It is the first
Thursday of May that is observed by our nation.
People around the United States of America are asked to spend time
praying today for our nation, and I ask you to join me in taking extra time
today to pray for our nation as well for critical places and people in need. Further, I challenge you to pray for changes
lives that will begin with you and me.
The history of
America is rich with truth of how Christians played a significant role in the
beginning of our country as well as with many of the great days experienced by
our countryman. What we all know is that
all blessings are from God.
Proverbs 4:18 NLT
The way of
the righteous is like the first
gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
Proverbs 21:21 NLT
Whoever
pursues righteousness and
unfailing love will find life, righteousness,
and honor.
For years people
have talked about pursuing the so-called “American Dream”, yet that defining it
is something very different. You will
most likely get as many different answers to what the “American Dream” is as to
how many people you ask what they think.
I believe God has
called us first to Himself and beyond to pursue righteous living. It isn’t easy, but it really is right. Jesus exemplified this life while He was on
earth. Many people call the Lord’s
Prayer what we find in Matthew 6, yet I point more to John 17 being the true
Lord’s prayer.
The John 17 Jesus
prays for us. He sets a direction that
we must chase and a direction that our nation was pointed toward. Something has changed. Our leaders and even our homes turned away
from the path that God placed in front of us.
I long for my family, our church and our community to pursue God more
than we pursue anything else. Living for
the greater good of other people really is what Jesus did, and that is also
what great Americans have done.
In the Lord’s
Prayer of Matthew 6 there are some things Jesus tells us to remember:
Matthew
6:9-13 NASB
Our Father
who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be
done,
On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For Yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
On
this “National Day of Prayer” make these things part of your prayers (as Jesus’
example to us):
Our Father…
Our prayers
have to be pointed toward and sent to the only God, our God and Father! He is holy above all else.
Your kingdom…
We
must keep our mind set on what matters for eternity and that is God’s kingdom.
Our daily bread…
God is our
provider. We can trust Him in all things
and through all situations.
Forgive
us…
His nature is grace
and forgiveness. By following Jesus we
take on His character of being gracious and forgiving others.
Yours
is the kingdom and the power…
This prayer started
with God and ends with God. Shouldn’t
everything in our lives be the same? God
began our lives as creator. God sustains
us daily. And God has prepared eternity
for us as well.
By taking some time
to earnestly pray on this special day of prayer reminds us, our families and
all close to us that we chose to stay connected to God. It also reminds us that we are empty without
God. We really are blessed! Spend extra time praying today.
James 5:16 NASB
… The
effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
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