Nov 3rd, 2020: Praying for the Election

I woke up this morning with an intense urge to pray. Whatever the outcome of the election today in the US, it will bear impactful consequences for many parts of the world and many aspects of American understanding of democracy. People around the world will take a deep breath and pay attention to what happens in America. Canadians are among them. It will be a long day for some people and an emotionally challenging day for many others. It will be one of those days that we will remember in history as the turning point of American democracy.


So how should we pray, and what should we pray for this day? Do we have the faith to believe that God is working in the world regardless of the outcome?


Pray for the reconciliation of the nation. The US has been so divided, and if it keeps going this way, it will not be able to provide hope for the world as the guardian of freedom. Pray that God will raise leaders who are able to bring about meaningful conversations among all people. Pray that people will take a careful look at their history and have some appreciation for the national heritage.


Pray that the US as a nation will continue to seek God's guidance in dealing with the issue of racial discrimination. Pray that Americans will have the courage to encounter the truth of who they are and who God is. We need to encourage one another to acknowledge the real problems are the lack of fatherhood, the lack of employment, the lack of education, and the lack of healthcare.


Pray that the US will be a nation that continues to honour God in how it goes about its business. Pray that God will destroy selfish ambition among those who lead, diminish the lack of desire to serve, and correct the spirit of greed among leaders. Pray that He will do so by raising up men and women who are willing to listen to His voice. Pray that God will bring about great things despite human attempts to undermine His plans.


Pray that we will experience peace regardless of who wins on this day.


Philippians 4: 6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Popular posts from this blog

Sept 4th, 2024: Praying in Images

Image
It has been a rough few days. Living in immense pain does not allow us much energy to think about anything. I ended up praying in images, and not many words came out of my mouth. Most of the images were of people I know. God knew that I was praying for them as their faces came to my mind. I did not need to mention the circumstances or situations of their lives—He knows. My heart was at peace as I ended my days with these images. He will take care of my body, and I know this because I was able to get some sleep. Tomorrow is in His hands.
Read more

Aug 31st, 2024: Confession

Image
Dealing with pain sometimes affects our ability and flexibility. A physiotherapist friend gave me a set of home exercises to help with that. They are simple yet intense at the same time. Dealing with our human brokenness sometimes affects our ability to see and hear God. Our commitment to spiritual disciplines must be at the core of our relationship with God. One of the disciplines I have been trying to embrace more fully is confession. It’s not just about recognizing where we have gone wrong; it’s about how we have chosen to live our lives independently from God. It’s about whether we truly want God to be part of our lives. The absence of meaningful confession will damage our freedom to experience intimacy with God. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." - Proverbs 28:13
Read more

May 18th, 2020: Why Forgiveness?

Image
  A young man called me last night and he was tormented by his relationship with his mother. It is not because she was a horrible mom. It was unresolved grief that is caused by his dad's suicide a few years ago. Emotionally, he blames parents for his father's death although he knows intellectually that it is not right. I knew the father a bit because his mother and her family came to see me for help when they first arrived in Canada. He was a brilliant physician and who was quite loved by people of a small northern town in Alberta. He was awkward in some ways and very uncomfortable in social conversations. This young man has had many conversations with me ever since the suicide. His father's death has been a major topic of our time together. Most of our conversation yesterday was about forgiveness. We were talking about forgiving people who never ask or haven't got a chance to ask us to forgive them. The question is whether we can forgive without being asked. His father...
Read more