Really Messy Politics

     So over the last six or seven years I have become increasingly more intrigued by our government and the way our country is run.  I have developed an appreciation for knowing more about the state of our nation and what it will mean in days to come for our children.  I was thrilled last year to have won the school "lottery" and get to travel with my then 4th grader to our state capitol in Austin, TX.  In fact, when we got home late that night and her dad asked how her trip was, I couldn't shut up.  I loved it!  I enjoy watching the news and occasionally listening to talk radio, whether I agree with the stance of the organization delivering the news or not.
     Most recently though, my fascination and intrigue has turned into concern and confusion.  I have watched as our government has progressed from pushing their agendas and eventually working through a compromise to a complete two-year-old stomp your feet and throw your head back tantrum leading to shutdown.  We have moved from a country whose people were patriotic and proud because we led in the world with dignity, to a country that I have to imagine has become a joke in the eyes of many who don't live here.
     I had lunch with some friends yesterday and we all shared a mutual concern for the direction of our current government (republicans and democrats alike) and the disfunction we are leaving many generations to deal with.  It was asked, "What can we do?"  And I've been pondering this on a more serious note ever since.  We can vote... well we have and whether our candidates won or not, there is not one in office today who is fixing this mess.  We can write our leaders... and yes we can and should if we feel so called.  There are constituents writing their leaders and I believe there are leaders taking a stance based on the desires of their constituents.  But let's be honest, most of them are either more concerned about how the current situation, whatever that may be, will affect either their next run for election or another agenda they hoped to push in the future.  We could pray...
     I wanted to argue this one in my head yesterday.  I wanted to believe that God would hear my prayer but it wouldn't necessarily change anything.  Then God put this thought in my head, "Have you tried it?  Really tried it?"  And I couldn't answer yes.  I have prayed for our country throughout my life on different occasions, especially after major traumatic events.  I have prayed for our country occasionally when someone else directed me or a group I was in to do so.  I have even prayed for our country occasionally on my own when something heavy was weighing on me.  But I really couldn't say I had ever devoted myself to prayer for our country, intense, unrelenting prayer.
     If ever there was a time, I believe it is now.  I may or may not like the decisions our leaders have made to get us to this point but that's not the issue.  The issue is that at this moment our leadership, our government is NOT functioning and because of that we are ALL affected.  And yes, you and I can continue with our day to day routines for now, but eventually the effects of this will catch up with all of us.  For some incredibly unfortunate families, this disfunction has been what I imagine is the most dishonorable disgrace to those who lost their lives in the last few days fighting for our country, protecting our country, making it possible for you and I to continue with our day to day routines.
     So I'm in, all-in, to pray for my country intentionally for the next 40 days and I would love some company. I do better with some direction, and so each day I will have a different focus for my prayer.  How powerful would it be if many of us joined together during this time to pray intentionally for our country!  I would love for you to join me, hold me accountable, and share this idea with your friends and family and encourage them to join us.  You can follow this blog to see what I'm focusing my prayer on daily and feel free to share this with others to create a community of believers lifting up our governing leaders together.  Please feel free to add the prayers of your heart in the comment section below.
You may know some of my political inclinations toward different policies, but know that it is okay if we don't agree on everything.  (This will not be a time for me to air my personal political grievances.)  I don't expect my thoughts on how to run a country are the very same as your thoughts and it's probably a good thing that neither you nor I are running this country.  But we can be united in this:  The people of our world, our country, our states, cities and neighborhoods are all God's children, created in His image.  God has established authority in this world, and the leaders we live under are "God's servants for our good".  (Romans 13:1-5)  Let us pray for their leadership, for their hearts, their families and the incredibly tough decisions many of them make on a daily basis.  Let us pray for our leadership in our families and our communities, and that we would have hearts and words that encourage, that submit, and that share Truth in the name of Jesus.