National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 7

My outlook calendar reminded me to jet to the county office during lunch time, to gather at the entrance and pray. Maranatha's Evelyn and Tony ministered in music and we all sang "God Bless a America"; it felt great to sing out loud, for the Lord in such a public arena. There was quite a number of people who gathere, many taking time from lunch to take part. Maranatha's own Pastor Rich Webb and Pastor Jeremy, led the prayers. I was so glad that I came. I literally had a 2o minute drive to get there, but staying only 20 minutes was worth it. So much took place in that time. We prayed as a collective body, for the nation, our President, the pastors in this community, and the military. We broke into small groups to pray for specific personal needs. I shared my need to be organized at home - I know what needs to be done, but struggle with time to do it. There is so much I would like to do, but it seems far out of reach. Jennifer Ford, a sister at Marantha was in our group, along with her parents. She offered a lot of encouragement to me and we exchanged numbers afterwards.

It was like a flash family reuninon - shook hands with my former Pastor Jim, and embraced my brother who was there filming. Surprise! Surprise! There a few other church members I got to give quick hugs to before returning to work.

I felt such a peace out there. I returned to the office like a super charged energizer bunny.

We closed as a collective body, unashamed to bow our heads in front of a government office and give honor and glory to Jesus.

A specific prayer was offered...

Reverend Joe Wright was believed to have created this prayer, originally delivered by Bob Russell. In 1996 Rev. Wright offended a handful when he addressed the Kansas House of Representatives with it. The truth will undeniably do just that.

“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we've done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.”

“We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your Word and called it moral pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbors' possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our fore-fathers and called it enlightenment.”

“Search us O God and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by you, to govern this great state. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the name of your son, the living savior, Jesus Christ.”

Amen.