Dear Praying Brothers and Sisters,
In the next few days, the political machine will be in full swing and it is time for a call to prayer. It is not that we have not already mustered the prayer force of Heritage but there is always a need to remind ourselves that when good men do nothing evil prevails. We have found it profitable to make declarations and proclamations that will resound in our hearts and the courtroom of heaven. Recently Sherry Brackney, one of our intercessors, shared with me a prayer that she has been praying from the Psalms, it could be a help to you as well.
Excerpted from Psalm 35:
Lord, I plead our former presidents cause with You against those who strive with him. Fight against those who fight against him. Take hold of Your shield & buckler and stand up for his help. Also draw out the spear and stop those who pursue him. Say to the former president’s soul, “I am your salvation.” Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor who seek after his life. Let those be turned back and brought to confusion who plot his hurt. Let them be like chaff before the wind and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them. For without cause, they have hidden their net for him in a pit, which they have dug without cause, for his life. Let destruction come upon them unexpectedly and let their net that they’ve hidden catch them; into that very destruction let them fall. …Attackers gathered against the former president, and he did not know it; they tore at him and did not cease; with ungodly mockers at feasts they gnashed at him with their teeth. Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue him from their destructions... Let them not rejoice over him who are wrongfully his enemies. For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against the quiet ones in the land. They also opened their mouths wide against him and said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.” Stir up Yourself and awaken to his vindication. Vindicate him, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness; and let them not rejoice over him. Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who rejoice at his hurt; let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who exalt themselves against him.
As I read this prayer, I realize that we are in a battle for the future of our nation. “Ernest Baker argues that religion is failing of our day because it has failed to provide models of heroism for young people. That is why young people turn away from religion and even despise it. They, like the rest of us, seek to do something with their lives that justifies their existence. According to Becker young people despise a culture that promises them comfort and the church that seeks to entertain them.” I find this an interesting consideration. Becker contends that Youth is made for heroism, not just pleasure. He goes on to say that youth reject a religion that only invites them to imitate rolls created by society to ensure culturally defined success. In my lifetime I find myself in agreement with Becker, for the most part we feel that we can only face death if we have done something magnificently heroic with our lives.
How many times have we heard the song, TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM? LET ME SHARE THESE WORDS WITH YOU ONE MORE TIME:
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
And to run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
And to love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march, march into Hell
For that Heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable
The unreachable
The unreachable star
And I'll always dream the impossible dream
Yes, and I'll reach the unreachable star.
For some this song has served as inspiration and yet for others it may be a sad memory of missed opportunity. Anthony Campolo writes: In heroism we affirm both our humanity and divinity. He says, “We affirm our divinity by what is worthy of the gods and we affirm our humanity by taking risk only available to mortals”. It is my prayer that God will in this present hour raise up men and women who will not cower in fear when there is so much at stake.
It is time to stand up for the FIRST and SECOND AMMENDMENT, for human rights and for the SANCTITY OF LIFE. We are in a battle for the freedom of religion and this season is all the reason you need to become vocal first to the heavens and then to world around us. IF NOT YOU, WHO? AND IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS YOU TODAY IS MY PRAYER.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, AMEN.
IN HIM,
Pastor Cleddie Keith