Identify With the Attitude of Jesus

By Gary Keith, Executive & Teaching Pastor
Thursday, May 5 has once again been identified as the National Day of Prayer. The idea of an annual National Day of Prayer was introduced by the Rev. Billy Graham, who suggested it in the midst of a several-weeks crusade in the nation’s capitol. Members of the House and Senate introduced a joint resolution for an annual National Day of Prayer, “on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals."
In a 1983 declaration about the National Day of Prayer, Ronald Reagan said, “From General Washington’s struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future."
This year LBF is planning to provide a time of prayer on Thursday, May 5 in the Worship Center. This event will be organized by our Thursday night Intercessory Prayer Team. After meeting with two of the team members recently, I was challenged to look at this prayer time a little differently than in the past.
Traditionally we gather and pray for our politicians and other civic leaders. While that is a good thing, this year we desire to pray for them as one of the intercessory team members said, “with a love that is willing to humble self and enter into their condition.” We want to pray by connecting with them through a common point of identification. As we pray, we will consider their needs as we identify with the roles they have.
For example, as we pray for our governmental leaders, we realize that each of us is a leader in some capacity. And in that capacity we know the pressure and the responsibilities of being a leader. We know from our personal experience that leaders are attacked by others and that leaders receive their authority from God and are accountable to God. We also know that all of us have failed and require forgiveness and mercy from God to be a leader. So as we pray we will take some time to identify with these people and ask for the same things we would ask for ourselves.
My desire is that we don’t just have another event to go to, but a night of meaningful prayer that changes and empowers us, as well as makes a spiritual impact on our nation. I hope you plan to join us on Thursday, May 5 @ 7 p.m. in the Worship Center as we humble ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4) and pray for the needs of this nation.