Pray for President Bush - Day 2916; Pray for McCain-Palin

Dear Heavenly Father, All glory be to You on this Sunday morning and all praise for all that You are and for all that You do. We are truly unworthy of the bounty which You give to us. May we please You in some way as the day progresses.

I lift up to You prayers and wishes for President Bush, Senator McCain, and Governor Palin. I would that You would put Your guiding hand on their lives and that Your light would shine through them to a lost world. Protect them Lord, from their enemies and their chief enemy, Satan. Protect this land from the harm that would befall it and turn the people's hearts back to You.

I pray for our military. Give them strength and wisdom for the battle.

I pray for the families of our politicians. May they know Your love and support every day.

Go with us the rest of the day and be glorified in us and through us. And it is in the blessed name of Christ Jesus that I pray these things, Amen.

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September 7, 2008

The Dangers Of Success

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READ: Deuteronomy 8:6-18

Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes. —Deuteronomy 8:11

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said that he learned to pray in a Siberian concentration camp because he had no other hope. Before his arrest, when things were going well, he seldom gave God a thought.

Similarly, the Israelites learned the habit of depending on God in the Sinai wilderness where they had no choice; they needed His daily intervention just to eat and drink. But when they finally stood on the banks of the Jordan River, they awaited a more difficult test of faith. After they entered the land of plenty, would they soon forget God?

The Israelites knew little about the seductions of other cultures, having spent their lives in the desert. Moses was more afraid of the coming prosperity than the rigors of the desert—the alluring sensuality, the exotic religions, the glittering wealth. The Israelites might put God behind them and credit themselves for their success (Deut. 8:11,17).

Ironically, success makes it harder to depend on the Lord. The Israelites did prove less faithful after they moved into the Promised Land. Again and again they turned their hearts to other gods.

Beware of the temptation that success brings. There is grave danger in getting what we want.

I blindly ask for what I crave,
With haughty heart and will so stout;
He oft denies me what I seek,
But gives me grace to do without. —Anon.

There is no failure more disastrous than the success that leaves God out.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 105–107

40 Days to Pray the Vote

Day Twenty-Three: September 7, 2008
57 days, 6 hours and 51 minutes left until election day.

For Candidates Who Will Consult with God As They Lead

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. --Psalm 32:8

Loving God, Your kindness extends to all You have made. You show your awesome love day to day as You reveal Yourself in manifold ways. Thank You for Your many promises to lead and guide us when we consult with You in humility and love.

As we move toward this year’s elections, God, I pray for leaders who will turn to You as they lead. Give to us those persons who desire to do Your will and who will consult with You in every decision. Thank You for Your love and guidance. In Jesus' wonderful name, amen.

Also Bishops Ask Catholics To Pray Election Novena

08-117
August 19, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bishops Ask Catholics To Pray Election Novena

WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) invites U.S. Catholics to pray before the November election a novena for life, justice, and peace called Novena for Faithful Citizenship. It is a podcast and available for download.

Joan Rosenhauer, Associate Director for the USCCB’s Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, said that the special novena is part of “the bishops’ campaign to help Catholics develop well-formed consciences for addressing political and social questions.” The bishops issued their statement on forming consciences for faithful citizenship in November 2007.

Helen Osman, USCCB Secretary of Communications, expressed hope that the novena could help “Catholics enter into prayerful reflection as they prepare to vote.” Seventy-one percent of all visitors to the USCCB’s web site download the free podcasts of the daily NAB readings. These same visitors are encouraged to use the novena podcast for prayer. Osman said that the USCCB wants to support Catholics as they weigh pre-election issues and that “providing a prayer resource on the Web can help us focus on our common values and identity as Catholics.” The novena emphasizes the dignity of life, justice, and peace.

The Novena for Faithful Citizenship runs for nine days and can be used consecutively, one day each week, for nine days prior to the election, or “in any way that works best for a community or individual,” said Rosenhauer.

The novena will be available for download until the election and it can be downloaded online at http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/resources/podcasts.

For other Faithful Citizenship resources and materials visit www.faithfulcitizenship.org.

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