Tag: presidential election

The CONCLUSION

On By francesrogersIn CONTENTMENT, GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER, TRUTHLeave a comment

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-11-20-09-amToday we come to the conclusion of six weeks of prayer for our nation, and the conclusion of an election for a new President of these United States of America.

More importantly we come to the conclusion of the whole matter of all prayer for all things.

We have used the context of the prayer which our Lord Jesus Christ gave us, recorded for all generations and all times in Matthew 6:9-13.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we used the preface and the petitions, and now we come to the conclusion.

Petitions are sandwiched between the preface and the conclusion. Jesus meant for us to see that all is from God, the Father; through Him, and for Him.

All things, all conditions, and all conclusions rest in His hands and His plans.

He is the conclusion of all things, before the beginning and to the end.

The preface is to address the one to whom we pray ~ “Our Father in heaven.”

The conclusion is to establish our purpose for prayer to our Father in heaven ~

“For Thine is the kingdom

“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”
Psalm 103:19

and the power

“Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,
Psalm 62:11

and the glory,
forever.”
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
Romans 11:36

Dear heavenly Father, we have these last six weeks poured out our hearts to you, seeking you, your kingdom, and your will as it concerns us as your children, the nation and the world in which we live.  We have no other means of wisdom, and authority.  You are our Father, the kingdom and power over all things.  You have promised your presence among us at all times, even when we can’t discern your leading and authority.  Make us to know your sovereign rule during times of uncertainty. When men and women are seeking their own glory, draw us to you to know your strength, your kingdom, your power and your glory over all.  By your Holy Spirit bring your truths to our minds and hearts.  Draw us closer to you and each other in prayer as we continue to seek your kingdom in our hearts and lives.  Make us strong in your word and in faith for what you have planned in the days and years ahead.  Let us always be ready to serve you and others in the name of Jesus our Lord ~ in whose name we pray.  Amen.
Music: Jude 24-25

Countdown For America ~ Week 6

On By francesrogersIn CONTENTMENT, GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYERLeave a comment

l-497887Instead of normal writing time this morning, I spent time in the quietness of the Father’s presence, just to hear His voice; to worship Him, and to know His heart and mind in what to write in this post. As we have gone through the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer to pray for our nation, we have been learning how we as God’s people relate to the world in which we live. We are aliens and pilgrims here, journeying through a wilderness on our way home.

Men tell us that we must vote for a candidate of our choice to rule this nation, though there does not seem to be a clear choice for us as God’s people.

“In the sixth petition we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.” Shorter Catechism

What does the sixth petition have to do with a Presidential election?

There is no clear answer to this question.

The petition is a plea for our heavenly Father to keep us from sinning against Him.

Every petition of the Lord’s Prayer indicates a need for us. The first three express our need for the Father’s name, His kingdom, and His will to rule in our lives. These are the first needs in every Christian life. These are our focus, our heart’s desire, our determined reason for living. When these three are our main concern, we are promised that the last three are taken care of.

Such is our thought for this sixth petition.

The heavenly Father’s name, His kingdom, and His will rule over all our physical needs. Our temptations are under His reign and control, just as we are under His care for all things.

Our Example

Jesus fought His temptations with the two-edged sword, the Word of God; by the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer. Our heavenly Father does His work in and through us. We work out our own salvation with fear and trembling using the weapons He has given us. (Philippians 2:12-15)

Do we fear that we might give in to temptation? This is a good fear. It keeps us close to Him, in His Word and in prayer. Jesus told some that thought they believed in Him, “If you continue in my word, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   We are free to trust, worship and serve Him ~ fulfilling the purpose for our creation and redemption.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

Simon Peter in his first letter encouraged his readers to be aware of the enemy, the evil one. We are tempted when we mix and conform to the culture of the world, unaware of the enemy’s stronghold and power. The original translation for the sixth petition was “deliver us from the evil one.”

The main temptation of our day is the same as presented to our first parents: to forget God’s sovereign rule and our entire dependence on Him and His Word, and to place our trust in men and our own choices.

Dear heavenly Father,
You have placed a great need upon your people in this nation today. We are caught up in the struggle of man’s rule of your universe. We have mistakenly placed our trust in the government that man has planned. We are tempted to forget your omnipotence, your omniscience, and your omnipresence. We need you to reveal the power of your name, your kingdom, and your will in our hearts and lives.
Please pour out your Spirit upon us, drawing us to your Holy Word and Christ, your Son.
Bring us, as your people, to prayer and fasting this week, seeking your Word, to know and accept your holy will for us as your people and this nation. Let us not be tempted to go beyond the counsel of your word for the choices you want us to make, choices that you will use for your working ~ for your glory and our good.  In the middle of uncertainty, let us be content in your power, your promises and your presence with us. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

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Praying For Our Nation ~ Week 3

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER, Uncategorized1 Comment


our-father-which-art-in-heavensupreme-courtThis week we want to meditate on and pray the third petition for us and our nation.

capital“What do we pray for in the third petition? In the third petition we pray, that God, by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.” Shorter Catechism

Dear Father, you teach us in your word that all secrets belong to you. We have learned that you have a secret will and a revealed will, which leaves all things in your hands.

As Jesus taught us, we pray that you reveal your will to us through your Word, and in time your secret will concerning the future of this nation. As we watch and wait to know who will be the next President of this country, open our hearts to your Word for us as your children, so that we may know and trust that all things work according to your will.

First, believing that we need you to work in us as your people, we pray that, as your will is done in heaven, we may know the rule of Christ over us and in the center of our lives, our families, and our churches. As the angels worship and adore Him, serving in obedience to Him, please move in our hearts to seek your will through a new, reviving, transforming work in us. Let Christ, through your church, be the light that is needed in this darkness.

Move the hearts of those who will rule this nation to know you and your will in their lives. Have mercy upon us as we place all our hope in you.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Praying Together For Our Nation ~ Week 2

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER, Uncategorized1 Comment

Last week we began praying  together  with the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer.

OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

This week we want to meditate upon and pray the second petition:

supreme-court

“What do we pray in the second petition? We pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.” Shorter Catechism

This answer was documented centuries ago, by those ministers who met together, prayed together and agreed on its meaning.

Dear Father in heaven, we need your Spirit here on this earth to reveal your rule over us. It seems that you have left us to fend for ourselves, that we don’t know where we are going, or who will lead us.   You teach us in your word that all power belongs to you; that your kingdom rules over all men and circumstances. We need to hear your voice, to see your working, and to know your holy will as we wait in uncertainty.

Bring the power of your Spirit to us as your children to trust you. Though we cannot understand how you are working, give us your Spirit of peace and of wisdom for the decisions that each of us must make.  Let us continue to seek your kingdom and your righteousness first and foremost.

We pray that your kingdom would reign in each of our hearts, believing that you have appointed your Son, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, the authority in heaven and earth. Enable us to examine our hearts and lives to know that Christ rules over all things that concern us.

Enable all who follow Christ to know that your kingdom lives and rules in us all; that we are one kingdom, not a divided kingdom. In these times, let us who are your people put aside all differences and disagreements and join hearts and minds in Christ in a unity that honors you and your Son, our Savior, and Lord, Jesus Christ, exalting Him above all things.

Make us light in the darkness, ready to answer those who ask us the source of our hope.

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.”
Psalm 145:13


Photography

Let Us Pray Together For Our Nation

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER, Uncategorized3 Comments

Why should we pray together for our nation? Burdens and prayer go together. As Christians we expect our heavenly Father to place burdens upon us so that we will come to Him in humility for His intervention.

He has given us His Spirit of grace and supplication for times like these.

He has placed His Son, our Lord and Savior at the helm of His kingdom as our High Priest, and through His Spirit, He receives our prayers and supplications.

In these last few weeks before this presidential election, please join me at the beginning of each week to pray each of the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.  We will see how it relates to each of us, personally, to our families, the church, our nation, and the world.  We ask that other nations join us. (See A World in Crisis)

Please consider fasting as the Lord leads you.

our-father-which-art-in-heaven

Dear Father, we come to you with the burden you have placed on our hearts. We see the handwriting on the wall. Believing that you are our heavenly Father who has birthed us into your kingdom, we need no other recourse but you. You care for us through your authority and rule over us as your children. During these times of uncertainty draw us near to you, show us your ways, teach us your paths, lead us in your truth, for you are the God of our salvation.

As we watch the proceedings leading up to this election, enable us to see all in your omnipotence, all happening under your control. Let our responses to these things be honoring to you, as we trust you in all things.

Let us not be anxious; let us not be fearful, but work in us that we may trust you explicitly in these coming weeks and for the end result.

Examine our own hearts and minds. Search us and try us as your people; let us not be found wanting, but in all things honoring you and your name ~ in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Let the work that you do in each of us be honoring to you as a light to others who are fearful.  Let us be a blessing to those who have no hope.

Increase our faith during these times of uncertainty.

Let our attention not be on those who may be physically ruling this country. but enable us to keep our focus on you, your authority, your honor, your power, and your glory, for your name’s sake.
In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Related articles:  A World in Crisis, and  A Crucial Seven Weeks.

Photography: Washington Sunrise by Aram Vartian

A Crucial Seven Weeks

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER, TRUTH, Uncategorized4 Comments

Seven weeks from today America will have a new president.  Those who voted for the winner will be happy. Those who voted for the loser will realize that their candidate was defeated, and their hope is gone.  Others have had no hope in either one.  These may remain confused and uncertain about the future of our country.

These seven weeks are crucial to the campaigns of the candidates. They are also crucial for us as God’s people. We, His children, who have an inheritance in His kingdom, have much at stake. We will never lose our legacy to that eternal kingdom, but we face the possibility of losing the freedom to continue to worship and express our faith here in this nation.

God, our Father can do all things without us, but He delights to include us in His campaign.

While the candidates and their supporters continue to rally, what should we do? We need to be aware of God’s will for each of us, not simply to say, “the will of the Lord be done.”

We Must Rally Around the Throne of Grace

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

It is by His grace that we are able to pray to our heavenly Father, as we seek His kingdom and His righteousness for this nation. We are called to pray in all circumstances, for His will and His glory. 

If you have not already planned or been led by your own pastor for a six-week prayer and fasting vigil, we encourage you to suggest it for your church. Don’t wait until after the election to pray. Don’t wish later that you had prayed. We’ll still need to pray, afterward, but we will know that we did all that our heavenly Father wanted us to do at this crucial time. After the election, we can rejoice and praise the Lord that His will is done, regardless of the outcome.  We can live in the hope and trust that He still rules and reigns over all; no matter who is president of this nation.

happy-is-he

Consider the Psalmist words, as we look to our only hope.

“Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,

Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises those who are bowed down;

The Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
The Lord shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!”    Psalm 146:3-10

Dear Father, draw us to your throne of grace as you campaign for your kingdom’s rule in our hearts and lives.  Bring us to examine our faith and know that our hope is in you alone.  Let us praise you always, regardless of the circumstances of this life. In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.
For a guide to prayer for the next six weeks, please consider our last post ~ A World in Crisis.

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