Pray for The Elect 2008

Nov 4: The Tough Questions

2008-11-04T06:23:00.001-08:00

I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:2

I can't thank you enough for following me on this prayer journey. It's been a season of discernment, faith and growth. I'm just beginning to understand how many people have been participating – and frankly, it's a bit mind-blowing! I also want to thank those of you who have asked great questions. And I'd like to take the time to address some of them before election results come in.

Did God really hear our prayers?
YES. The bible is very clear that God hears His children. And He will answer our pleas in one of three ways: Yes. No. Just Wait. How God chooses to answer our earnest prayers is entirely within His domain. We can give God a wish list but we cannot expect Him to fulfill the list the way we want.

What happens if the "wrong" guy gets in office?
God knows all things – past, present and future. He is sovereign, in control and has a plan. So, no matter what the outcome, we can be at peace that God has placed our President in power for such a time as this. God alone knows EXACTLY what our nation needs ... from discipline and justice to blessing and honor. He knows when to prune and when to plant. And, He knows what the harvest of His and our actions will be.

My husband and I experienced this truth in a deeply personal manner. A few years ago, we entered into a custody battle. The sheer number of tears shed and prayers offered more than scratched the surface of heaven. And the truth was, we were certain God was going to deliver victory. But it didn't play out that way. We actually lost custody, and worse, relationship with our children. It was devastating and painful beyond compare. We felt betrayed by God. And we were angry at Him for "leading us on".

We’ve come to realize since then that God was, in fact, leading us on — but not in the way we accused Him. Instead, He was leading us on to a new place — a place we would have never ventured if we hadn't walked through the valley. In that season, God brought about maturity, healing in our marriage, profound change in our souls and a depth of commitment to Him that transcends space and time. And suddenly, He miraculously blessed us with renewed custody and healed relationships with our daughters. In hindsight, I know God was faithfully loving us and seeking the best interests of our children as well. You see, if our children had not walked their path, they would have felt cheated. Truthfully, their maturity and understanding would be stunted and their relationship with us or God would not be as rich as it is today. The pruning hurt, but the harvest has been bountiful!

Friends, if things turn out different than you prayed, please don’t turn away from God. Remind yourself of the truth my husband and I learned: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) Remember that God’s love stands firm forever. He will ALWAYS be about the best interests of His Kingdom! "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

How is it possible for two believers to have differing voting positions? It seems pretty cut and dry to me.
That is a GREAT question. First, God is NOT schizophrenic. He is not about confusion and chaos. And I firmly believe, He would not lead the faithful, sincere and humble to two different conclusions. James 1:5-8 reminds us that those who truly believe will be given wisdom and discernment, while those that don’t will not receive wisdom from God. I guess, as difficult as this sounds, it could stand to reason that one person is being led by God and the other is not. I would encourage each of us to kneel before God and pose the following questions: Did I really hear you? Was I obedient to you? Most importantly, God, will you affirm that in more than one scripture?

What do we do now?
Well, after you’ve had your celebration or pity party, it’s time to start praying again. Pray that our leaders will lead with integrity and honor and that they will not oppress people with policies that bring division. Let’s commit to be responsible citizens of this nation. Avoid gossip and godless discussions. Don’t participate in President or people bashing sessions. Instead, continue to exercise your civic duty and vote against things that anger the heart of God. Support the things that bless others.

Then, let’s get back to the business of being change agents for God. We all know that life-altering, sustainable, God-honoring change is not coming through POTUS. It comes through Jesus. So, seek God with all your heart and ask Him how you can participate in Kingdom efforts in your church, business and community. And let's live our lives in such a way that it causes others to ask, "why do you have so much joy, confidence and peace".

Lastly, and most importantly, keep talking to and listening to God EVERYDAY! He’s got us on speed-dial!

Praise Him

I encourage you to take a moment and meditate on this fabulous video and song by Casting Crowns:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU

Oct 31: A Higher Calling

2008-10-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

"...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18

As we begin winding down the prayer campaign, I hope a fire has been kindled in your heart for prayer that will burn well beyond Nov 4th. I, like you, do not know exactly how God will respond to our prayers for this nation. But I have confidence that He has heard our hearts and will act with justice and mercy.

The Hope for Our Nation

Today, we’re going to turn our prayers to the progress of the Church. You might think it's a bit odd and illogical to finish this way. However, I'd like to suggest that God has a higher calling for our nation ... more important than politics and economy. I believe He wants to use the freedoms of our nation to spread the Gospel. I also believe that real, systematic, life-altering change will not come through a political promise. It will only come through the message of love, hope and transformation that the Gospel brings. And that's why we need to pray for God's Church.

We need to pray that the Church is not hindered. By ourselves or the supernatural powers of evil. If the Gospel is to have any progress, people need to encounter the nature of Christ not only in the church but in their communities. You see, many people equate the church experience to culturally irrelevant traditions, endless rules and regulations, heaps of guilt, judgmentalism and rejection. They've not experienced kindness and mercy the way you and I have. And, the Word has not been shared in ways they can relate to, understand or apply in real life. Ultimately, this has resulted in deep woundedness and/or apathy for the Church. I don't believe that the Church, or her people, ever set out to earn that reputation, but they have. So that's why we need to pray for God to transform the heart of His church so that it can have great impact. Right here. Right now!

Our Part

I've come to realize that WHEN we stand before God and ask for change, THEN we will be asked to participate in that change. We must allow God to transform our hearts and our lives so that we can have impact in His Kingdom. We can't be like the Pharisees, all puffed up in our knowledge and protected from the “elements”. Instead, we must go where Jesus went and do what Jesus did. It’s going to be uncomfortable and it’s going to cost us something. Are you ready for that calling? I can assure you, the reward is eternal.

Would you join with me today and pray that the Kingdom of God is not hindered and that Jesus' Church is blessed with a season of renewal, transformation and revival. Let’s ask God to break the power of sin, heal brokenness and restore joy all across this nation. Ask to see what He sees and opportunities to respond with our hands, our feet, our talent and treasure.

The Prayer

That the progress of the Church is not hindered
That the people of the Church will live and love like Jesus
Pray that the eyes and ears of people will be opened to Truth
Pray that anything hidden or deceptive be revealed before Election Day
Pray for the election, laws, economy and military matters (see Oct 28 blog)
Pray for the next leader of this nation to lead with integrity, humility and ability

Finishing Well: Pray and Fast on Sunday Evening
On Sunday evening at sundown to Monday evening at sundown, let's finish well by praying and fasting for the election. Ask God for understanding and peace about His sovereignty and providence.

NOTE: If you health concerns and cannot participate in a food fast, please don't. But consider fasting something that is an important part of your day (television, internet, cellphone, text messaging). God will be delighted that we have willingly sacrificed for His Kingdom!

Oct 28: A National Emergency

2008-10-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

"Arise, shine, for your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." Isaiah 60:1

Isn't it comforting that Almighty God is eagerly listening to our prayers – that His Glory and Light shines upon all of us? I hope we are fervently clinging to His promises everyday. Today, let's turn our prayers to the needs of our nation. I urge you to not grow weary in your prayers. We are just days away from the election. There is no better time than now to break out those knee pads or nose guards. Continue praying as you're led, but let's also pray as follows:

Mon-Wed: The Nation (leadership, economy, legislative matters, ethics & integrity)
Thur-Fri: The Church (people of God reflect the nature of Christ and the Gospel is not hindered)
Sat-Sun: Our Families (personal burdens)

Nothing Like a Fresh Start
I don't know about you, but I wish our nation could have a clean slate. I feel like America, a nation which stands for freedom and equality, has sadly become enslaved to things like pride, greed, wickedness, selfishness, and injustice. I'm crying out for a modern day Exodus to break the grip of this slavery. Don't get me wrong ... not everything is bad. But it's difficult to shut out the loud voices shouting that Truth is relative. You can't ignore it when right and wrong is measured by what the majority is doing rather than what they ought to be doing. We see it in the government, workplace, media, schools and, sadly, in our homes. And it's become a national emergency. Our Nation has strayed so far from its roots that one would wonder, can we ever recover. I’m here to tell you, we can’t by ourselves. BUT OUR GOD CAN RESTORE ORDER & JUSTICE! He is immeasurably able to do more than we can ask or imagine.

As I reflected over Isaiah 59 and 60, I looked upon a nation so riddled with sin and rebellion that you could almost put the name of America right there in the ancient writings. But two things stood out with absolute clarity: (1) God does save and (2) God – not man – breaks the power of sin and restores order. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear” (Isaiah 59:1) and “The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice ... he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him and his own righteousness sustained him." (Isaiah 59:15b-16) Sadly, I think we've often lived like God is powerless over our sin and the sin of our nation. Would you agree?

Greater Than This World

Fortunately, God is not powerless, nor is He deaf to the cries of humble repentance. So let’s not throw down the towel of defeat and surrender our nation to darkness. Our God is Big. Huge. As my daughters would say, Ginormous. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) Cling to that truth today. Let’s not be deceived and believe for one second that God has abandoned us. I suppose it would be completely within human reason for God to do exactly that. Afterall, every single one of us (myself at the front of the line) would absolutely deserve it. But our God doesn't reason like we do. His nature is abundant love and faithfulness! "His unfailing love continues FOREVER, and His faithfulness continues to EACH GENERATION." Psalm 100:5

I'm being reminded of God's faithfulness even now. Yesterday, while I was drafting this post, I stared with sadness out the window as the first flurries of the season descended upon us. Truthfully, I'm rebelling against another blustery, cold winter that feels like it will never end. So I reminded myself, that like the rising and setting of the sun, the seasons will change like clockwork. The bright hues of fall will bring forth the dead of winter. Then spring will burst forth in all it's beauty, color and splendor to launch into the heat of summer. And so it is with the constant faithfulness of God. Join with me today and praise God for His faithful, enduring love of mankind — even American-kind. And ask him to break the sin that has so easily entangled me, you and our nation.

The Prayer: "Exalt the Lord our God! Bow low before his feet, for He is holy!" (Psalm 99:5)

Pray for balance in the legislature, for wise, discerning people of justice and for ethical legislative matters.
Pray for the economy – that government, business and people will exercise financial prudence and wise stewardship.
Pray wisdom and strategy for our military leaders and safety for our soldiers.
Pray safety and security for the people of this nation.
Pray EVERYDAY UNTIL ELECTION DAY that people have truth and discernment.
Pray that those who have sought wisdom faithfully apply it.
Pray anything hidden or deceptive be revealed THIS week. Ask God to move in ways that TRUTH cannot be ignored.
Fervently pray for the next leader of this nation.

Oct 25: Wisdom and Knowledge

2008-10-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen." Acts 1:24

Thank you for continuing to persevere with me in this time of prayer. My husband related the last few days of this prayer effort to his college football days. Maybe some of you can relate. The coaches would start by reviewing the previous game's film, give a few words of encouragement and then begin the hard work of preparing for the next game. By mid-week, the coaches would subject the players to a tough and rigorous practice; one that would push the players to the limit and leave their bodies spent and weak from exertion. The players hated it. But coaches knew that difficult practices would drive the players beyond their perceived abilities, to achieve new heights. And they could breeze into the big game with confidence.

Friends, if you took the time to examine your motives and evaluate the record of each candidate against God's standard – apart from your own wisdom, knowledge or media bias – then give yourself a big high five. You've made it through the most difficult part. And while your “muscles” might be shaking, I promise ... applying the last principles should be a walk in the park! If you haven’t walked through those steps yet, can I encourage you to click on the Oct 21 & Oct 23 links off to the right and get started right away. We’re just 10 days from election day!!!

The Wisdom Stick
I think we can all agree that leaders must bring forth a wealth of experience, knowledge, credibility, good judgment and decision-making ability to govern the affairs of men. Do you find it easy to pick out the smart guy, the experienced guy, the well spoken one, the serious man, or the friendly guy? But much more difficult to discern the wise one? I do. So, we cannot rely on simple measures like “years of experience” or “smooth, charismatic speeches”. We have to test proven abilities and Wisdom against the word of God. You’ve just got to flip to the book of Proverbs and a fountain of Wisdom spills forth about wise and foolish characteristics.

I'd like to suggest that mankind was not designed to navigate life apart from Widsom. The Word says she is our greatest treasure. "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." (Proverbs 8:10-11) Wisdom is one of God's counterparts. Wherever God goes, Wisdom and Knowledge follow. He is never alone — never without her. And we are never apart from Wisdom either. The bible tells us that the Holy Spirit (the Wonderful Counselor and Spirit of Truth) resides within our hearts! Unfortunately, we often don’t listen! But now more than ever, we must evaluate our leaders against the litmus test of Wisdom. I encourage you to explore the Proverbs and examine 1 Kings 3. Search your concordance or an online bible service with words like wise, wisdom, fool, foolish and see for yourself what the Word teaches. How do the candidates stand up? How do they respond under pressure? Do they anticipate failures or danger and take appropriate action? Do they recognize and act wisely in precarious circumstances? Do they have vision and appropriate resources to act on that vision (otherwise, it’s just a dream)? Also, ask yourself if the candidates are puffed up on their own accomplishments, filled with arrogance, financially imprudent or weak on ability, as these are signs of foolishness (the opposite of wisdom).

Pray on behalf of the next leader of this nation to begin their leadership of and service to the American people in humble reliance upon God’s divine wisdom. Solomon set no better example for starting well than this: "Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 1 Kings 3:8-9.

A Great General
Finally, a nation’s governing leader must be able to wield the sword to preserve order, restrain evil and pursue justice. In fact, God commanded Samuel to pick King Saul who “shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines.” Friends, whatever your position on wars and rumors of war, we must acknowledge one thing — our President is a Chief in Command which means he must preserve the safety and security of our people (and allies). That can look like peace and diplomacy AND it can look like war (and a lot of other measures in between). Our highest office must have the authority to restrain evil and preserve justic with the appropriate measures or our freedoms will cease to exist.

I think sometimes people forget that God Almighty is the Lord of Heavens Armies. He’s the Great 10-Star General. God strategized Israel’s triumphant overtaking of the Promised Land. His strategy is seen in the Battle of Jericho, Gideon and the 300, and countless others. And we are told in Revelation and other places that there are wars currently taking place in the heavenly realms. God is a Great General and Chief in Command of those wars. So make sure your voting for a candidate that will be a Chief in Command in ways that please God. It’s our civic and sacred duty to vote. So let’s put forth votes in honor and prayerful humility.

Moving Forward

This will be our last look at the Presidency in these blogs. I hope you are more confident and assured of God’s direction for Decision 08. On Monday, we’ll turn our attention to the prayer needs of the nation. Thank you all for persevering with me through a challenging week!

The Prayer

Anything hidden or deceptive will be revealed prior to election day
God’s people will search His heart for Decision 08 and rest in His divine ability to discern the hearts of men – apart from our feelings and natural, earthly desires
The eyes and ears of people everywhere will be opened to truth

Oct 23: An Inside-Out View

2008-10-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen." Acts 1:24

It is a such an honor to be on my knees with you calling out to the King of all Kings for discernment and truth. As we've laid our decision at the foot of the cross and examined our motives, the Lord has been building a strong foundation for decision-making. Now, it's time to build the framework with an inside-out view. The message that the Lord has laid upon my heart is deep and difficult. And I feel led to break the last two principles into two posts. One today and one Saturday. I encourage you to persevere with me and ask God for discernment.

An Inside-Out View: The Samuel Lesson
I was inspired by the story of Samuel, a prophet and a priest that not only heard the voice of God from youth but held company with kings. He had the distinct honor and privilege of anointing the first two kings of Israel: King Saul and the very man after God's own heart, King David.

But did you know that Samuel occasionally had difficulty discerning a man's character? Interesting, huh? I'm sure you know what it's like to meet that "oh, so cool and inspiring person". You get off to this exciting start and then slowly, but surely, something ugly leaks in. You discover that appearances are deceiving. And you're left feeling completely betrayed by your ability to judge a man's character. I wonder if Samuel had the same feelings.

When Samuel was called to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as the next King, he almost bestowed the entire Kingdom of Israel on the wrong guy — the oldest son Eliab. Why? Well, Eliab was impressive, tall and handsome. He looked the part and, I'm sure, he spoke the part. I can imagine how shocked Samuel was when God chose the most unlikely son. Fortunately for all of Israel, Samuel heard the same warning we hear today: "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7). You see, the true character of a man is revealed in the deepest corners of a heart — the place that matters most to God. And God knew that David would serve Israel faithfully and bear his soul before God-almighty in ways that, to this day, humble us to our knees.

Applying the Samuel Lesson
So what exactly does that have to do with election day? Afterall, it's not like you or I will get a personal meet and greet with Barack or John and get a glimpse of their heart. Right?

Well, the Word tells us that we can know a tree by it's fruit. (Matthew 7:15-23) So we are compelled to evaluate these candidates – and the party they represent – by their words AND actions. So ask yourself where each candidate/party stands on the issues that matter to God. Research the record (www.votesmart.org) and determine how the candidates have historically acted upon those issues. Do a little homework but guard against media bias, opinions, rhetoric and :30 second spots.

God wants us to care for poor and be generous. So what does the record reflect about each candidate's personal charitable giving? Ask yourself if our leaders are leading by example. "Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart...I command you to be openhanded toward those of your people who are poor and needy in your land." Deut. 15:10-11
God says to manage our finances responsibly and not incur foolish debt. What does the record show about each candidates taxing policies and governmental spending habits. How do the proposed policies line up with the Word as it relates to spending and debt? Thoroughly examine where responsibility lies with the sub-prime debacle.
God says flee from sexual immorality, idolatry, selfish ambition, greed, dishonesty, murder.... Where do the candidates stand on issues like marriage, abortion, education and war? How do the proposed policies and historical performance measure against God's perfect standard?
Then ask, which of these two will have a heart upon which God will pour perfect wisdom.

The Bottom Line
Today's teaching has been difficult. I sought God for an easier one, but He's been steadfast with me. I promise, I'm not pushing a hidden agenda or advocating a candidate. I am simply asking each of us to carefully examine our personal decision against a perfect standard and seek God's direction when drawing conclusions. Each of the candidates have identified themselves as "Christian", so we are at liberty to apply God's standard. And that, my friends, is the Word of God. When we accept the free gift of eternal life and bear the name of Christ, then we invite God's standard into our life. We don't get to choose or even bargain with God about that standard. Some will argue that government and church are separate. But, if our faith is real, we can't separate our personal life from our professional (governmental) life, social life or voting decisions. Hard words, I know. But trust me ... God's standard is loving and righteous with abundant, rich blessings.

The Prayer

That each of us would do our homework and reach God-led conclusions
That we are willing and faithful to trust God with the decisions that He is leading us to.
That the eyes and ears of the nation would be opened to truth and discernment.

Oct 21: What's My Motivation

2008-10-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen." Acts 1:24

This week, we’ve determined that we’re going to have an Acts 1:24 moment with God and apply 4 biblical principals for choosing leaders:

Seek God’s direction. If you haven’t yet, read "Oct 19-25: Pray for the Presidency" (see links on right)
Understand my motivation.
Have an inside-out view
Determine a man’s wisdom and knowledge

A Humble Position
Friends, before diving in, I feel driven by the Spirit to cry out for humility and repentance. If we want to hear clearly, have discerning minds, and experience the blessing of prayer, we absolutely must humble ourselves before the Lord and turn from our sins everyday. We cannot be like Zedekiah who wanted a superficial religion that didn’t cost anything (Jeremiah 37:1-7). We need to be more like Joshua: “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads.” Joshua 7:6. Acknowledge with me that we've all fallen short of the glory of God and resolve to seek Him with all our hearts, minds and strength.

What’s My Motivation?
All of us have a few opinions about this election. Some are warn out and just want the whole dang thing over. Some are deeply worried. And, some are so fired up that they might spring into orbit at any moment. But have we examined what is motivating our decisions? Is it righteous indignation? A complete frustration with status quo? Worry or fear? Or, might there be a little selfish motivation driving it? You’re not alone if you answered yes to any of those questions. So what does God have to say about it?

Righteous Indignation: Righteous anger is a good foundation upon which to stand. Right? Afterall, it has driven people to bring forth some of the most profound change in society. Like M.A.D.D., those angry parents drove our country to make laws that blessed us greatly. But is it really righteous? Before taking a stand on righteous anger, make sure that our anger is not wounded pride or self-righteousness. It’s completely acceptable to take a stand when injustice causes others to be hurt. But it’s not ok to exercise anger when we’ve been inconvenienced or our egos have been stepped on. Before taking a stand, search the scriptures to ensure that our anger – and our anger response – matches God’s. Otherwise, we’re just a hothead, about to run headlong into sin. Numbers 25:10-11, James 1:19-20.

Frustration with Status Quo: Maybe you're tired with the same old, same old. To the point of pulling out hair? Stop. Breathe. Count to ten. That kind of emotion will drive us to make foolish decisions. I’ve heard that emotions make a great caboose but a terrible engine. They just don't have enough power to sustain. Because they ebb and flow like the tide. Politicians have promised change for as long as I’ve been on this earth. They come into office with a laundry list of items. And, sadly, when they leave, for better or for worse, the majority of that laundry list has been left unfulfilled. If you’re looking for a superhero, you will be disappointed. If you’re looking for a quick fix, it doesn’t exist. We have to plant new seeds to get a new harvest. So we need to seriously examine the plans these candidates have against God’s plans. Make no mistake, there will be change in the coming four years. But will it be change that you can live with and, most importantly, that God will honor for decades to come?

Worry & Fear: With absolute certainty, this is a driving factor. I hear it in nearly every conversation and email. People are afraid. And they are desperate. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Right? Can I tell you that worry and unhealthy fear are tools of Satan? Jesus himself tells us "DO NOT WORRY". That's a command if I ever saw one. Instead, we need to bring our concerns to God. And, until God tells us to act, we need to rest in His powerful providence. God is not in heaven freaking out, wringing his hands in fear of the future. So why are we? Because Satan is using every tactic in his arsenal to paralyze us and stop us from turning our hearts back to God. Still not sure? Reflect on Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-34

A Selfish Drive: If we’re going to seek God’s direction, we have to be honest with ourselves. Does the candidate you prefer have a plan that will benefit you (me) personally? Maybe it’s a health care plan. Or, our kid is in Iraq or just about to be deployed. Maybe there’s a financial advantage or tax plan that personally benefits me. Before you make that choice, weigh your personal motivations against God’s motivations. Search the scripture and see what He has to say. Let’s just ensure that we’re not laying up treasures on earth where moths and rust destroy (Matt 6:19-21).

Testing My Motivation
After taking the litmus test above, I’d have to confess before all of you that my motivations aren’t as pure as God’s. Knowing that, aren’t you thankful that I’m putting my vote at the foot of the cross and allowing God to speak to me? Join with me and cry out like King David: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be an grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24.

The Prayer

That me, you and the people of this nation would humble themselves and pray.
That we would search the heart of God and determine our motivations, honestly and humbly, without condemnation
That God would open the eyes and ears of this nation to truth and that we would discern which of these two He has chosen.

Oct 19-25: Pray for the Presidency

2008-10-18T19:16:00.001-07:00

"'You, Lord, who knows the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen.'" Acts 1:24

For Whom Should You Vote?

Friends, Acts 1:24 is the prayer of our heart this week! We've got two very different candidates with very different plans running for the highest office in this nation. We've heard what they have to say. The media's weighed in. We've formed some opinions. Maybe we've arrived at a decision. But have you let God to add His insight into Decision 08? Are you sure? Join us this week as we seek God's wisdom and principles for decision making.

Tune Into God

We've got a big decision to make on Nov 4th. And if you, like me, want to stand in confidence (and Divine protection) on the other side of Election Day, we've got to let God speak to us about decision making. We'll dive into those principles on Tues. & Thurs. But right now, let's practice tuning God in.

Get Away! No, you don't need the mountains or an ocean breeze. Just find a quiet place (preferably everyday) where the TV, phone and kids won't distract you. And bring your bible.
Open Up. Share your political and presidential preferences with God. Talk openly with Him about what you believe and why, what has you excited and what deeply concerns you.
Lay it Down. Make a commitment to God to lay your decision at the foot of the cross until He has spoken into the decision.
Ask & Listen. Ask God to speak personally to you now and throughout this week about Decision 08. Then LISTEN for scripture and wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt..." James 1:5-6 God has a unique bird's eye view of past, present and future. He will shed fresh perspective on our decisions if we believe and trust Him with these matters. He may give a renewed commitment about our decision or gently transform our thoughts with new truth. Are you excited (or maybe even a little hesitant) about God getting personally involved in this decision? I hope so. It's a step of faith that God will reward.

Tune Out The World

Wouldn't you agree – It's difficult to hear God. It's even more challenging when we have a variety of voices clamoring for attention. So for this week, would you join with us and tune out the media (as best as you can)? Don't turn off your brain, become a recluse or jump off a cliff of uninformed decision-making. That's foolishness. Just make a pointed effort to tune out the political commercials, editorial opinions, water cooler gossip and other bits of news about the candidates. We have a serious responsibility to choose wisely on Election Day. Your decision and mine will impact generations to come. No matter how the election turns out, don't you want to be certain that we were obedient to His will? Trust me, the media won't be offended (but Satan might).

Some Things Shouldn't Change

Ben Franklin was acutely aware of the critical importance of involving God in big decisions. So much so that he made the following speech prior to forming the Constitution. Reflect on his words and ask yourself ... who are we to depart from that kind of faith?

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, Sire, were heard, and they were graciously answered. ...And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance? I have lived for a long time (81 years), and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir in the sacred writings, that 'Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this , and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall proceed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

Let's Pray

Continue praying that people will pray with sincere hearts and that they will have confidence in God's promises and power. We need to be praying from a place of victory (no matter what the outcome) and not defeat! God is greater than this world. http://prayelect.blogspot.com/2008/10/dont-quit-now.html
Pray that the eyes and ears of Americans will be opened to wisdom, truth and discernment.
Pray that we will be diligent about finding places of quietness and stillness this week so that God can reveal himself in personal and mighty ways.
Pray that God will give us clear guidance and direction about our voting position this week. And that we will not be led astray by clever winds of teaching.

Oct 16: Don't Quit Now

2008-10-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, abounding in love and faithfulness. " Psalm 86:15

I want to thank those of you that have joined with us and have been lifting our nation in prayer. Your words of encouragement (and God's strength) have spurred me on to run the race God has marked out for me. Yet there is some sadness too as some in the faith have lost their confidence in God and most specifically in the power of prayer.

What's the point anyways?

Some claim that we're probably approaching the end times. They believe that our prayers might not have much impact so there's little point in praying. You know, as far as I see it ... We've been in the last days since Jesus died and rose again. And, until we see peace in the middle east and until the great horses of the tribulation make their grand entrance, hope remains alive. SO WE HAVE A MISSION (Matthew 28:18-20). I'd argue that God cares deeply for the 1/3 of 1 billion people that live and breathe and work right here in the United States of America. I'd go so far as to claim that His Son DIED to give them the free gift of eternity. I'd claim that the hope of God has not spread to the other 5-6 billion people that walk this planet. And I believe that God can still use the freedoms that set our nation apart to spread His message to them. All this cry of end times should not leave us paralyzed. Rather it should spur us on to prayer and good deeds.

Have you spent much time with the prophets? They are constantly crying out "humble yourselves and pray, that the Lord might still have mercy". The Lord has grace beyond compare and He can STILL turn the eyes and ears of this nation away from sin. So I cry the words of the Psalmist, "Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once again ... Won't you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in You? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord and grant us your salvation". Psalm 85:4-6

Aren't you being just a little unrealistic?

Some have worried that I'm much too optimistic, or worse yet, unrealistic. That, my friend, is a first. Truth is ... I'm a realist and, sadly, a cynic. When God called me to this task, I thought "Hello, God. Have you lost your marbles? (no disrespect intended) Why me? Have you forgotten, I'm a pessimist and really dislike politics". Yet everyday, God gives me passion and energy to keep praying. To keep trusting. To keep writing. To keep racing. "Christ has given me strength to do His work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him even though ..." 1 Tim 1:12.

As for realism, I'm no fool and I'm certainly not a Pollyanna. We're in for the long haul here. Our nation will need wisdom beyond our earthly selves in order to recover the economy, pay our trillion dollar debt, steer the nation in a new direction, unravel the mess of legislative matters that have weakened our nation and new brilliant strategy to solve the foreign affairs. Those are God-sized problems. And ONLY GOD can bring that kind of wisdom. And, the truth is, GOD WILL ONLY BRING IT IF HIS PEOPLE PRAY!

Aren't you just looking for a miracle?

That's the one I love. Make no mistake about it, we are praying for not one, but a world of miracles. A miracle to revive the hearts of Christians. An even greater miracle to open the eyes and ears of people across this nation. And finally, a God-sized miracle for the next President of this nation to lead with wisdom and charity. Wisdom comes from God. (Check out James 1.) And Christians need to pray for it. And if that isn't enough, I'm asking for even one more miracle ... for the Lord to uncover wise, knowledgable, other-centered people to fill the President's cabinet.

So Where Do We Go from Here?

We Pray! Are you considering throwing in the towel of surrender. I urge you with all that is within me ... Don't Quit Now! We're not defeated! Our God is greater than this world. He can accomplish great things (even if he disciplines us) or He can bring judgment. There's no question that our nation will reap what it has already sown. But like any great farmer knows, there is a new planting season on the horizon. With God's grace, our nation can yet plant new seeds of goodness. So I'm voting for God's blessing and discipline. It means we'll will have to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways and roll up our sleeves to work. But I'm ready. Are you?

LET'S PRAY!

Reflect on James 5:16
Pray that God will soften the hearts of Christians. That they will pray with sincere hearts and that they will have confidence in God's promises and power.
Pray that the eyes and ears of Americans will be opened to wisdom.

Oct 14: The City of Ember

2008-10-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles" Psalm 34:17

Have you seen The City of Ember? If you haven't, then do! You're in for a real treat!

City of Ember tells the story of an underground city; a city built to protect the people from calamity. But, the city has outlived its usefulness. The food is low, the power source is failing, fear is rising and corruption is in the highest offices. Sound all too familiar? And yet, two brave teenagers race against time to unravel the Builder's clues, find a way to escape the dying city and lead the people to a new world.

The parallels to our great country and God's love (though I'm sure the writers and directors didn't intend it) are unmistakeable and timely!

The Condition of The People

Most of Ember's Citizens rush about life doing their day in, day out tasks. And most spend their life looking back rather than forward. I wonder if you and I are a bit like that. We see the condition of our nation ... what it once was and is now. We see what's in the media. We see the nature of people. We hope for a better way. But we recognize that the problem is huge and fear that we are powerless. So we go about our quiet lives, trying to avoid the train wreck.

Confidence in the Builder

There's probably no question in your mind. We need a hero. A God-sized one. And we need deliverance. I love the two unlikely heros in City of Ember. Because they have something in common with believers - an unwavering confidence in the unseen Builder for deliverance. Our young heros in City of Ember were not impeded by cynicism or despair. They were convinced that the Builders - who had created a sustainable city - had also wisely created an exit strategy. They even risked their very lives on that faith. How strong is your confidence in our Great Builder, God? Do you believe that God has an "exit strategy" for this nation? Are you praying for it? Are you ready to take part in His strategy?

Our Race Against Time

My friend, Nov 4 is coming fast. Our country is in serious trouble and we have big decisions to make. Christians all around us can't waste anymore time. We've got to PRAY! Because NOTHING is impossible for God. The Bible says that when we humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways and pray, God is ready and waiting to heal our land. I believe He's already standing, waiting for our voices, ready to take action. "For The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chron 16:9

You and I are here because we want change in this nation. And we're relying on God for that change. But when God moves, ask yourself: "will I be ready to move with him"? He may say "show My love", "change your finances", "build a new relationship", "get rid of that behavior" or "Vote for ______". Are you willing to do what it takes? Are you ready to brave your fears and uncertainty for a brighter tomorrow?

The Prayer

Reflect on Jeremiah 24: God is talking to two kinds of people in His Church. Which will you be?
Pray for Pastors to lead the people to prayer
Pray for Christians to open their eyes and ears and wills to the Lord. Pray that Christians everywhere will be ready to move with God when He takes action.
Pray for repentance among Christians, brave hearts and strong confidence in God's ability to heal our nation.

Oct 12-18: Pray for the People

2008-10-12T05:42:00.000-07:00

Mon & Tues: Pray that the Church will inspire others to pray

Wed & Thur: Pray for believers to have clarity

Fri & Sat: Pray for the people of our country to have clarity

DEVOTION:

If you're like me, you're probably wondering how we'll ever get this country back on track. Afterall, there's no way you or I could single-handedly stop a 100mph snowball of moral decay.

Reflect on 1 Chron 7:14.

"IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Do you see what I see? God is talking to the Church. That's YOU and that's ME! He's not talking to every citizen across America. Because if He were, I'd probably quit now! Instead, God calls the few, the brave, the "PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME" to PRAY! If we want healing, that's where it starts.

Did you also notice that God is asking for relationship. He's basically saying "Let's talk! Let's have a two-way relationship. Don't belittle who I am and I won't let you down. And buddy, I can't wait to bless your socks off when you choose to do the things that make our relationship strong."

Called To 4 Tasks

HUMILITY: That's a fancy way of saying ... "I'm not as cool as I think I am, so I CHOOSE THIS DAY to recognize, serve and trust the One who happens to be a lot wiser, holier and more trustworthy than me."
PRAYER: That's just another way of saying "let's talk". Some of us are a bit skeptical of prayer thinking it doesn't matter or "God has far more important things to do than listen to me". That, my friend, couldn't be further from the truth. God loves our voice ... he created the tone and quality of it. To hear our voice in praise or plea is music to His ears.
SEEK HIS FACE: That means we turn to the truths of scripture. Have you ever looked intently into the eyes of a friend or loved one, searching for the emotional response that authenticates your conversation? That's what the Word does. It let's God speak to us and tell us that He heard us and has something authentic to say about it.
REPENTANCE: Let's be honest with ourselves. In some way, we've allowed something like pride, dishonesty, greed, lust, resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness or another sin into our lives. It's our dark little secret! Newsflash! It's not a secret to God. So let's use this time to confess our sin.

LET'S PRAY EVERYDAY for 5-10 minutes

Confess any sin in your life. Ask God for forgiveness and new direction.
Pray that every pastor and spiritual leader – regardless of denomination – will seek the face of God and sense the urgency. Pray that they'll inspire the people to keep hope alive and pray for our nation. 1 John 3:2 says "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what will be has NOT YET been made known". That, my friend, means that there is still hope for this country. And when you pray about it's future, you're participating in God's outcome.
Pray that the mission of the Church to "go therefore and make disciples" is not hindered by earthly or spiritual forces

Pray for the Elect '08

2008-10-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Pray for the Elect '08

If you're anything like us, you've been deeply burdened about the state of our nation: it's economy, leadership, priorities and morality. You're concerned about the polarization of the people, the decrease in cooperation across party lines and people groups, and the increase in consumerism.

But if you're here, it's because you, too, believe that our best years can still be ahead of us. You believe that nothing is impossible for God if his people pray. You believe that IF a faithful remnant cries out before the King of the Universe, THEN He will hear our cry. You know that IF we let God speak to us, THEN he will lead us in our decisions and actions. He will conform our thoughts, our will and our actions to greatness.

Reflect on the word of God as Solomon dedicated the temple .... "IF my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land". (2 Chron 7:14). After you've reflected, THEN join us as we pray until election day.

The Schedule

Oct 12-Oct 18: Pray for the People

Oct 19-Oct 25: Pray for the Presidency

Oct 26-Nov 2: Pray for the Nation, the Church and Our Families

November 3: Fast

November 4: Pray and VOTE

The Devotionals

We'll be posting devotionals and scripture on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday until election day. We encourage you to read them, pray with us each and every day leading up to election.

Posting Remarks

We welcome your insights and revelations. Please show humility and kindness in your remarks while being courteous and respectful of differing ideas.

PLEASE NOTE: This site is designed to share how God is speaking to you during this period. It is not a discussion ground for denominational differences, media messages, election campaign strategies or the latest news on the campaign front. We will welcome "new information" about the candidates as appropriate (and confirmable), but if a post appears to be a "campaigning" effort, we reserve the right to remove the comments from this site.

The Prayer

Heavenly Father, Creator of the Universe and King of our hearts, we pray that you will inspire your people to humble themselves and pray for this great nation.