Thankful for the Reprieve

Thankful for the change in administration today. 

Hope rises as we cling to freedom of religion and freedom from oppression. 

Freedom of speech breathes in fresh air.

Relief from political correctness.

Thankful for the reprieve. 

Thankful for those of His children who have prayed. 

Who have asked God for His mercy and grace.

And for those who now have positions of influence.

Praying for their wisdom and actions that spring from its waters.

Praying for our President.

And for all....

Wisdom, stamina, safety.

May God's grace and mercy rest upon them.

To God be the glory! Great things He has done!

Thankful Thursday ~ A New Day Dawning

So thankful today for God's mercy in giving us new governing officials. Oh, how I have prayed for His mercy to grant us a reprieve from the moral degradation our present leadership has spiraled us into. Yaweh has heard the prayers of the faithful in the land, and I believe He is giving America an opportunity to aright ourselves and to abolish the wrongs so many have perpetuated and forced upon us.

It's the dawning of a new day.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him; bless His name.

Psalm 100:4

Photo ~ White Chair,  Lori L. Stalter, Flickr CC by 2.0

A Prayer for the Rectitude of Government

O, Heavenly Father,

we bend the knee before you on behalf of all kings, princes,
and governors of this world,
asking you to give them, by your inspiration,
the ability to rule in righteousness,
to rejoice in peace,
to shine in piety,
and to labor for the well-being of the people committed unto them,
so that by the rectitude of government,
all faithful people may live without disturbance
in the knowledge of you,
and labor without hindrance for your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

~ adapted from Prayers from Mozarabic liturgies, 6th-8th centuries,
Prayers Across the Centuries, Harold Shaw Publishers
 

 

Image ~ By GDJ — https://openclipart.org/user-detail/GDJ [CC0]

via Wikimedia Commons public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ Submitting to Authority

Pondering today on Romans 13:1-7, where our pastor spoke from this morning. The passage tells us to be in subjection to the governing authorities, which are established by God. Opposing them is opposing God.

"Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves" (v. 1-2).

This is especially challenging when I disagree with the governing authorities. It's even more difficult when I don't like those in authority over me. But agreeing and liking aren't qualifiers in the command.

God intends for authority to be "a minister of God to you for good" (v. 4), and it would be more palatable if I knew that those in authority were interested in my good, but history attests to the fact that many in authority have been brutal to those under them. God deals with them justly, which we've seen in recent instances. He holds all of us accountable for our part in what He ordains.

Not only is authority to be a minister of good, but it is to punish wrongdoing--to be "an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil" (v.4). I've often heard it said that government can't/shouldn't legislate morality, but biblically that's not so. Here we see that government is to legislate against immorality, and what is that except providing for a moral climate?

Do I always submit to every directive of authority? Not when I'm directed to go against scripture. I'm to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). And this is where my faith is tried in the furnace.

So as I ponder I ask myself, Do I willingly submit to those in authority over me, even if I don't like them or don't agree with them? Or do I do my own thing, or blatantly rebel? Or fuss and fume? Do I draw the line on submitting when it comes to going against biblical truth and commands? Or do I go along with politically correct behavior? Am I willing to be tried in the furnace by obeying God rather than man? Do I desire for dross to be released?

Painting ~ A Young Girl Reading (1890), Charlotte Weeks