~ "Please listen to the entire message as our options have NOT changed..."

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Ps 61:1-2)

"From the end of the earth...". Wow!  That means that no matter where we are, no matter where we go, our God is there!  He is right beside us.  He is as close as our own thoughts.  

Jesus told us that the Father knows our needs before we ask.  He also told us to ask in His name only.  Do we ask only in His name?  Do we petition our intercessor or do we go through a rigorous and futile routine of praying "outside" of His command to us?  You could argue that if God hears and knows everything, then He would, regardless of who we pray to, respond to our prayer.  Only part of that statement would be true.  Yes, God knows and hears everything.  

We all operate under the rule of the "chain of command" in this world.  Our jobs, our family, our business dealings...we all must speak to the person above us in any situation.  We cannot go "straight to the top" when we have issues.  From your physician's office to the President's office - you don't get to speak to the one in charge on the first shot.  I don't know very many doctors who answer their own phone, and I know that Mr. Obama doesn't answer his.  

There is a chain of command for prayer.  It does not include saints or martyrs, apostles, disciples or dead loved ones...the chain of command is Jesus.  He is our link.  He is our intercessor.  He's experienced every single temptation that we have.  He's experienced the pain of loss.  He's endured physical pain far beyond anything we can fathom.  He offers us comfort in those times and is our strength, our rock, our shelter!  He IS our strong tower!

Lift up your voice to the King of Kings!  Offer Him your praises and prayers.  He is all you need!  Allow Him to speak for you, because in the end, He is all you will have to acknowledge you.  

~ "One nation, UNDER GOD!!!"

If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God (1 Sam 12:14)

If we disobeyed our parents, we felt their wrath (and many of us, the back of their hand).  We were told to respect their wishes and do as we were told.  Many of us had no problem understanding that concept.  We knew if we broke curfew or lied to them, the consequences were severe.  We "feared" our parents.

Why is it that many do not "fear" God?  Is he not more powerful than our parents?  Is his wrath not made evident throughout the scriptures?  

"God granted the nation's request for a king, but his commandments and requirements remained the same.  God was to be their true King, and both Saul ad the people were to be subject to his Law.  No person is ever exempt from God's Law.  No human action is outside of his jurisdiction.  God is the true King of every area of life.  We must recognize his kingship and pattern our relationships, work life and home life according to his principles." (Life Application Study Bible).

In this verse, we can find that it still applies to life in our country.  We have allowed the enemy more power and control and have slowly pushed God to the back of the bus.  We complain and disrespect our leaders through passive atrocities when instead, we should lift them up in prayer.  Many of us have seen the power of God first hand, yet we sit back and leave the praying for someone else.  

Put the leaders of this country on your prayer list.  Pray for God's will, pray for conversion, pray for something - but do not sit idly by and complain.  Whether you choose to believe it or not, Jesus went to the cross for them too - all of them, just as he did for you and I.  We are commanded to pray for them; we are commanded to pray for ALL people.  We may not like their politics, we may not like them - but still they are children of a God they do not believe in and thus we are to pray for them.

You can be part of the solution!  Maybe not in a way that affords you the opportunity to "stand out" politically (and I've dabbled in politics - it's not all "that"), but where it really counts!  Reach out to God, through Jesus, to bring about great change in our nation.  The "American Dream" can once again be awakened ~ it just needs a kiss from the Prince!!!