I am not a farmer, nor do I play one on t.v.  I will not pretend to know what a mustard seed looks like, but I do know what a shoestring looks like.  For a time, I even knew what a shoestring budget looked like.  It's not very big...I can relate to that-something small that may hold together an entire center of balance.  You can trip over your shoestrings if they are not tied.  You can trip over many obstacles in life if your faith is not anchored.  The opposite is also true though.  Tied shoelaces are a necessary part of climbing a mountain literally or metaphorically.  So, put on your shoes, tie those laces, and join me in my marathon of anchoring our faith in Jesus.

Okay, out of the esoteric and into the pragmatic...We all know what yesterday was.  I am not going to rant about who won or did not win.  What I am going to say is that Jesus is not limited by our vote or by our political system.  We, in the United States of America have been so privileged with the freedom of election that we we take for granted a much higher and even much more needed behavior:  prayer. 

I Timothy 2:1-3 NIV says, "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."

Will you join me today when you get home from work or at some point of your day and with the faith of a shoestring, or more if you have it, to pray for the following:

1)  Lord, give me a godly attitude towards our leadership.  (Congratulations, Mr. President.  Thank you for taking on this huge responsibility.).

2)  Lord Jesus, we pray in your name for protection for our nation's leaders and for their families.  Please protect President Obama and his family.  May they always have safe travel.  May they be protected in all ways physically, spiritually, emotionally.  We pray this also for our Senators, Congress people, governors, and all of our other leaders.

3)  We pray for wisdom for our nation's leaders.

4)  We pray that our leaders would be granted the discernment to hear your voice and the courage and humility to follow.

5)  We pray that revival in our homes would spiritually ignite our nation and impact our culture for Your Kingdom.

6)  We pray for protection for children: those unborn, those who are orphans.

7)  We pray for opportunities to show our children what Your word says about topics to which our culture exposes them.

8)  We pray for justice for all.

9)  We pray for protection from our enemies from other lands.

10)  We pray for continued freedoms of:  speech, worship, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

11)  We pray for financial and physical protection for widows and for single moms who have been physically or financially abandoned.

12)  We pray that we would always value life above money.

13)  We pray for a heart to serve others.

14)  We pray for protection for our land's resources.

15)  We pray for purity.

16)  We acknowledge that it is not simply our vote that empowers us, it is You being on Your throne.

17)  Thank you for this great nation.



In Jesus name.  Can I get an amen?