To my beloved Sisters who I esteem so highly and consistently find to be part of the solution to our problems in the Church rather than the cause,
Please join me in praying for our President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and his precious daughters, Sasha and Malia. Go with me before the Throne of our sovereign God and ask Him to grant wisdom from above to President-elect Obama and the indwelling presence and power of Jesus Christ. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “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…”
Please also join me in the active and deliberate pursuit of unity and purity in the Body of Christ at this historical time in our country. I implore you in Jesus’ Name to have zero tolerance for prejudice whether it is regarding party-affiliation, color (whether you are Black, White, or Brown), economics or the like. Disagreement is not sin. Prejudice is. Satan has plotted events and planted attitudes that, should he be successful, will result in havoc. We must not stand for his schemes or cooperate in a single way. We would severely displease God and invite untold chastisement upon Christ’s Church in our nation. Speak clearly to your children and graciously but emphatically draw a line in your work places and social circles regarding your stand against prejudice of any kind.
“Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'” (Matthew 12:25) A united house stands. A divided house falls. The devil has much to gain. But he also has much to lose.
We are the Body of Jesus Christ and we have an opportunity to show His character. This is our watch. We stand for what is right not from our feet but from our knees.
I humble myself before you and make these pleas under such bold direction of God that I could not resist it nor disobey it. He made it a fire in my bones.
I love and esteem you so much. Shoulder to shoulder, Dear Siestas. Let’s leave not one inch for the enemy to come between us.
“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” Zephaniah 3:9
Amen.
Honor and glory to Him through us who will reflect His character.
Lauri
I have already been on my knees this morning in prayer for our President-Elect and his family. Your words potrayed what God has placed in my heart as well. I have asked Him to put a prayer in my mouth each day for our new President and our country. I want to be more diligent in this than I have been in the past. Last, but not least,let us pray for the Church, that we may glorify Him. My life has been changed by the principle that you taught in Stepping Up, Beth. In God’s kingdom, the way up is down. Let us bow down before our Lord in worship with the words of Psalm 24-The earth is the Lord’s. Praise God.
Thank you for your sound, biblical guidance. God knows. He sees and is soveriegn. What a privilege to serve a God so completely present in our lives.
I just wanted to share an election victory for the Word. In the state of Florida, amendment 2 was passed which defines marraige as 1 man and 1 woman.
As soon as I drop my children off at school I will repent for just being plan scared for our children and country. I will do what the Lord asks of Me!
Dear sweet Beth, Oh how I needed to hear your words this morning. Thank you so much for your wisdom. My heart was laying very heavy with disappointment, but you have uplifted me with your words and your scripture reference. You are such a blessed inspiration.
Love in Christ,
Nancy
This is such great perspective, Beth and is much needed for this heavy heart in a state that “changed color” last night. Thanks for being obedient to what He wanted you to share with us. May the LORD do a mighty work in the heart of our new president, and in each of us.
I have such peace even though I fervently prayed for a different direction. I know that had it gone the other way, I would not have committed to pray EVERYDAY for our president and our country. God is using this, in my life, to draw me so much closer to Him and I praise Him for that. God is so good and SO in control!
Thank you, Beth. When my daughters (ages 13 and 10) got up this morning, I explained to them that, regardless of what we would hear from the people around us, we were called to focus our attention on using our words to lift the new President-elect up to heaven throne rather than tear him down. I wonder sometimes how much of the failure of our leaders can be rightfully attributed to the failure of the Body of Christ to consistently pray for them. I know that I fail too often to pray for government authorities. I am praying that God will increase my faithfulness in this area.
Amen, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.
God placed this very thing on my heart this morning….
http://yolanda-highergrounds.blogspot.com/2008/11/would-you-join-me.html
Love to you, Miss Beth, you are such an awesome servant and role model. Causing me to reach higher!
Yolanda
Standing with you in the watch. Praying with you on my face for President-elect Obama and his family and all the leaders of our country.
And you know what? It has just come to mind that my long time prayer for LPM has always been just exactly what you have just written. God is doing a mighty wonderful set-up for us all to reach across the boundaries we have placed and just flat-out love one another. So I praise Him for this opportunity to love in His Name.
AMEN!
Yes, sister, Amen! Praying for God to press His plan on our hearts so that we will see His ways are holy. Thank you for these words today. And this: “Speak clearly to your children” already took place this morning as we were getting ready for our day. Yes, we must teach them now to have no part in prejudice attitudes towards anyone. Thank you for your unyielding words of wisdom! Much love, Amy in OK
Thank you dearest Beth for these words of TRUTH. Bless you dear sister…Cindy
A big Amen
Pam Southern Indiana
Amen.
thank you for posting this.
Amen. Thank you for putting into words what I was trying to explain to my daughters this morning.
Living in Alabama, I can only imagine the type of remarks that will be said. I pray my words (and now yours) will make the right impression on my kids and they will not succumb to the sin of prejudice.
I’ve been spreading this post around. Thank you dear Lord for giving Mama Beth the words to speak to us.
“We are the body of Christ and we have the opportunity to show his character..”You are so right Miss Beth. I pray our hearts are pure and right before God in the way we react and respond to our new president elect. I have already started praying and you can guarantee I will continue to pray for our new president. I believe God sets up and brings down all those in leadership and this is His choice. I can do nothing else but trust God and pray. And you know what? I woke up today greatly encouraged by God. As one of my best friends said last night over the phone as we watched the news together, “God is in control”. He always has been. He always will be. Praise Him!
Amen to that.
Regardless of who is in office, there is One Who is on His Throne. We answer to Him, seek to please Him and our desire is to glorify and emulate His Son. We have been blessed each and every day with the opportunity to live for Him and to show the enemy just what kind of people he’s messing with!
We will not give in to his puny tactics of division. We will LOVE. We will PRAY. We will SERVE. And we will watch with amazed anticipation for our Lord to do something AWESOME in the coming years!
I pray that God will bless our nation, our officials and our public servants with a greater awareness of His Presence.
“O Lord our God,
other lords besides you have ruled over us,
but your name alone we bring to remembrance.” Isaiah 26:13 ESV
Again, being used by and obedient to our Father. Thank you for your wisdom. I agree wholeheartedly. You are such a sweet sister in Christ and I am so thankful that God lead me to your ministry.
Forever His,
Lawan Rivera
Phil 4:8
How wonderfully put. I believe this needs to be posted everywhere so we as Christians can remember what we need to do now, no matter who we voted for. Thank you once again Beth for putting it into words for us. God has given you a special gift.
I stand in agreement with you…
Proverbs 21:1
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”
…so it is so.
I join with you in this prayer and plea Beth. Thank you so much for your obedience. The enemy is certainly on the prowl.
Thank you for this post.
I’m with ya!
Amen, Beth! THANK YOU for this message, and being willing to convey it!
I have been struck with amazement by how much fear I have seen in some of my loved ones & friends in response to this outcome. Regardless of who any individual voted for, I was reminded this morning of Isaiah 41:10 ("Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (NKJV))& John 16:33 (I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" John 16:33 (AMP))
We have nothing to fear in this world, but we do have an enemy who will steal (our peace), kill (our hope) and destroy (our effectiveness) at any opportunity! I will be praying for the Obamas, but also for the body!
Thank you again!
Dear Beth,
Thank you for putting into words what God has been whispering in my ear all morning. I just wrote on my blog that I woke up surprisingly at peace this morning and yet the One who is my Lord is the Prince of Peace, so why be so surprised?
I honestly feel pumped and ready to go — to serve shoulder to shoulder as you said. I can’t wait to see what the years hold.
A friend said she woke up sad. I told her that I woke up like I had been given the battle cry to “get on with it” – the purpose, plan and call God has on my life.
I really feel like this is our moment — time for the beautiful Bride of Christ to come together, work together and MAKE HIM FAMOUS! Let’s pray for the Obama’s. Let’s pray that this man that God has allowed to hold this high office. Let’s pray for wisdom, peace and humility.
I’m so glad that the journey with Jesus is not like a canoe ride on a lazy river!! No ma’am…it is like a white river rafting trip. It is full of currents, bumps, sometimes rocks, sometimes peaceful breaks, but NEVER EVER a dull moment!! It is definitely NOT mediocrity…it is a WILD RIDE!!
I’m ready!!! Let’s do it!!!
Blessings, friend!
Dori
Ever God’s daughter and servant, and ever Jesus’ devoted disciple, I join you, Beth, in prayers for unity and glorification of Christ through the tenure of our president-elect, Barack Obama. I join you in praying for his family, for all families so full of hope throughout this nation currently wandering in the desert of dissention and uncertainty, and for the body of Christ’s discipleship to be strengthened through this new administration.
Isaiah 40:3 is on my heart and tongue: “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.'”
Always faithful and forever thankful,
Lisa
Our hope is in God not government. We must be steadfast to lift our country and leaders up in prayer to God whether we agree or disagree with them. I am praying that God will turn hearts toward Him during this time.
“We are the Body of Jesus Christ and we have an opportunity to show His character. This is our watch. We stand for what is right not from our feet but from our knees.”
Amen and Amen!!
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! I will copy this off, pray for our president often and read this to my children.
Melana in Wyoming
As I woke and prayed this morning, checked computer for news, and returned to prayer, I committed to pray for this new president and our country. I re-read Beth’s earlier post and scriptures. Then saw the new one. I SO agree with it and it confirmed what God had been saying to my heart. That love conquers a multitude of sins. That prayer changes things and people. That prayer can unite us in a country again torn in half. It is the only way I can find peace and hope. He is my Rock. He knows the big picture.
You have such amazing wisdom Beth. Thank you for sharing this. Now we pray.
You know, this entry so reminded me of Breaking Free. I was pleasantly surprised when you had an entire lesson on prejudice. I found it interesting as well as inspiring.
Folks, if you haven’t seen this lesson on prejudice in Breaking Free, find the individual file on LifeWay and download it – it is for this time!!
Of course, admittedly, I am anxiously awaiting the newest filming of BF….and possibly new info in this lesson as well!!
Janet
Thank you for the good reminder! God is still in control, and will give us favor if we stay on our knees. May he change the hearts of our leaders!
AMEN AMEN AND AMEN!!!!!!
Beautifully spoken. God IS in control.
Prov. 3:5-6
Thank you so much for your obedience to the Lord. I know, we all have strong feelings regarding our political opinions, but those feelings should never come between PEOPLE. I pray that we as a church will stand strong in love, regardless of political views. It is only as we do so that we can shine as a beacon in a lost world that desires hope at their innermost core. We must show the world the LOVE OF GOD and the best way to do that is to show HIS love through us for one another.
Thank you, you’ve spoken my heart.
Thank you for the comments the past couple of days Beth. Last night after hearing the results of the election I immediately got on my knees and began to pray for the President-elect and for our country. I want to honor God with my actions, as his daughter.
Amen!! We are on our knees before the Father for our Country. We pray that the true Savior- Our Lord Jesus Christ- would be our hope of glory.
Beth,
Thank you for posting this. This has convicted me this morning and has turned my heart towards repentance. I have been upset all night and all this morning. (To the point of needing Rolaids!) I want to see the Body of Christ united no matter who’s in authority in this country…as a daughter of Christ I know that ultimately it’s Christ that is in authority. He placed our new president in office.
Shannon in Arkansas
We are praying with y’all. Wonderful post, Beth. Amen to it all.
AMEN! This is our chance to let our light shine to the glory of God.
He was God yesterday, He is today and will forever be the great I AM.
Praise You Lord!
Love to all, my dear siestas!
Mary Watkins
Amen! I posted on my blog this morning the words ringing through my very being this morning is that old hymn, “Onward, Christian Soldiers”
Keeping my eyes on my banner, Jehovah Nissi!
Cynthia
Please forgive me but what is the scripture reference you are referring to when you said “shoulder to shoulder”? It has slipped my memory.
Beth,
AMEN! I couldn’t agree more!
Rose
Amen and amen….
Beautiful post. It is not enough to vote for a change, we must purposefully be a part of that change every minute of every day in every situation.
Blessings,
Vickie
Thank you for your words of wisdom.
Thank you for this message.
Thank you Beth, for speaking a strong word to the body of Christ this morning. I join you in prayer.
Beth,
Thank you for the post. Because my husband and I attend a very large church we have very little access to our pastor. It is such a blessing to be able to go to the blog and receive a Word about timely issues such as this one. I have done so many of your studies, I feel like you are my Sunday school teacher. Thanks so much for ministering to me.
Susan