More Prayer, Less Griping

Psalm 20

In the seventies my father had sign on the back of his truck that said, “Don’t blame me – I voted Conservative.” When we are in our grumbling mode, as often we are, we Canadians like to think of voting as our right to complain. Maybe if we prayed more for our leaders, we wouldn’t feel the need to claim that right, or we would at least see and engage in the whole process more positively.

One might feel uncomfortable with the militarism of Psalm 20 (and many others), but what I do find quite moving is the prayer bond that exists between people and ruler. So how often do we pray for our leaders? How much do we pray for the character of our national life, even while we complain about the exclusion of Christ from Christmas, Christianity in the schools, etc. (real concerns) – my current concern is to engage in conversation with my sons’ principle about a planned school excursion to see The Golden Compass (see Christianity Today article).

Anyway, today’s little thought is to pray, and be engaged in things more, and gripe less. And that’s first of all a note to self.

Prayer (I know there are international readers of Open Journal, so please substitute names/offices as fitting):

Lord, sustain and bless Prime Minister Harper, and his cabinet. Watch over and encourage our federal representative, Bruce Stanton. Guide them according to your wisdom in framing the law and character of our life, that those laws and our life together will reflect your law, kingdom, justice and love. May we pray for, work for, engage together in the ‘shalom’ that is peace that is more than absence of strife. Guide the work of Premier McGuinty, the provincial cabinet, Garfield Dunlop and other MPPs. Thank you Mayor Downer and other town council members. Prompt me to show appreciation to any and all who represent us and lead, and commit to ongoing prayer for them. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.