Why is prayer so hard??

A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being. (James E. Faust)

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2)

I once read that one cannot truly develop a relationship with another without communication. There must be some form of communication - even in the wildlife we can observe there is a form of communication that occurs that welcomes, warns, or wins the attention and affection of others. To be a Christian and NOT pray is kind of like saying you want a relationship, but you aren't willing to see it develop. You want the 'association' without the 'communication'.

Paul's instruction to us is to 'devote' ourselves to prayer. When we devote ourselves to something or someone, we are concentrating on it, appropriating time and attention to that pursuit. When we 'devote' ourselves to prayer, we are making a conscious choice to share a little bit of our heart with Christ, allowing him to share a bit of his with us. Each time we communicate in prayer we are opening the door just a bit wider for that sharing to occur. 

Prayer involves an alert mind. That might just put an end to some of the 'rote' prayers we have gravitated toward in so many religious circles. To recite the same prayer over and over again doesn't really require us to engage the mind, much less the heart. When the words come from our heart, even though they aren't many, nor are they 'fancy' or 'polished', they mean so much more to Jesus. His heart responds to ours and we begin to form a 'relationship' as a result of that truthful and heartfelt sharing.

If we want to grow by leaps and bounds in this Christian walk, it begins in prayer from an alert mind and a thankful heart. It may seem a little hard at first, almost like you have to 'make conversation' with him for a bit, but the more you share, the deeper the connection will become. It will get easier. You just need to make that first connection. Just sayin!

Was that in there?

...if my people who are called by my name become humble and pray, and look for me, and turn away from their evil ways, then I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

If my people - notice that God doesn't say 'when', but 'if'. There is a condition - we must make the first move when it comes to repentance. This message isn't written to those who don't already have a relationship with him - it is written to those 'called by his name'. These are believers who obviously have grown cold, a little too apathetic and indifferent. This is where we find ourselves whenever we allow our focus to become clouded by the things of this world - coldness drifts in, hunger begins to be fulfilled by something other than his presence. If we want to 'come back' from wherever it is we have drifted, it begins by humbling ourselves and asking for his help to return!

Humble yourself, pray, and look for him - these are three very specific actions that are involved in repentance. First, we must recognize we aren't on the right path. This oftentimes requires more than a bit of humility because we might just want to hide our misguided adventures and not be very open about them. When we are finally willing to admit them, we are on the path to restoration. Then we are to pray - talk with God about what we realize to have been our failure. At this point, don't be surprised when God shows us something entirely different that led to the choices we have made. We might think it is one thing that got us off course, but when he shows us there is something quite different that led to the compromise, we need to listen intently.

Look for him - it is only in seeking that we find things. Have you ever noticed the urgency that comes when we are seeking something we have need of or have misplaced? We uncover a good many other things in the process, don't we? Things we may have forgotten about entirely, but that clutter up our lives. When we move toward confession, we might just discover there are a few more things we uncover that we need to lay out on the table before God, as well. Perhaps this is where the 'turning away' comes. As we discover the 'stuff' we didn't realize was tucked away, we don't want to just leave it there - we want to get it out in the open and rid ourselves of it. Repentance isn't always convenient, easy, or without complications. It is necessary, though! It is where we find ourselves ridding ourselves of what only clutters our lives and makes things more difficult for us. Just sayin!

Are we there yet?

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. (James 1:5-8)

We are reminded in Proverbs 3:5-7 to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." As we all have varying backgrounds, we likely approach life's challenges in various ways. We might just find ourselves turning to this world's wisdom first, then when it doesn't do what we hoped it would do, we turn to God. As long as we rely upon the wisdom the world offers, we will be limited in our perception of the issue. The limitation? We see things through our natural eyes - emotions being played upon, we respond based upon emotion, not godly wisdom. Godly wisdom is always available to us, but we might just have to stop long enough to ask for it, ruminate on it a bit, and then allow its application in our lives.

There are probably more times we lack wisdom than we might first admit. We come headlong into a situation and then we stumble around a bit until we realize what we possess in the way of earthly knowledge isn't cutting it. Pride sometimes gets in the way of us asking for God's help - making it almost impossible to avoid the hiccups that come from facing things we cannot control, much less fully understand all in our own wisdom. Once we put aside our pride and turn to God for his help, we find new wisdom for the circumstances at hand. Although we delayed in seeking his wisdom, he never criticizes us or judges us when we take so long to ask! It is far better to ask sooner than later, but some of us just take a bit of time to put our pride in the backseat and allow God to take over. Remember, God always welcomes our requests for help - we might not think so, but we find repeated examples of his intervening grace recorded for us in scripture whenever someone humbles themselves before him.

Sometimes we don't ask for God's help because we think the answer we receive will be a little different or 'worse' than what we imagined the answer to be. It may not be the answer we anticipated, but God's answers are always the best ones - we must rely upon his wisdom to keep us protected, and within the safety of his caring arms. God hears the first word we utter and he isn't afraid to answer, but sometimes he allows us to get things out of our system in prayer before he begins the work of answering. He isn't afraid to show us his will, but sometimes we need to get to the place we will accept it and walk in it! Just sayin!

Honor belongs to him

Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (Psalm 29:1-2)

Honor is something we give to another, but we should never seek it for ourselves. When it comes to God, we first recognize he is worthy of all honor, then we 'ascribe' it to him - we declare it in our minds, hearts, and even our actions. Unlike us humans, he actually deserves that honor! Unlike humans, his 'right' for honor never fades and it is not 'circumstantial'. In other words, he deserves it because he is always consistent, never changing, and divine through and through. 

How or when do we honor God in our lives? I think it could begin the minute we begin to speak with him about anything at all. When we consider the words of prayer, are they filled with honor? Do we exalt his name and honor him with our words? Even our songs should bring honor to his name. This is why it is so powerful to enter into worship and praise. It exalts him - revealing that we are giving him his rightful place in our lives to rule and reign as our Lord God Almighty. 

How about those times when we share something really awesome God has done in our lives? Those words come easily, don't they? They proclaim the goodness of his activity on our behalf - having 'done' something that we both appreciate and rejoice over. Do these things have to be 'big' things? No, but a word of caution here. We can become so 'rote' in our 'praise' of God that the words we share are almost 'hollow'. The term "God is Good" with the response "All the Time" can become a matter of 'rote praise' if we allow it. We must always ensure that our praise or testimony of his actions in our lives is genuine, heartfelt, and reveals the true honor he deserves.

Worship is giving honor, but it is very specific. It is done intentionally. We don't 'enter into worship' by just singing along with the worship leaders at church on Sunday. We 'enter into worship' when our hearts are behind the words, our minds are focused on his goodness, and our emotions are given over to praising him with all our being. Worship can be quite engaging, but we might just miss out on something God will do in those times if we aren't worshiping him 'in spirit and in truth'. Just sayin!

Sit back and marvel

 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:28)

There have been moments when I just didn't know what to say to God - unsure of what really was going on inside of my mind and emotions, just needing to get out those feelings, but really not sure how to put them into words. How about you? Do you ever experience those moments when there is an overwhelming sense of heaviness within, but you cannot really express it in words? I am so glad God can understand our sighs, groans, and even our silence. He knows our heart better than we do, but he also understands the mixed-up muddle of emotions that can occur at times. The more mixed-up we are about the things, the more we need to lean into God for his perspective and a fresh infilling of his peace.

Every detail is worked into our lives for some manner of good. I had a hard time understanding how 'bad stuff' could actually be turned into something I would benefit from in the long run. Yet, over the years, I have seen God take the various 'bad moments' and bring some element of growth within me that wasn't previously there. I guess this is what he means when he promises to bring good from the bad. It doesn't mean we won't face the hard stuff in life - it just means we don't face it alone and we don't face it without a purpose. We might be in a place of despair, but he remains in a place of control.

I live in a home that is over thirty years old now, so as each year passes, I try to do something 'big' to improve it and keep it in tip-top shape. One year I replaced the roof and central air. The Arizona sun means the outside needs painting from time to time. The inside needed a fresh coat of paint, so that was another year's project. The bathrooms needed a refresh and now the flooring is being redone. These projects come at a cost - financially, physically, and emotionally. I don't like to live in chaos - I like order (no...I am not OCD, I just like the comfort of things being settled). 

I think our minds are a little like these 'big projects' around the house. There is a cost that comes with all the emotional turmoil we face in those hard times. Our minds get all muddled-up, emotions riding high one day and down the next. Our thoughts can be carried away like a feather on the wind. Our bodies feeling the tension of the season we are in. There is no better time to take things to God than when we are experiencing those moments. We may not even have one clue what to ask for, but he knows exactly how to take the chaos of our present and create something so beautiful within us. Just like when the floors are all done, we will step back, sitting in peaceful repose, and marvel at what he has done. Just sayin!

Awake again?

God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.” That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed. Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.” (I Samuel 3:8-9)

Samuel is eager to respond to the voice he hears. Why? He was simply trying to fulfill his everyday tasks, ready to learn what he could as he went about his routine in the temple, in service to the priests. Sometimes we get a little confused as to what we are to do with what it is we are hearing - we think we hear one thing, but could it really be something else? There are probably many times we hear God's voice, but because we aren't sure of the source, we go to what is familiar to us - as Samuel did when going to Eli. His was the voice he was most familiar with - to go to Eli was a natural response. Some of us get the impression someone is speaking to us - but we don't know it is God himself pulling us toward himself in order to reveal himself in or through us. We go where we are most familiar - friends, family, small group members, a counselor. Not an unrealistic response when you really think about it. We use them as the sounding boards - bouncing what it is we are "hearing" in our heads until we feel we have come to a place of clarity.

I don't necessarily think this is wrong, but sometimes God just wants us to respond directly to him - to answer him with, "Speak, Lord. I am ready to listen." The idea of speaking directly "with" God is frightening to some, but it is the plan God has for each of us. Notice I did not say it was us speaking directly "to" God, but "with" God. Sometimes we initiate the conversation - at others God does. Either way, it is a conversation. If one party speaks and the other just sits and listens - it is a lecture! If both engage, it is conversation - sometimes filled with good cheer and warm feelings, other times with hurt, sorrow, and the words which express how deeply we need each other. God desires direct and frequent conversation with us, and I am grateful he doesn't stop with the first call! Some of us take a little longer to figure out it is his voice calling us - others will get it on the first try. The good news is that God calls and keeps calling until we finally hear!

At first, God may initiate the conversation a little more than we do - until we become more comfortable with this idea of listening to his voice and hearing his revelation. Little by little, we grow "comfortable" with picking up the conversation right where we left off, anytime and anywhere. I have a good friend who is like that with me - we always just pick up where they left off, like no time has passed at all. God wants this closeness with us - entering into relationship with him isn't for the lazy or half-hearted. In fact, if we look at Samuel again, we see he arose from restful sleep to respond - not once, but three times! That is a pretty amazing thing, considering he was likely a teenager! I don't know about you, but when I finally get asleep - something escaping me as I age - I really like it when I can stay asleep until my rest has been reached. 

When I awaken in the night, one of the first thoughts I have is to turn my attention to listening. Sometimes I only hear the faint whirring of the fan overhead, but at others I hear words of a psalm or song beginning to fill my heart, or the needs of a dear friend or family member beginning to bring me to the place of prayer. Either way, it is in listening that we discover the moment of revelation God intends for us. Maybe God has been calling to you a little more frequently these days and you may not have been as "aware" of the voice you were hearing. Next time you hear it, try doing as Samuel did and saying, "Speak God. I am listening." You might just be surprised what conversation might just ensue in your 'readiness' to listen. Just sayin!

Be Settled

We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

I find we don't always get the best from the most - we often get the best when we are able to filter it down to the least. Brainstorming is a technique we employ for solving problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, or developing new ideas, by unrestrained and spontaneous participation in discussion. If you have ever been part of a "brainstorming" session in a large group, you know you can generate a whole bunch of ideas in a short period of time using this technique. 

We have all kinds of options and formulate all manner of plans. As we interact with God and others, we have this continual "brainstorming" session going on in our mind! We throw up ideas, often without much calculation, and see if any of them "sound okay" for us to be pursuing. The real danger comes in us "throwing up" so many ideas! Have you ever had too many options? What the brainstorming does is leave us in a mess - chaotic thought produces chaotic behavior. By the very definition of the word "brainstorm" we see two things - the center of thought and the chaos it brings! Our brain is the center of thought and as such it is the place of understanding. Add too much thought into the picture and you get the idea of a "storm" effect - you really don't know where the next thought will come from or what it will reveal!

Options and plans - doesn't this really reveal the idea of wanting to have all our options available before we start a thing? We are constantly working out the "if-then" scenarios in our minds. If this happens, then I will go this direction; if that happens, then this is the course I will pursue. The danger in all this is the possibility of not getting God's direction before we make the choices which will set things in motion in our lives. My brain shuts down after a while. When I get on "overload" because of too much "brain-storm" activity, I shut down! I don't drift into some catatonic state, but I do withdraw, find a place to center myself, and just spend some time getting things settled again. When too much chaos abounds, I just cannot function well. If my friends have observed me for a while, they see the more demands made of me, the quieter I become. Why? My brain is on "overload" and I just need to get focused again!

The brainstorming and planning is okay, but there is a bigger purpose behind every choice! God prevails! He is the "force" that settles the storm - he doesn't contribute to it! If you have ever been in the midst of a "brain-storm" of massive proportion, you might not recognize the source of the storm, but it is clearly NOT God. His actions are those of peace, order, and pre-eminence. There is but one purpose for our lives - to keep God first. The "storm" settles when we get this right. Take a few moments to "settle the storm" and to just focus on the one who makes everything a reality - Jesus! We can get so caught up in all the plans and preparations of life so as to miss the meaning of it all. Take some time today, center yourself again, allow the winds to die down in that brain of yours. This is our chance to connect with him - his presence will prevail - but we need to give him access! The best of our plans and the wisest of our schemes just pales in comparison to getting close to him! Just sayin! 

Become the means...

Get out the message—God Rules! He put the world on a firm foundation; He treats everyone fair and square. (Psalm 96:10)

There are times when we have nothing to say and at others we are unable to keep our mouths shut at all. How is it we can have so much to say on one topic and nothing on another? I purposefully stopped listening to the news channels except for on occasion here and there. In fact, my BFF oftentimes has to tell me something catastrophic has happened because I have not 'heard the news'. Why did I stop listening? It was so much of the same negative stuff and I didn't need fill my mind with a million different 'takes' on why something happened the way it did. Give me the facts - lives were lost, pray for our nation and their families - leave it there! The news stations don't do that, though. They review time and time again the same clips, factoids, and the interviews until you can almost rehearse them ad nauseum. I'd rather get the word out that God Rules - period!

Lives have been lost and families will never be the same. Some families have been obliterated, never to have their name continue on this earth. Homes have been lost to major disasters and poorly constructed building sites. All this matters very deeply to Christ. It matters to me that hundreds and thousands will never be the same because of violence, tragic occurrences, and hateful intentions of some. Pray AGAINST the hate. Pray FOR the families and hurting among them. Pray AGAINST the evil. Pray FOR the truth to come to light and for it to bring healing. Pray AGAINST immoral. Pray FOR the righteousness of God to permeate this earth. This is our part - we may not have been part of the ugliness that has occurred, but we can lift up the name of Christ and pray hard against these things.

We don't need to rehearse the evil around us to feel the impact of that evil. We don't need to see the ugliness displayed time after time to understand the despair and agony of heart many are experiencing in this time of so much evil intent. We have Christ to guide our hearts into an 'active response' to the evil - prayer is only one way we fight against this evil. We also can do whatever part God may put on our hearts - such as to give of ourselves in service to those who need our help in order to heal from these difficult circumstances. Pray, act - do something! Rather than just watch the news - become the means by which the news changes! Just sayin!

Even in our rebellion

I just want to take a moment or two to remind each of us that God isn't done with us, even when we find ourselves in worst of places in life, our choices perhaps not the wisest. In the midst of our disobedience, God never stops finding ways to get to our heart - he uses all of this earth's and heaven's resources to reach the recesses of our hearts. The many and varied ways he uses to get the message of his power and protection across to his creation is not limited by the finite because he has access to the infinite. We often don't realize the means God will use until we look back "after the fact" and realize how much God was displaying his power, purpose, AND his protection in our lives. It is in the "hindsight" where revelation occurs - where our mind begins to comprehend what God has been doing in our hearts all along.

Then they prayed to God, "O God! Don't let us drown because of this man's life, and don't blame us for his death. You are God. Do what you think is best." They took Jonah and threw him overboard. Immediately the sea was quieted down. The sailors were impressed, no longer terrified by the sea, but in awe of God. They worshiped God, offered a sacrifice, and made vows. (Jonah 1:14-16)

The seas are out of control, even for the most skilled of sailors. The sailors, all skilled in their task of steering and controlling the ship, tried desperately to return to shore - but to no avail. They had "discussed" their circumstances with Jonah, being told by him that he was clearly the "cause" of their present danger. Yet, they choose to attempt any other alternative than what he proposed. His proposal was that they throw him into the sea - essentially allowing a man to drown - something tantamount to murder in their eyes. I don't know about you, but I have been asked a few time to "throw someone under the bus", but I find the internal struggle with this whole concept just a little unnerving!

In all their efforts to escape whatever calamity awaited them if they remained in the storm, they return to Jonah one more time. His answer is the same - throw me overboard. Not exactly the answer I am sure they hoped for - they were looking for any alternative to this life-ending action, but they weren't being offered anything by Jonah. They are in a quandary and the only option they have is to PRAY!!! Imagine that! Prayer didn't come naturally to these fellows, but in the midst of the storm isn't amazing just how many find themselves 'given to prayer'? They turn to the one they "think" might be willing to listen - the God of Jonah - although they didn't know him or serve him personally, they were willing to 'give it a shot'. After all, it his God who is responsible for the sea's upheaval - at least according to Jonah.

They turn to the God they really don't serve, but who seems to be in control of their present situation. Even in Jonah's running away from God, God is still using him to touch the lives of people who need to discover the power and grace of the one true God! How is it God can use even our disobedience to speak to the lives of others? I don't really fathom how he does it, but I see it recorded for me over and over in scripture, not to mention what God has done through my own life. They still don't want to throw their newest acquaintance overboard, but he seems to insist there is no other way to 'manage their fate'. They actually seek to be forgiven even before they take their next step. Jonah could have told them to turn the ship around, and then head for Nineveh like he was supposed to. It is quite possible his repentance could have calmed the seas. Instead he insists they throw him into the crashing waves. Why do we find our rebellion such a stronghold? I don't imagine Jonah is alone in his "firmness" of rebellion.  

In our rebellion - we don't see any way of escape but to be consumed by that which is a result of our rebellion! Don't lose sight of this last part of the passage - they trust Jonah's God to do what "he thinks best". Heathen men, praying to the divine God of the Universe, a God they did not know until now, trusting him to "do what he thinks best"! Do you know how God responds to their faith? God immediately calms the seas and they all stand on the deck of the ship, totally amazed at the power of Jonah's God. I wonder how many actually had the seed of salvation "planted" that day? The power of God on display - the hearts of men changed forever! 

I will never encourage our rebellion, but I am encouraged God can even use our rebellion as an instrument of grace in the life of another. In the openness about my own rebellion (running from God), others have been touched by the grace of God. I can only imagine how many times God has used our "cumulative" rebellion as an evidence of his grace! We cannot lose sight of what comes next - the sea does not consume Jonah - in spite of their fears and their reticence to throw him in, they do. Here's our hope - our sin may get us into some pretty wicked messes, but it need not consume us! In our rebellion, God even provides for OUR protection! Run as we might, God still watches over us! Just sayin!

Not always an "ah-ha" moment

Honestly, there are times in this world when I feel like I am talking and I don't think anyone is even listening - not a human, not an animal, and not even God. There have been times as a mom when I was saying something to two very blank faces staring back at me in what many would call their looking at you, but we don't hear a word you say kind of face!  There have also been moments when I have tried to just engage someone in conversation, only to find they have never been listening to a word I said because their answer is so totally different than the question I asked! I chuckle now at some of the things mom answered when she heard something so totally different than what I ever said or asked, just because she was hard of hearing and in the early stages of dementia. We've probably all been in this situation at least once where we find ourselves chuckling over what we thought we heard, but it was totally different than what was spoken! Thank goodness God is really listening when we want to speak with him, but I wonder how much of what we 'think' we hear from God is 'made up' because we aren't really listening as intently as we should be?

God's there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. He does what's best for those who fear him—hears them call out, and saves them. (Psalm 145:18-19)

God truly hears each word we speak - even those not really spoken out loud, but being shot up to him in silent "help, I need you!" moments!  It is beyond my brain's comprehension to understand how God could possibly be listening to all of us at the same time, but one thing is for sure - if he could create you and I out of mere dust, I am pretty convinced he could (and does) listen to more than one person at a time! Some may think of prayer as those moments of "devout", on your knees, head bowed, hands interlocked moments with God when you pour out your heart to him. The truth is, prayer is really an attitude of heart and mind. In fact, it is often better translated as "communion" - the interchange or sharing which occurs because there is connection. The thing we may need to hear most today is God is listening for all who engage in this type of interchange - who make connection with him.

As a kid, I certainly had a curious mind. I'd poke sticks in holes, not knowing what dwelt in the recesses. Once I was rewarded with a gila monster attached to the end of a stick, jaw firmly clamped down on this menacing object that had invaded its home. That one discovery set me running because it wasn't what I expected. I am honestly not sure what I expected when I stuck my stick into hole after hole, but a big old lizard capable of delivering one mean bite didn't even occur to me! There were a whole lot of times when I'd walk away with disappointment because nothing stirred, nothing bit on the stick, and my efforts just didn't yield a thing! You don't honestly expect the bad stuff to get stirred up when you pray, but have you ever experienced that? You kind of 'poke a stick' in a 'hole' somewhere in your life or relationships, and then when something emerges that seems a little threatening to your usual way of life, you run!

We miss "connection" with God because we never take the time to explore the recesses of his counsel (his Word), or the intensity of his power. We just 'dabble' in prayer - we don't really ask so as to listen, nor do we listen so as to hear. We may think he is too busy to listen to our "little" issues - but he is THERE -- listening! Not just THERE -- but listening attentively, ready to respond to us. There is benefit to the "devout" times of "knee prayer" - but don't discount the times of just sharing your heart "on the fly". God doesn't have a "deaf ear" to turn regardless of the length or 'depth' of our prayer! There are times with God when I am simply "poking around" to see what I will uncover. These have been some of the greatest times I have had in connection with him. I may not get a 'wow' or even a 'ah-ha' reward each time I speak with him, but I get something from each moment I spend just exploring God and his intense love! This is connection - this is communication. It is two - sharing from the heart - just listening to each other. Don't count on the excitement of the moment to ignite you each time, but know their exists something exactly for the moment when you need it the most! Just sayin!

Be Heard

Do you ever wonder how to pray for our nation right now? In this unsettled times of pandemic resurgence, uncertain election outcomes, and even unrest due to senseless acts of violence, how do we pray for our nation? I think it becomes quite clear as we consider this passage: God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

I call out to you on behalf of your people - this is where it begins - we stop what we are doing and we actually take time to call out to God. We take notice of the things around us, even when we don't understand them, or feel they are ridiculous, and we call out. It is our voice that needs to be heard in the throne room of God, my friends. 

Give them minds ready to received wisdom and revelation - this is the crux of our 'crying out' - for all mankind to be ready and willing to receive wisdom and revelation. Wisdom is applied knowledge - revelation is the disclosure of things not previously seen or understood. We pray for both because without wisdom our actions are hit or miss - without revelation our purpose in acting is really not of much value.

Open the eyes of their hearts - why? This nation needs to know God - to come to a revelation of his power and his greatness. To return to its roots! Asking God to open the eyes of their hearts really implies that their 'heart's eyes' have been closed by something or someone. They are 'blinded' to the truth around them. When we pray for the eyes of our nation to be opened, we are praying for the 'blinders' to fall away and for the people to begin to see clearly.

Let the light of your truth flood in - this is where vision begins - with the introduction of light. In the pitch black of darkness, can we see? Certainly not well! It is when light begins to dawn, when the first glimmers of radiance begin to cast a glow that revelation begins to occur.

Shine your light on the hope you are calling them to embrace - the reason we pray for light to overtake the darkness is that we know with the light comes hope. There is no greater thing we can pray for our nation right now - bring us hope - and do so by revealing to us the hope you bring, God.

Reveal to them the glorious riches of your inheritance - prepared for them in advance of them ever knowing them. We don't just want opened eyes and softened hearts - we want willing spirits that will embrace what is made available in Christ Jesus to each one who will ask.

Let them see the full extent of your power - at work already because you and I are upholding our nation in prayer and crying out today. Just prayin!

You MUST

MUST is a pretty strong word, isn't it? It is one of those four-letter words we are allowed to speak - no moms ever washing out a youngster's mouth for having said 'must'. It is a strong word because it allows for no 'wiggle-room'. "You must complete this task" carries a much different meaning than "If you are able, you must do this", doesn't it? The former allows no wiggle-room, while the later puts a condition on our having to complete the task. With God, there is very little 'wiggle room' in his instructions to us - the 'must' isn't usually paired with any other condition than a choice to be obedient. If that is the case, then if God tells us we 'must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads us to pray', then does that mean we are supposed to be on our knees 24/7? I don't think that is what God had in mind when he stipulated that 'must' in scripture. Instead, I believe he was asking us to be sensitive to the needs of others, praying for each other as the Spirit leads us to, and then being attentive to the moments when God lays something on our heart that we may not even know about, but that requires our prayers nonetheless. An example of the latter would be one of those moments when you just feel compelled to pray for a situation, but you don't know the people involved or the reason you are praying - you are just compelled to lift the circumstances up to God for his intervention.

You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians. (Ephesians 6:18)

How have you been led to pray lately? I have been troubled by all the criticism on each side of the political debates - disappointed by all the attention given to the mud-slinging and the little bit of attention actually given toward the issues that plague our land right now. So, I guess I pray for God's wisdom and his 'governance' because I know that God can turn the head of the rulers of the land as easily as he can cause the flood waters to recede. I have been troubled by all the senseless loss of life at the hand of men and women given to violence in my own city. You didn't hear much about shootings and gang activity, drug deals gone wrong, and similar affairs much twenty to thirty years ago in our area, but today it is kind of 'common-place'. The fact that it has become 'common-place' moves me to pray. We are all led to pray for different things at different times, but the important thing to remember is that when we are obedient to lift our voices to heaven, God is moved. Now, don't get me wrong - God can and does move without our prayers, but I think God asks us to pray because he is asking us to begin to sense things the way he senses them - to see things from his perspective and then to talk with him about the needs that exist.

This is really what prayer is all about anyway -  talking with him about the needs that exist. Prayer involves watchfulness - being attuned to the things around you in the lives of those in your circle of influence, as well as a more 'global' perspective of things way beyond your 'sphere' of influence. Politics is beyond my 'sphere' of influence - except through prayer. Gang violence is beyond my 'sphere' of influence - except through prayer. My friend's or family's need for a new place to live, the healing of someone's illness, or the ability to find a job - these are closer to my circle of influence. I know these people and I can pray regularly for them. I don't know the gang members, nor the people involved in political campaigns. I can pray for them - and I must - but when I pray for those in my 'sphere' of influence, I am praying a little differently. It is with knowledge of their needs most of the time. Even when I don't know their specific need, I know them well enough to pray for them to have that need met in such a way that they will know God has intervened on their behalf. We all are urged - commanded - to pray. Pray like your life depended on those times of talking with God, because if your life doesn't, another's may. Just sayin!

Just like that...

Back in the day, we taught our kids to pray the Lord's Prayer in Sunday School. We had specific times in service when we'd all pray it corporately. Some of us even learned to break down the Lord's Prayer into segments that really describes how it is we 'work through' prayers to God by following the pattern laid out in that prayer. Most of us really don't know 'how to pray' - we just wing it. We might have memorized a few prayers when we were growing up, able to recite them verbatim now, but is that really prayer? I think God is most 'impressed' with our simple sharing of our hearts and souls with him, not the big words we might memorize, the 'pattern' we might follow, or the 'corporate' recital of a few verses. He is more interested in making that 'connection' with us. 

We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. God can see what is in people’s hearts. And he knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way God wants. (Romans 8:26-27)

As interested as he is in that 'connection', we still struggle with this concept of prayer because we make it something that is not. We try to fit our need into some neat little packaged prayer and expect that we will somehow feel 'connected' with God as we do. If we were totally honest with each other here, we don't usually feel that 'connection' in the 'canned prayers' as much as we do when we just share whatever is on our heart, in our own words, sometimes complete with tears or agonizing groans. Honestly, we don't know how to pray as we should! Isn't that what scripture just showed us? We need the Spirit of God within us to help us express those deep feelings that our 'words' cannot explain.

If we approach prayer with this in mind, we won't get so 'down' on ourselves when we find it hard to share our words. We will allow the Holy Spirit of God within us to begin to share those words on our behalf. That may come in the form of tears or groans, as I already mentioned, or even in words we may not understand, but totally realize as words the Holy Spirit is speaking through us (what some refer to as their 'prayer language'). Either way, the 'words' we could not find are somehow conveyed in a heart-to-heart connection with our heavenly Father. Prayer is all about the connection - not that we get the words right!

The good news is that God can see what is in our hearts, so when we are doing a very 'inadequate' job of expressing what is deeply seated there, he already knows and finds ways to help 'coax' those things out of us in a way that is totally beyond the 'canned' prayers. We don't need to feel our words are not eloquent or that they aren't really expressing all we'd like to say because God knows specifically what is there and what we are attempting to say. God knows our hearts, but he also knows the mind of his Spirit within us. When those two things connect, wondrous things begin to happen. Isn't it about time we start allowing our heart to be expressed and God's mind connected with our needs? Just askin!

Another "unsafe" prayer

Are we guilty of praying 'safe' prayers? Prayers that are kind of mamby-pamby at best - working our way AROUND the real need without ever really hitting the nail on the head! These types of prayers are prayed more times each day than we might realize - with some of them coming from our own mouths! Why? "Safe" prayers are easiest because we don't have to 'expose' too much - we can just 'hint' about the need and hope God gets the point.

And when you pray, don’t be like the people who don’t know God. They say the same things again and again. They think that if they say it enough, their god will hear them. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, we pray that your name will always be kept holy. We pray that your kingdom will come—
that what you want will be done here on earth, the same as in heaven. Give us the food we need for today. Forgive our sins, just as we have forgiven those who did wrong to us. Don’t let us be tempted,
but save us from the Evil One.’ (Matthew 6:7-13)

Jesus didn't just tell us to pray, he gave us specific examples of how 'not to pray' and then told us how we should pray. In the opening verses of this chapter, he tells us not to be like the hypocrites that pray those 'big wordy prayers' that really say nothing - just bringing attention to how 'theological' our prayers can be. They don't win us any points with God because he'd rather we get alone and just share our hearts with him.

He also remind us of the importance of knowing God himself - of being in relationship with him - because that is the real reason for prayer - to relate! God knows our need, but we are still to talk with him about it. It is quite possible that in the intimate sharing of our hearts, God is doing the work of purifying our hearts just a little bit more. We don't know if our need is pure or not until we submit it to God himself. In those 'risky moments' of praying 'unsafe' prayers, we are opening ourselves up to what may become the 'best prayers' of our lives!

Notice our passage begins with an expectation - "And WHEN you pray..." There is no option in prayer. It is necessary for two people to talk - to share openly with each other - if they are to grow together. Even deaf and mute people talk! Even blind people use their other senses to explore what they hear. Don't think you can bypass being open with God - it isn't going to allow growth if you just put those 'safe' prayers and never really get to the 'juicy' stuff you are keeping all bottled up inside.

"Safe" prayers are simply prayers that should remain unspoken. They are idle words - empty and devoid of substance. Get specific about your sin and see what God will do with that honesty. Get down to the nitty-gritty about your desires and see how God begins to unfold how he plans to fulfill those desires. Get real in sharing your hurts and see how God's grace can bind up those wounds. It is the 'unsafe' prayers that open the door of God's heart. Just sayin!

Head held high

Okay, I would like us to get a little honest with ourselves and each other this morning. Just how many of us have wanted God to deal with those who stand against us in some form or fashion? It is not unusual to actually converse with God, telling him how much we need him to 'deal with it' as we open up in our frustration, fear, or even anger about how someone is treating us or others. At the same time, God hopes we will allow him to use us in the lives of others - even when they are kind of 'pickles' to deal with! Being perfectly honest here, I actually EXPECT God to help me live my life well - even when what I want isn't perfectly aligned, I EXPECT him to help me get right alignment before I go too far in the wrong direction. Why can I EXPECT this of God? He loves me! His grace has changed my course many times in the past, just because of his love!

Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel. Let those who fear you turn to me for evidence of your wise guidance.
And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.
(Psalm 119:78-80)

According to our psalmist, he was dealing with fast-talking tricksters who tried to sell him a bill of goods. When we are encountered by someone "selling a bill of goods" we usually see that we have one of two choices: accept what they say at face-value, or reject it based on what we see. In truth, we have a third choice: investigate it for truth rather than trusting the face-value! When someone is trying to sell us a bill of goods, they are attempting to have us accept something that is untrue or is of little value to us. Investigating 'under the hood' often reveals a little bit of a 'bitter lemon', if you get my drift! When our life has been exposed to this kind of "trickery" and it is not unusual to want God to expose the lack of truth in the bill of goods our enemies have been trying to pass off as true.

We often are exposed to these kinds of "schemes" in life these days. Just think back to the last set of TV commercials or printed advertisements you encountered. How about that immediate release of stains with a generous application of this or that magic cleaner - did you ever try one of those products only to find the stain was still there? A promise of teeth bright enough to signal men in outer space with the simple application of a tiny strip - did you really think fifty years of tea stains could be removed in one simple application? The list could go on and on. You get my point. The fast-talking tricksters WILL be exposed for their 'untruths' - their trickery is God's business to expose, not ours. We "deal" with their trickery by having an accurate "test" whereby to "filter" their claims - - the counsel of God (his Word).

God will use our life to touch the lives of others. Do you and I have a desire to be a living "testimony" of what God does when he has complete access to a life? When our prayers begin to turn to an examination of ourselves, God is then free to begin to move within us in a way that changes our lives in a positive manner. God is always working to create evidence of truth deep within our internal framework. In turn, when we ask God to use that evidence to give both assurance and hope to those who will turn to him in search of the reality they cannot find elsewhere, God is honored. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking God to make your life an open declaration of all that God has been doing within your life!

Think about the 'bravery' or 'courage' it takes to ask God expose the work he is doing in us. I don't know about you, but anytime I get to the part where I think God might just expose what has been going on in my life, I get a little nervous! Why is that? I think it might be the fact we are not always comfortable with others knowing our struggles - it is one thing for God to know them, but to open up about them to anyone else is kind of scary. If others see that we struggle inwardly with some of this stuff, they see us as human! Really all God wants of us if for us to want others to see the reality of what God can do when a heart is perfectly yielded to his care. There is nothing shameful in exposure when God does the work of exposing!

It isn't wrong to pray for yourself. This is not a selfish prayer in any respect. We are really asking God to "cement" the work he has been doing so that he need not be ashamed of our behavior at any point in our day. When we ask God to let us live whole and holy, soul and body, so we can always walk with our head held high, we're beginning the process of yielding. We need to be willing to submit mind, will, emotions, and spirit to the care of God - - giving up the need to be in control of self. This is a prayer God delights in answering. In fact, when we see this prayer coupled with the other two, we understand the importance.

I don't know if you are dealing with fast-talking tricksters today, but if you find that your path is riddled with their schemes, take them to God. He has both the "filter" by which you can evaluate their claims and the ability to silence them with evidence beyond argument! If you have been struggling with something you just don't think God will ever use, don't be surprised when God urges you to allow him to make it a testimony of his power and grace. When he urges, he also empowers. Walking with head held high is God's greatest honor. When he sees us yielded, engaged in this walk we call Christianity, he is honored greatly. Just sayin!

Well...maybe

Some of us don't really believe what we pray - almost as though we pray the words, but we don't honestly expect God to answer us! Why is that? I imagine some of us see God as we do our earthly parents - never really there for us, kind of on the fringes of our lives, needing more of our help than them giving us theirs. Others might just see God as the 'big man' in the sky, too busy to be bothered with our 'little' needs. I know there are others of us who simply pray 'big prayers', knowing in our heart of hearts that God answers prayers, but we somehow equate our prayer to something 'bigger' than what God may want to do on our behalf. Whatever the reason for wavering in our faith when it comes to expressing our heart to God in prayer, we need to get over it! God is listening, even when the answer isn't always as we might have imagine it to be!

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. (James 1:5-8)

The idea presented to us today is that when there is less of us, there is more of God - less of us always equates to an opportunity for God to reveal more of himself. No one is more blessed than the one that has allowed the presence of God to become central in their lives. The place of being at the "end of our rope" is the beginning place for God's presence to begin to affect us in ways it had not ever been able to before. It is there, at the end of our rope, that we find deep, connecting love. It is in the connection that the 'transition' is made between our lack of faith or trust and the knowledge that God's love is always working on our behalf.

In prayer, as in all the other areas of our lives, it is a matter of who is in control. The one in "control" is the one that must be relied upon for the outcome or solution. We have all probably been in a situation where we have seen the example of "trusting" someone to catch you when you fall backward or jump from a higher place. The use of this "technique" of trusting another to catch us is really designed to show us that in a team we are better than when we are alone. Yet, it is the idea that control is being given to the other person that often frightens most of us and keeps us from "taking the plunge" in the first place! None of us likes to lose control.

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule." (Matthew 5:3)

We want to be "in control" of all avenues of our life. To "let go" of control suggests that we may get what we don't want, might suffer some loss, or might be somehow "misdirected" into something that will do us harm. So, we hold onto control. We have to control because we cannot trust. God's purpose in telling us that it as at the end of our rope that we enjoy the greatest freedom is because he knows that 'end of the rope place' is the place where we finally give up control! Praying for our needs to be met, then going out and meeting them on our own terms and by our own efforts is silliness. James knew that prayer that really mattered was prayer that revealed trust in the one who answers prayer - God himself. We often "think" we have prayed in a "trusting" manner - yet, the end-result of our prayer is that we are still doing it all ourselves! God is not honored by those types of prayers - those prayers where we "keep all our options open". 

God must be trusted and in order to reveal our trust, we have to allow him to be in control. Let's ask ourselves who is "really" in control in our lives - who is it we are relying upon for the answers to our needs? Are we simply living life "keeping our options open" - trusting self more than God? If so, it is time for a "shift" in the 'driver's seat' of our lives! Just sayin!

Prayer Worrier or Prayer Warrior

You might think that is a play on words, but it isn't! Many times we enter into our moments of talking with Jesus like intimidated little kids, head hung low, shuffling our feet, and dancing around the truth of what it is we really are there in need of at that very moment. We don't want to 'impose' on God, or maybe 'tick him off' with our constant asking, so we just dance around the subject, grazing on it from time to time. Prayer worriers - those who fret over how to say it, what to say, or in just being honest about what they are feeling - the end is always going to be the same...we won't feel like our time in prayer has accomplished very much! Why? We never really got to the meat of what needed to be shared - and God didn't get a chance to take care of whatever it was that was on our heart in the first place!

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. (James 1:5 MSG)

Prayer warriors are those who don't mince words with God - they know they don't have to pull their punches. They are as transparent as glass and they don't feel the need to temper their words to 'fit' some type of 'prayer etiquette'. I don't know about you, but when someone comes to me and really opens up their heart to me, I don't care if their sentences are grammatically correct, or even if they got all their thoughts into some 'ordered sequence of ideas'. I just appreciate that they opened up - because I know just how hard it was for them to be that transparent about their feelings and needs! God isn't any different - he knows it is hard for us to sometimes be honest with ourselves, much less him!

There are indeed times we don't have a clue what to ask God for - we just know how we 'feel' or that something isn't quite 'right' in a matter. We might have a notion as to what may be the issue at hand, but there are far more times we have very little information as to the 'true nature' of the matter. We just realize there are needs that go much deeper than we really know and we need his help to get at those needs and get those matters well in hand. This is why we just need to come honestly. There is no harm in admitting to him that we have 'no clue' what we really need, or what will help another individual past their moment of need. We just share what we can and then we allow him to do the rest. He listens to our honesty and then he meets it with his power and grace!

Sometimes we want to 'keep our options open', so we 'propose' to God all the possible scenarios to either the problem or the solution - hoping we might just hit the nail on the head in all this dancing around. The issue with this is that we rarely stop long enough to just listen to him. We get all tangled up in explaining ourselves, or how we see the situation, and we forget to just listen to how it is he actually knows the situation to be! The more we just lay things out there honestly, then stop to listen, instead of laying out all the options or possibilities, we might just find there is a solution we had never considered. The solution may lie more in our honesty than in the volume of words we use to express our need. Just sayin!

The wise and the wisest

What action do you plan next? This is a tough question for some of us to answer because we just don't 'plan' our actions - we are more on the spontaneous side of things. Did you ever stop for just a moment to consider that even spontaneous actions are planned at some point? Yes, they are 'in the moment' actions, but we only do them because we have considered them either consciously, or deep within the recesses of our subconscious. All action is really based on some intensity of emotion combined with some belief we are to take that particular action. This is were things get a little complicated, because the intensity of our emotion may not always align with our beliefs! Sometimes they are 'way over the top' and just don't make sense in comparison to the action being enacted.

Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. (Proverbs 20:18)

If you have ever made a 'resolution' to do one thing, and find yourself doing another, it isn't that you didn't 'plan' the action - it is likely that some emotion overrode the original or intended action. There are indeed times when we don't have well thought out plans that are truly "actionable" and "realistic".
If there was one thing that was drilled into me over and over again in nursing school it was that our goals (plans) for our patients needed to be actionable and realistic - something they could actually achieve. In other words, we needed to be able to show how we planned to accomplish the care for our patient, each step outlined in detail, until the goal could be realized - not just through our action, but as a result of how the patient would respond to those interventions. Why was this so important? Simply put - a plan that was outlined with detail gave us guidance in establishing the best course of action that would get us as close to the results we desired to see for our patient's best outcome.

Our "purpose" (PLAN) needs to be formed by asking for counsel. Asking for advice when formulating our plan is important because we NEED the input of others - especially God. Most of the time, we set out on plans ourselves without seeking the input of others (especially God) because we think we have it all figured out. Others (especially God) may see things in a different way, lending a well-rounded approach to the plan. When we have the wisdom of a counselor (especially God) on our side, we may have more "actionable" or "trust-worthy" steps to our plan. The counsel we receive is only as good as the counselor we seek out. In other words, if we want to succeed in weight loss, we go to somehow who has walked the path before us. If we want to learn to invest our finances wisely, we need someone who can live on a budget and who is able to spend wisely. When we come for counsel, we are seeking the opinion of that other person and we are looking for them to give us instruction that will affect our conduct. So, it is important that we seek the best counsel as possible - but never at the expense of excluding God's counsel from his Word and time in prayerful silence.

Every goal has to have actionable steps - those itemized increments that will get us to the goal. No step in the process should be without some purposeful action. If we are just including something into our plan because it looks good or sounds good, but really has no real purpose in aiding in the accomplishment of the plan, it is wasteful - unnecessary fluff that will sap our energy, time, and attention. We spend energy on something that has no results. When we do this, we "burn out" on the plan faster and we don't realize our original goals - intent was good, but execution was poor. What plans do you have for this day or week? Have you sought wise counsel to assist you in formulating your plans (especially God's)? If not, you might want to heed the advice of our scripture. The plans of a righteous man are ordered by God - especially God. The plans of a righteous man are actionable and measurable because they have been submitted to the counsel of the wise - and the wisest. Just sayin!

It is time for us to pray!

Don’t fall in love with this corrupt world or worship the things it can offer. Those who love its corrupt ways don’t have the Father’s love living within them. All the things the world can offer to you—the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority—do not come from the Father. These are the rotten fruits of this world.  (1 John 2:15-16 VOICE)

There are all kinds of reasons why we are enticed to move toward certain behaviors or attitudes which are pervasive in our culture today, but none quite so strong as that of fulfilling some pleasure, gaining some possession, or thinking we have been able to "one up" someone else. It seems to be at the center of much of what was said by one "side", shown, and/or spoken about in this past political campaign season. Now, in the wake of the aftermath of what has been called the "ugliest" of campaigns in history, the fall-out of evil is pervasive everywhere we look. 

I watched the news last night only to realize we have elementary aged children, not even past the age of eight, telling each other in rather hateful ways that they are about to get deported because their family is of "a different" culture or race. School classrooms are emptied as high school students take to the streets to protest the results of the election. Major roadways are being blocked while other protesters take a stand against what they call a "bogus and corrupt" election. Social media continues to be abuzz with all manner of criticism of others because they stood for one candidate or another. I thought I had seen just about as much protesting and violence as I might have seen in my lifetime, being a child who grew up during the 60's and 70's when the draft was resisted, women's rights were sought with such passion, and our country's involvement in wars they didn't think needed to be fought were at the height of all our thoughts and attention. 

It is time for us to remember one very important thing - "It is important that all of us submit to the authorities who have charge over us because God establishes all authority in heaven and on the earth. Therefore, a person who rebels against authority rebels against the order He established, and people like that can expect to face certain judgment. You see, if you do the right thing, you have nothing to be worried about from the rulers; but if you do what you know is wrong, the rulers will make sure you pay a price. Would you not rather live with a clear conscience than always have to be looking over your shoulder? Then keep doing what you know to be good and right, and they will publicly honor you." (Romans 13:1-3) One of the most important things we must keep in mind: "The king’s heart is like a channel of water directed by the Eternal: He chooses which way He bends it." (Proverbs 21:1)  While it may not look like God is in control, for those who have placed their trust in him, we must never lose sight of the tremendous amount of care he takes to ensure we are always in his hands and at the center of his care.

We cannot pit ourselves one against another - this is just not right - it neither honors God, nor does it value each other. We cannot move toward evil, but rather must rise up in right-living, manifesting our trust in a higher power. We must not tear down the beliefs of one to escalate the beliefs of another. God's desire is for us to come humbly before him, pray for our leaders, and trust him with the outcome. It may just prove true that if we will bind together in peaceful submission to his guidance and care that we will find our greatest strength as a nation. The truth is that things will never be as we want them to be as long as evil is present on this earth. We can only do what we know is right, respond in love toward one another, and trust God with the rest. Just sayin!