Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Warfare Wednesday

It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time to pray for President Obama and his staff. I have been really grateful for this reminder each week, because the awareness is growing in my mind that we need to pray for our President. How many times do we see mention of him on the web, in newsprint or on TV or radio? Every time he is mentioned, I feel an urge to fire off that quick prayer for him.

This week specifically, let's pray for President Obama, as the budget was released this past week, as well as Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Office of Management and Budget Chairman Peter Orszag. In the tough economic times our country is facing, putting your stamp of approval or name on a budgetary process has to be a tough thing to do. Let's pray for wisdom in maintaining the budget, in keeping on task to reign in spending where it is needed. Let's also pray that these men will turn to God for answers and guidance when dealing with our nation's financial concerns.

One of the things that President Obama has declared that he will pursue is seeing the conditions in Darfur, Africa taken care of. Every time I think about Darfur and what is going on there, my heart just breaks for all those people affected and living in the refugee camps. May our President continue to follow the wave of compassion, and may he reach out strongly and right a very serious wrong. Every child is precious in God's sight, and may the refugees see and know that there is a God who loves them so much, and may he heal their sadness and their bodies.

Let's also pray for wisdom for President Obama as Commander-In-Chief. Let's pray for continued safety for the troops while they are serving, and wisdom for the officers in charge. Specifically, let's pray for the plan to withdraw troops from Iraq. Let's pray mightily that God will grow the Iraqi military and nation into a strong nation that can defend itself, while seeking God for answers and direction.

I think we also need to specifically pray for the economy this week. It seems that every day some major corporation is announcing job cuts, lay-offs, or bankruptcy. The world financial system as we know it is ceasing to function correctly, and only God is the answer to the troubles. Let's pray that God will touch those affected by the financial crisis in a way that they will know that He has acted on their behalf. Let's pray for financial peace, and the security that only God can provide.

"I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 8 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 9 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty." Haggai 2:7-9

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just want to write real quick and tell you how much I appreciate the fact that you pray for the president without criticism. I've never yet heard you say a single negative word about his policies, his beliefs, his morality, his bad decisions, none of it. Instead, all of your prayers focus on what we can do to support him, and I really appreciate that.

Erika W. said...

Thanks Rina, I strongly believe that criticism serves no purpose. Either it tears the other person down, or in the case of a person in office, it may color what other people think. Regardless of my beliefs and how his line up, he is still the President of the United States, and as such, deserves respect. I also believe God has him there for a purpose, and I can't wait to see what that is!