March 1, 2021 Prayer - For people considering running for elected office

Ruling God,

With our mouths we extol you, Lord, and praise you in the great throng of worshipers.  You stand with those in need and save us according to your unfailing love.  Your world is a beautiful dance of order, beauty, consistency, and creativity.  Thank you that you have included government in your plans for order and you have set into place civic authorities to help keep that order.  Today we pray that, as people are prayerfully considering running for political offices in the upcoming months and years, you would cause righteous, godly, Spirit-filled men and women to step out in courage and serve the people around them. We pray for a spirit of humility in those who are considering running for offices; may they not be motivated by ego or lust for power, but may they hear from you and walk in your Good Way - your paths of Peace.  Your Word says we should not give to dogs what is sacred or throw our pearls to swine, so we pray you would thwart the efforts of anyone who should not seek office. We pray that you give your candidates campaign leaders, consultants, and others who are gifted in strategy and fundraising, but especially have hearts to serve you and the people of this state. May those considering running for office be completely trustworthy, with no corruption or negligence. We know that you work through "jars of clay" leaders who are fallible, but we pray that the life of Jesus would be manifest in their thoughts, words, and deeds. We believe that you came to give us your abundant life, so we pray for that Life to be poured out in those who seek political office - in their families, friendships, businesses, and service to others. We choose momentum instead of inertia, righteousness instead of ungodliness, and hope instead of mourning. May godly men and women rise up to seize this moment, face the enemies of this nation, and move forward in hope in You and the victory you give us in Christ Jesus, in whom we pray, Amen.

Help me, Lord my God;

    save me according to your unfailing love.

Let them know that it is your hand,

    that you, Lord, have done it.

While they curse, may you bless;

    may those who attack me be put to shame,

    but may your servant rejoice.

May my accusers be clothed with disgrace

    and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;

    in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.

For he stands at the right hand of the needy,

   to save their lives from those who would condemn them." (Psalm 109:26-31 NIV)

"Every person must obey the leaders of the land. There is no power given but from God, and all leaders are allowed by God." (Romans 13:1 NLV)

"Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen...God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses [civil authorities] to do it. " (Romans 13:1, 4 MSG)

"At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."  (Daniel 6:4 NIV)

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6 NIV)

"Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. " (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 ESV)

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 NKJV)

January 27, 2021 Prayer - Faith like Daniel

Most High God, Revealer of Mysteries,

Thank you for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Thank you that you have established your laws, your covenants, and your grace to show us what is righteousness and to save us from our sin.  Thank you for the deep wisdom and discernment you offer to us through the work of Holy Spirit.  God, today we ask that you give each of your children the humility, discernment, tact, and courage of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  When they were abruptly transported to a new world and had to adapt, you gave them grace, wisdom, knowledge and understanding to deal with the new world.  Thank you for their model of consistent faith in your laws and your ways.  Thank you that, like them, when we say no to the pleasures and "good food" of the world, we can be rewarded with health, wholeness, and even wealth.  Thank you that when we refuse to adapt to the worship of other gods, you will be with us in the fires of persecution, keeping us unbound and unharmed from the attacks of the enemy.  Thank you for giving us - like Daniel and his friends - knowledge and understanding so that we can know how to learn and operate according to your principles in this new world.  As we walk through this chapter of life, we pray you would keep our hearts pure so that we are trustworthy and not negligent or corrupt, we are respectful of authority, but we are asking questions that may bring enlightenment and freedom.  Holy Spirit, give us the freedom that comes from living life deeply connected to you, our Wisdom, Courage, and Truth.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen. 

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)

"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." (Daniel 1:8 NIV)

"To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." (Daniel 1:17 NIV)

"When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.  At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him." (Daniel 2:14-16 NIV)

"The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”  (Daniel 2:47 NIV)

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV)

"He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”  Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”  (Daniel 3:25-26 NIV)

"At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." (Daniel 6:4 NIV)

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 16:17-18 NIV)