I'm very interested in what is going on in our government and politics. I'm interested. I'm holding my breath, but interested nonetheless and turning to my bible.
Look what I found!: Romans 13:1 tells me: "let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" And it goes on to make clear that I am to respect authorities and obey the law," Romans 13:2-6. I am also to "pay to all what is due them--taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, honor to whom honor is due." Romans 13-7.
Romans 13:8-10 goes on to say that all the commandments about how God's people are to treat each other "are summed up in this word, 'love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."
Clearly I'm supposed to love the legislators -- all of them, no matter what their views. And they are to love all of us, no matter who we are or what our views are. This makes me chuckle, because I've never thought of it this way. I think we should surround the legislature -- every single member -- and all the staff and others who are there, with love and prayer.
Now, let me see: Love, from Romans 13 to Corinthians 13:1, "If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging symbol" - - AMEN!!!
8 comments:
There just couldn't be a more urgent time to pray for our government, our country, our world, our military, our children and all of it, than right now! Can you put this on your urgent prayer list and pray every day?
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, I will hear from heaven and will heal their land." What a wonderful promise! Pray!
I will pray, but oh how convicting this is to try and love all of those in politics. This will be a struggle for me. I will pray that God will show me how to do this.
A very timely teaching for me to hear when I am feeling so much distrust of our system right now.
Me, too! I am really disenfranchised right now. Things just aren't going right! But, that's where this scripture comes into place! It is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. I didn't quote it quite right - left some of out - so here is the correct quote from my New American Bible: If my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land."
"HUMBLE yourselves in the sight of the Lord". Remember that song from prayer meetings? I've been thinking and studying about HUMBLE.
1) It is mentioned several places in the bible. The opposite of PRIDE, one of the 7 deadly sins!
2) The meaning of HUMBLE in the dictionary means: free from pride
or vanity; modest; meek; unassuming.
3) PRIDE - an undue sense of one's OWN superiority.
So, as I prayed and studied, I realized that the meaning of this scripture is very profound. This is what I got out of it:
If my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced (CHRIST-ians?), humble (know that GOD is God, and only He can fix this mess. He is all-knowing, all powerful, and good, and I cannot assume that any other can do this), and pray, and seek my presence (what was our lesson on seeking him, being in His presence daily?), and turn from their evil ways (repent, and follow Jesus), I will hear them from heaven, and pardon their sins, and will heal their land. (Pardon our sins! Such good news! And heal our land! Wow!)
Let's all humble ourselves, give our government, our country, our world over to God, and have faith in His ability to get things where He wants them to go. HE IS IN CONTROL - no one else! Let's pray, let's seek His presence, confess our sinfulness, repent - and then wait on the Lord to show us how it's done!
Any other thoughts on this post?
Back when Mom and I were doing the Bible Study with Rev. Kathy over at Life Christian center, we watched a video. It was about some small South American village that was suffering: disease, starvation, economic disaster. And the people did not practice healthy living: sexual sin, greed, government corruption, etc... Then some missionaries arrived. First they worked to teach healthy lifestyle practices, then they preached, the village turned to God, accepted Jesus Christ, repented, and determined to live righteous lives, no matter what. The next year, the entire village prospered! The best crops EVER were harvested. The little children were getting strong and healthy again. The sexual sin stopped and diseases were arrested and cured. The entire village prospered, in every way. It was a great witness to the power and authority of God in our lives. I am guilty of never praying for our congress, the president-yes, but not congress. I will change that now. This is another great lesson. Thanks for sharing it.
That is a great witness of the power of HUMBLING ourselves and turning from our wicked ways and praying, Mickey. Isn't God amazing?
I started praying the newspaper years and years ago. As I read it I pray for that situation I am reading about, I pray for those whose loved ones have passed away, I pray for those who are in trouble, and I rejoice with the Good news, too. I pray for our president daily, or at least when he's in the newspaper. Each congressman mentioned gets some prayers. The judges, court cases, new births, new marriages, broken marriages - all of it! I lay hands on that particular event and pray. Now, I don't have time to pray the whole newspaper each day, as I'm sure none of us has - but, I will pick a page, lay hands on it - and pray! If you don't have the newspaper, you could do that with your computer, or while watching a news program! Our whole world needs God's prayer warriors!
Mom, you are a prayer warrior - always have been, as far back as I can recall. Good teaching, here! I think sometimes it's hard for us to remember that God is in control and that whatever happens is in his will. Even so, we need to pray. I love your idea of praying the paper, or the news, or however. That's a great reminder to pray otherwise it can be mighty overwhelming!
I forgot to say that I don't pray EVERYTHING in one setting. I will ask the Holy Spirit to direct me where I should pray this day. And as I read the paper, somethings will draw my attention more than others, so I stop there, lay hands on that particular article and pray. I also will sometimes hold the paper between both hands and pray the whole thing all at once.
I always pray for my family - especially the prayers requested or needs that I see. And my friends and aquaintances also.
Prayer is important!
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