeat, the presence of God is always with us and ultimately His presence is our peace.
—Derek Prince
https://www.derekprince.com/word/c-w127
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5
As Christians, our hope is different than what the world can comprehend or claim as their own. Our hope is not rooted in snappy slogans, clever ideas, or the supposed inherent goodness of mankind. If we look at history, that kind of hope inevitably and always disappoints.
Our hope is rooted, instead, in Jesus Christ. And through Him, we have been given real hope for this life and the life to come. It is this hope, and faith, and love that we must share with this dark world. Thankfully, the darkness of the world has no successful defense against this light that shines against it. Join with me, for a moment, and consider the power of a real hope that does not and cannot put us to shame.
Christian hope isn’t one that ignores real suffering but rather rejoices in God’s love for us and for others when the going gets tough. As Christians answer suffering with the love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ, amazing things happen.
Consider the suffering and disaster wrought by Roe v. Wade. Think of how hopeless it could have been in the months following that decision.
And now, think of the effect hopeful and loving Christians have had since. Not content just to picket, Christians have been behind the dramatic increase in adoption, crisis pregnancy care, 3D ultrasound, the closing of abortion clinics and the exposure of their abuse of women, etc.
In 1973, Christians were told the battle was over and that they were on the wrong side of history. And yet, today, it appears the battle has turned and that the God of history is still on our side.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord is producing endurance and character and hope in you as you meet today’s sufferings by standing in the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. We know this is true in our private sufferings but it is no less true in our public ones. Jesus Christ privately and publicly suffered for you so that you might show the hope of the gospel to all peoples not only in word but also in deed.
Let’s not miss this chance for something extraordinary in our lifetime. Will there be suffering and hardship? Yes, and only the grace of God will answer it. Is there hope? Yes, and it is as sure and certain as Jesus Christ raised from the dead.
God has granted us these times in which to live, and He has prepared good works for us to do in them. May we be hopeful and rejoice in the challenge.
Dear Christians, pastors, and churches around our community, state and nation, may we as the Body of Christ make the love of Christ known, represented, and enacted in all areas of public life–especially those touching life, marriage, family, and religious liberty. After all, it is not enough for us to proclaim the good tidings of great joy on Sunday and then fail to make them known in every aspect of our lives the rest of the week. Be strong and take heart.
https://www.mfc.org/real-hope
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:13 NIV
Believers around the world are gathering July 14, at 7:14 am to read the word of God aloud from Genesis to Revelation at a local governmental seat in their state and in over 40 nations! Praise God and trust that as His word goes out it will not return void or empty! Find out more here.
Who? Believers around the world
What? 6th annual Worldwide Bible Reading Marathon
When? Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 7:14 am
Where? On a governmental seat in your area
Why? “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (NIV, 1 Timothy 4:13)
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (NASB, Hebrews 4:12).
Other supporting scriptures: Isaiah 55:10-11; James 1:25; Romans 10:17
How? Bring your Bible, bag chair, and bottle of water to the governmental seat in your area leader will assign a portion of scripture to you. It’s simple; it’s rewarding; it’s a way to honor God and His Word.
If you find you cannot join us at the courthouse another option is to email your local area leader and ask to adopt scripture to read at home or organize a gathering of friends at your local church building and read as a group.
Please continue to connect with us. Weekly prayer fuels this event, and our mission is to bring awareness to the depth of Biblical illiteracy and the lack of a Biblical worldview we are witnessing today. We would love to meet you and hear what the Lord is doing through your life as you honor Him and His word.
To sign up, please go to the website above and click on the tab – Map: Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon. Fill out the Contact Form and someone will be in contact with you.
