#6 - National Day of Prayer, (this) Thursday May 7

(Note: This Sunday, May 10th, “The Coral Ridge Hour,” the weekly broadcast of messages by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy (whom I view was one of the most articulate and brilliant pastors of our time), will also feature an interview with a pastor who was arrested (how scandalous?!!) and spent 14 days in jail for passing out pro-life literature and seeking to counsel women outside an abortion clinic. Please check your Christian television station(s) to be sure to either view or videotape for later viewing this and other weekly broadcasts of this program. You will not only hear a great message from God’s Word each week but will also learn about how things happening in our country relate to you as a Christian.)

“Heavenly Father, there are no words to adequately thank you for how graciously you have blessed America. Please forgive us as a nation that for too long we have failed to bless YOU in our public policies and personal lives. Just our coming to “live with” the daily slaughter of over 4,000 of our most innocent – our unborn ( for 36 years now) -- should be enough reason for you to withdraw your favor from our land, if you have not already. May we who long to have our nation once again be rooted in righteousness and preserved from further decadence not lose heart. May we come to set our face firmly in persevering in words and deeds “against the gates of hell” just as our Lord set His face firmly against those hostile to Him (Luke 9:51) We pray that, as our brave military men and women fight against our sworn enemies around the world and seek to protect our freedoms, you will enable us to be watchmen (Jeremiah 62:6a) and warriors here on the home front against our enemies who threaten us from within. Grant us successes, Lord, not just for our sakes but for the sakes of the generations of Americans yet to be born. We pray this in the Name and Authority of He in whom rests ALL authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”

May we all find time this Thursday, and on some regular basis thereafter, to pray for our country. Several years ago, Chuck Colson’s Breakpoint ministry came out with a list of the “Top Ten Moral Issues Facing America.” I present this list to you here that it might serve as a guide of things about which to pray for America. I hope in future postings on this website to offer information and updates on the issues mentioned.

Top Ten Moral Issues Facing America

1) Terrorism: Strengthening America in the War on Terrorism and in the clash of civilizations against radical Islam.

2) Sanctity of Life: Preserving sanctity of life by resisting the encroachment of abortion, euthanasia, cloning, and embryonic stem cell research.

3) Marriage: Protecting by law the traditional heterosexual definition of the family.[I would also add the strengthening of families and greater resistance to the easy divorce mentality of our culture.]

4) Religious Liberty: Defending the persecuted Church and others of faith in the United States and around the world. […and in the U.S. The story of the pastor above is just one of many about the growing hostility towards Christians happening every day in our country as well as around the world.]

5) Human Rights: Protecting human rights, whether it’s stopping sex-trafficking, slavery in Sudan, or the spread of AIDS. [Did you know that President (George W. Bush not only addressed slavery in Sudan and promoted repeatedly the giving of financial assistance to countries in Africa dealing with the AIDS crisis, but that he is the only world leader I know of who spoke about sex-trafficking at length on one occasion when he spoke to the United Nations (and was ridiculed by some in the press for it)?]

6) Media: Challenging the negative impact of the mass media on culture-including speaking out against pornography, sexual exploitation, and violence. [Especially in light of the last election, I would also add challenging the media’s slanted and bias promotion of just one side on different issues and of their favored political candidates.]

7) Marginalized Citizens: Caring for the poor and restoring prisoners. Also, preserving the financial stability of health care, especially for the elderly and disabled.

8) Faith-based Solutions: Advocating the consideration of faith-based ideas and the involvement of faith-based organizations in presenting solutions to societal problems.

9) Judiciary Roles: Restoring the constitutional role of the Supreme Court and restricting judicial activism. [With the recent retirement of Justice Souter, we need especially to be praying for the replacing justice to be one who (despite his/her political views) will faithfully INTERPRET the Constitution and who will not try to “legislate from the bench.”]

10) Education: Improving education and promoting choices within the educational system. [If 36 years ago, seven Supreme Court justices decided that there was a “freedom of choice” provision in the Constitution – in regards to abortion, than why is it that that freedom does not also apply for parents in choosing which schools will educate their children with our tax dollars?]