"Nothing Can Make Them Stumble" - 21 July 2024
Princes persecute me
without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. There are places in our
world, O Lord, where injustice, immorality, and inhumaneness sit enthroned and
empowered, violently and viciously crushing people and even seeking to harm
your chosen ones. Lift up the downtrodden and demoralized, show strength with
your arm; scatter the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; and bring down the
mighty from their thrones (Luke 1:51-52).
I rejoice at your word
like one who finds great spoil. Eternal God, look upon these United States of
America that there may again be great joy at your Word, like the joy of those
who have found a priceless treasure. Many who are in office claim to be
disciples of Jesus, and fellow believers. Especially for them we beg you to
shape their desires, direct their actions, protect their families, and build
them up to pursue God-defined justice, equity, and the common good for all in
this land – the free born, foreign born and unborn.
I hate and abhor
falsehood, but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your
righteous rules. Great God, God of truth and fidelity; we implore you to bring
honesty and integrity to the forefront in our land, to the forefront in our
relationships, our families, our jobs, our schools and colleges, our civil
offices, and our international affairs. Rouse your people in this country, to
include Frontline, Generations Church, Genesis Church and God’s Grace Baptist,
to reclaim and be reclaimed by the importance of your Word, to return to
committed, prayer-full connection with you through Christ alone received by
faith alone, and resilience in pursuing what is right in your eyes.
Great peace have those
who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. We have loved ones and
friends, O Father, who once professed faith in Christ but now seem to be
tottering between heaven and hell, perdition and redemption (…). May they come
to the peace your law promotes, the peace that can be found only in your Son,
Jesus Christ, and only by the fullness of your Spirit, so that they may become
steady and not stumble.
I hope for your
salvation, O LORD, and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies;
I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways
are before you. Hear us cry out for those who have never known your great
salvation: family, friends, neighbors, and any of the kids and parents we
interacted with in VBS (…). Bring them into your family that they may know
they’re forgiven in Jesus Christ, and may they come to bear the fruit of the
Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness
and self-control. And please grant recovery, refreshment, and restoration for
those in tight places, difficult spaces, and hard races (…).[1] And
now, we join hearts and voices to pray together as Jesus our Lord taught us,
saying, Our Father…
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