Jerri Phillips

This election has made me realize more than ever the importance of Christians actively obeying the Lord to bring about godly results in our nation.

One of the most obvious and too often forgotten acts of obedience is prayer. How much difference can prayer make? All the difference.

Zechariah 4:6 says, "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. " The Lord is telling a king that the battle is not determined by physical presence or ability but rather by the move of God.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Where is the healing to be found? Not in a political platform. Not in a government program. Not in a court judment. But in the humbling of hearts before God and the outcry of need for His lordship.

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." --1 Timothy 2:1-6, 8

Notice Paul doesn't say to pray for just the godly leaders but all those in authority, every level, evey leader. Notice also that Paul never says, "It pleases God when these leaders make the right laws or form the right programs." No, Paul says God "wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth." It is easy to pray for specific issues, but the real issue is the lordship of these leaders. If they are walking with the Lord and receiving revelation from and about Him, the symptomatic issues won't be issues.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. -- Colossians 1:9

To help focus prayer for the United States and her leaders, I have created a new blog entitled simply Pray for America. I hope you come by often. If you want us to pray for the leaders in your area, send me an email via my profile.

We stand at an amazing point in American history. We have the opportunity to not only heal our heritage but to also reclaim our godly inheritance that previous generations either did not understand or simply did not value. We have the power to make a difference in our country.

We have the power of prayer.

Let us use that power with boldness and passion, ever seeking the Lord in praise and humility for His goodness.

I sing to joy to God my strength;
I shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin making music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious hard, and lyre.

Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast,
for the Lord has decreed that we worship Him with exuberance, delight, fascination, and honor.
This is an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He established this as a statue for Joseph when he went out against the land of captivity.

The Lord has removed my burden from my shoulders.
He has set me hand free from hard labor.
I cried out to Him in my distress and He rescued me.
He answered me from a thundercloud.
He has tested me to see if I truly trust Him to meet all my needs.

Hear, America, the Lord is warning us,
Listen to Him!
Father, America chooses to have no foreign gods among us,
we do not bow down to alien gods.
You are our Lord and our God. There is no one but you.
You have delivered us from slavery into a land of Promise.
We open wide our mouths, and You alone fill them.
Forgive us when we have not listened to you.
Forgive us for not submitting to you.
Forgive us for following our own ways and devices.
Forgive us and do not turn us over to our own stubborness. If you do, we will die.

We choose to be your people. We choose to listen to you.
We choose to follow your ways.
Because we choose to be your people and follow your ways,
you quickly subdue our enemies
and turn your hand against our foes!
Those who hate you cringe before you,
and their punishment lasts forever.

Lord, in your great love and mercy, feed us with the finest of wheat, which is the Bread-the broken body of your Son;
satisfy us with honey from the rock, which is you Son Jesus.

Thank you, Holy and Mighty God, for all your mercies.
Amen.

--Psalm 81