The Issues

I. The War

As a nation, we seek peace – but not peace at all costs. When America is threatened, we must defend her or risk losing the liberties that we hold dear. Yet, even when we struggle against forces that would destroy us, we pray for te ultimate victory: lasting peace.

The beautiful words of John 14:27 give us hope: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you…” We, as believers, can accept God’s peace and ignore it. When we invite the peace of God’s into our lives, we are transformed. And then, because we possess the gift of peace, we can share that gift with fellow believers and with fellow citizens of all faiths.

Today, as a gift to yourself, to your family, to your friends, and to your nation, pray for peace in the world and for peace within your soul.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You offer a peace that is perfect and eternal. Let me turn the cares and burdens of my life over to You, and let me feel the spiritual abundance that You offer through the person of Your Son, the Prince of Peace. Today, I also pray for peace among nations, Father, and for brotherly lover among Your children throughout the world. I pray for your safety and comfort for those soldiers fighting for the freedoms of our great nation. You are the source of peace, Dear Lord; let us find it in You. Amen

II. Terrorism

“With liberty and justice for all.” These familiar words from the Pledge of Allegiance remind us that the promise of America is the promise of freedom. And as loyal citizens, we must seek justice not only for ourselves but also for our fellow citizens and for those around the world. America remains a nation dedicated to the principal of equal justice for all its citizens. May we, as modern-day patriots, commit ourselves to lives characterized by truth and justice. And, let us pray that America remains a land of liberty for all of the people. Amen

Prayer:
Dear Lord, our Source of strength and courage, we ask You to guide the leaders of nations in the ways of peace and justice and enduring freedom for the peoples of the world. In these times of peril and war against terrorism, we pray for the men and women serving in our armed forces, our military leaders and our allies. Protect them all from harm as they go into battle on land, in the sea and in the air. Take away whatever fear from their hearts and enable them to overcome swiftly and decisively the violence and cruelty of the enemy. Protect them from the hatred of others and bolster their personal pride of being American as they rid our world of the works of darkness and weapons of mass destruction. Console their loved ones and family members who remain on the home front. Gently dry the tears of those who mourn for the wounded in battle and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Oh Lord, bless them with Your presence. Grant us homeland security. May Your Peace, the fruit of justice, truth and mercy, reign in America and throughout the world. Amen

III. The Economy

The American dream was forged on the anvil of adversity. Tough times are nothing new to the American people: we’ve begun facing and overcoming adversity long before John Hancock proudly penned his name on the Declaration of Independence. Through wars, epidemics, social unrest, and economic distress, Americans have faced their problems and risen above them.

And so it is today. But through adversity, we grew stronger. Abigail Adams, said it well, “It is not in the still calm of life, or in repose of pacific station that great characters are formed … Great necessities call our great virtues.”

The times that try men’s souls are also the times when wise men and women turn to God in prayer. E. M. Bounds writes, “God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world, the better the world wil be, and the mightier will be the forces against evil.” Today as in years gone by, Americans will grow stronger as we turn to the Creator of the universe for the victory that only He can provide.

Prayer:
Lord, we give You thanks in all circumstances. And, when we face the inevitable challenges and difficulties of life such as we are with unemployment and financial hardship, we turn to You. When we encounter situations that we cannot understand, we trust in You. You are the Creator and the sovereign God. And we give the glory and the thanksgiving to You, God, for the ultimate victory that You have promised Your faithful children. Amen

IV. Peace in Israel and the Middle East

With no end in sight to the turmoil in the Middle East, all signs and prophesies seem to point to an escalation in the violence and conflict. Yet no matter where you stand politically or spiritually regarding the current unrest in Israel, as Christians we can unite on one front: prayer. Prayer: Dear Lord, We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We are sad to see the violence and suffering as men, women and children are injured and killed on both sides of the conflict. We don’t understand why it has to be this way, nor do we truly know if war is right or wrong. But we pray for justice, your sovereign righteousness, Lord. And at the same time we pray for mercy. For everyone involved we pray, for governments and peoples, militants and terrorists, we ask for your kingdom to come and rule over the land. Protect the soldiers and civilians from bloodshed. May your truth and light shine in the darkness. Where there is only hatred, may your love prevail. Help me as a Christian to support Israel and those who you support, Lord, and to bless those who you bless, my God. Bring your salvation to Israel, dear God. Bring your salvation to the whole earth. 
Amen.

V. Health Care

Perhaps you have sometimes taken America’s freedoms for granted. If so, welcome to the club. In a land so richly blessed, it is easy to forget how hard our forefathers struggled to earn the blessings that we enjoy today. But we must never forget, and we must never become complacent.

Abraham Lincoln’s words still ring true: “No man is good enough to govern another man without the other’s consent.” And so it is when an issue like health care reform threatens the freedoms of Americans in one form or another. In America, no man governs alone. We the people make the laws, enforce the laws and change the laws when they need changing. For these liberties, we must thank those who have gone before us and our Father who reins above us. And, the best way to say “thank you” for our blessings is to defend them, whatever the cost.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for this nation and for the freedoms we enjoy here. Give us the courage to preserve our precious liberties and the strength to make sure we share them with the less fortunate in our nation who have not had access to health care. May we speak out against injustice, and may the flame of freedom that burns brightly in America be a beacon to all. Amen