April 3rd Daily Discussion

I find such peace in this passage during these times. It can be very stressful to watch our leaders take this country in a direction that goes against what I believe to be what's best for the greater good. When the anxiety starts to rise, I remember that this is all happening with God's permission, with His hand on everything, and is ultimately part of His plan. When I worry about what my children's future will be, I trust that through God's word I can provide them with the direction, knowledge, and tools they will need to persevere and survive the conditions.

In regard to Romans 13:1-2: This is so great. I've had people (relatives!!!) say that the Bible is unclear on many things...Get this one: "There's no where in the Bible that says that "natural" drugs are a sin and after all, God CREATED marijuana, so it must be okay...therefore, I see no wrong in it. It's a private matter and I'm not hurting anyone by doing it in the privacy of my own home."
Well now, we know it's ILLEGAL and guess what God has to say about that! He never fails us...ALL the answers are in His Word. We just have to not fail Him by learning what He has to say.
PS He created flies and mosquitos too (and I still wonder why). Never learned anything great about flies or mosquitos. :-)

Hi Tami-

I registered on the Presidential Prayer team when our previous President, George Bush Jr. was in office. I get a daily reminder of prayer from their site. It's very hard for me to pray for this new first family. I do it out of obedience. I find it hard to pray for someone who leads this nation down the road to Godlessness, but I know that God has His purposes and His prophecy must be fulfilled. In that I must rejoice and pray God's will be done in America. I do pray that the hearts of our governing authorities melt before our God whether it be in love or in terror. I pray that despite their present beliefs they would come to know the Lord Jesus, the Christ and that we may live in peace with our Christian liberties in tact.

I must admit, when I pray for them my heart is heavy. I want to pray with the fervency and joy that God would have me pray when praying for this new administration.

May 7th is The National Day of Prayer. Millions of Americans now participate in the National Day of Prayer each year (1st Thursday in May). Last May 1st, tens of thousands of prayer gatherings were held, covering every state. “Day of Prayer” declarations were made from the President of the United States and all 50 governors. Prayer observances were held in 110 federal prisons, YMCAs, national monuments, Indian reservations, military bases, stadiums, nursing homes, airliners crossing our nation, schools, town halls, in the Senate and Congressional chambers of many state capitols, and overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to these public activities, people gathered to pray in their homes, churches, and other private places. They pray for our nation’s leaders and their families -- not just Government but Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family. PrayerFlight, a group of Ohio-based private pilots, organized “50 Capitols” where pilots and their passengers prayed as they flew over each respective capitol. They will fly again this year.

We have seen many examples (in newspaper and Internet article headlines) of the transforming power of corporate prayer. Communities have dramatically lowered crime, suicide, unemployment and drug usage in examples where only prayer could be pointed to as the agent of change.

You can find info on events, resources and prayer at www.nationaldayofprayer.org

I must say that while we obviously must pray for our leaders, how can we "do what is good and receive God's approval" (verse 3 of the reading) if laws are being made that, for instance, a doctor must perform an abortion even if it goes against his conscience (and the will of God)? This law does not yet exist, but is there any doubt that it is coming? And what if a pastor must marry a gay couple because it becomes the law of the land? These are not far-fetched when you consider that hate crimes legislation is being considered by this administration for the reasons cited above. Yes, we obey the law to a point. But, what about the old testament examples of disobedience (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego)? Our faith and our obligation to the Lord must be based on the whole counsel of God. It is one thing to pay taxes, and quite another to do the things cited above. As Daniel and others showed by their example, there is a time for disobedience to the authorities while we remain obedient to God.

Today has been a very trying day for me as I live in Iowa and it was announced this morning that we've allowed same sex marriage. I'm just sick about it and extremely worried for the future of my children. I do appreciate all the comments here of trusting God in this. Thank you very much.

I too an struggling with this verse. It is definitely clear that we're to submit to those place in authority over us. I'm journaling on this verse and find I have more questions. Here's what I've written: "This passage is pretty clear that we're to obey those in authority over us.I don't know that I necessarily have to be happy with my government, but to stop and take a step back and realize that those in authority are placed there by God (are they always?), that gives me pause. But now I wonder about those that have have fallen from power. Was the fall from power also an act of God, and yet a sin of the people that overthrew the government? When power is abused, is it still of God?"
I think I know the answer to all of these questions, but I'm not sure how to reconcile them together so that they can all be true. It occurs to me when writing this that there is nobody in authority that is not also under the authority of someone else. When we get to our president, he should be in submission to God alone. You could argue he should be in submission to his constituency, but there would be no problem there if his constituency would also submit to God's authority. I guess I've answered my own question. We're to submit to, and pray for those in authority over us. However, if submission to those in authority over us means we have to disobey God to do it, then it's time to take a stand for what is right according to God's word. Unfortunately, the people put in authority over us are still people. They are not infallible.

Brian, I agree with you. And again, if one considers verse 3 of the passage, it starts by saying: "for rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad". So, then, how can one reconcile a scenario whereby a ruling government walks on eggshells not to offend Muslims while it's liberal elite scoff at Christians? And the same legislate killing an inconceivable number of children through abortion? Would standing with the government on those issues be doing "what is good"? Of course not. If marriage is the "relationship" Christ has between himself and the church, mirrored by the type of marriage ordained by God, then you can see on what rocky terrain our government is stumbling onto when gay marriage is being approached with a sense of urgency and acceptability. Our nation is at a crossroads, and those of us who strongly believe that the Bible is true, are getting a glimpse of just how much Christians may be tested in the very near future. God allowed rulers to be brought into power for the punishment of Israel (in the Bible) and certainly He can do the same today -- to America. Our rulers have abandoned the principles that our founding fathers upheld with great conviction. We must pray continually that Christians will have the convictions and backbone to stand for the truth as our nation languishes in severe disobedience to God.

I totally aGREE WITH Marks COMMENT. i AM ALaRMED WHEN OBEDIENCE TO God's LAWs concerning respecting the leaders God puts in to goverment over us, BECOMES COMPLACENCY IN STANDING UP FOR WHAT GOES AGAINST God. I will always pray for my leaders whoever they may be. But I also believe that God allows the leaders we choose. I believe that we live under the consequences and we are now, because people have left God in order to pursue their pocketbooks and have become complacent in standing for what is important to God, (Life of babies, marriage between one man and one woman and on and on. Many christians have seemed confused that God gives permission in the Scriptures to only render to Ceasar the things that are Ceasars but to God the things that are Gods. We need to do more than just vote and pray. What if Daniel had not continued to bow and pray to God or had failed to obey God and complied to things that were totally in reverse to what God wanted?? Even though the King had a decree of death to everyone who did not bow to him alone? As we put all of scripture together we realize that there are times that we must be prepared to stand, not rebel. To use our voices in telling our leaders when they are wrong.We can attend a peaceful ralley and have respect for those in authority even though they may not be respecting us. I see the times we are living in now as one of those times.Our government and leaders (many of them) are doing things wrong, against God, against America and that are taking this country further away from God to harmful , global facism and people need to wake up and do their part in standing up for whats right and against whats wrong. complacency has gotten us t this place in History. Faith means action also. There are things we could do and should have done and did not in the past that are biblical in dealing with our governing officials. This quote has always impressed me. "Evil prevails when good people do nothing!" I know many christians who voted for the wrong man because they were more concerned with their pocketbooks and pride than in choosing a man with principles and faith. Now we are paying the consequences. But we do have a responsibility to face our mistakes and now stand. Tahnk you.