October 28, 2013

From Daniel's prayer in chapter 9:

Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

Stars. Millions and millions of them, and we can't even get close to our own star. With utmost precision you set our little earth spinning and gave us a view of the heavens to remind us of how awesome You are; and how tiny we are. How is it possible for us to forget You? How in the world do we spin our own little worlds so tightly that we can't even see You? What a laughable squeak we make when we shake our fists at You.

Yet You remain. You remain the source of all love. You remain faithful. You keep your covenant though we are as unfaithful as Hosea's Gomer.

Oh the long list of things we long for instead of You: entertainment, security, wealth, pursuit of happiness, control, power, prestige... Many are the idols we bow down to every waking moment in America. We have sinned and done wrong...we have been wicked...we have turned away...we have not listened...

Lord we pray for our spiritual leaders. Protect them from the demons of fame and self-righteousness. Give them Your words and don't let them say anything else. For Billy Graham and his program coming this Christmas, for Franklin Graham and the Christmas child shoeboxes, for Ravi Zacharias, Chuck Swindoll, James Dobson, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyers, Beth Moore, Anne Graham Lotz, Philip Yancey, and so many many more.... Thank you for the blessings of so many spiritual leaders. Thank you for the technology that has given them such an audience. Thank you for the freedom they have to speak. And Lord, help us listen.

For our Fort Drum spiritual leaders we also thank You and pray: Chaplain Moore and Chaplain Petros, the chapel leaders, the chaplains who are preparing their message this week, the chaplains who every day are working out their witness among the soldiers, the PWOC leaders Muriel and Priscilla, the women speaking and loving PWOC attendants, the youth ministry leaders...

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him... 
Yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 

Lord may we pay extra attention to your truth this week. In this highly distracted world, help us to focus; and then like a prism to focus Your light to our neighbors. Especially in a week like this that can be so dark.

Beyond our spiritual leaders, we pray for our political leaders. Lord, give President Obama wisdom that could have only come from You. Surround him with advisors who have your insight. May our military leaders be that blend of toughness and mercy and wisdom.

Please be with our soldiers, everywhere. Hold them in the palm of Your hand. Please give extra grace to the families who shipped out their warriors this week.

Maker of the stars, Lover of my soul. Thank You for forgiving us.

We do not make request of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your Name.