October 15, 2009 Prayer Guide

 

Dear Praying Friend,

 

Most years, life in the Sacramento Capitol unfolds in an ordered, prescribed routine. Once legislators adjourn in September, the governor has a month – until mid-October – to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature. That month is usually marked by frequent press releases trumpeting actions taken on bills by the governor’s office. 

 

Not so this year. While legislators left town as usual, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, piqued that no actions had been taken on several key issues, threatened to veto the majority of the 700 bills on his desk. Last week, the governor delivered an ultimatum: he wanted a deal on the problem of water supply or he would indeed veto hundreds of bills on his desk. 

 

Yet, in the final hours before his October 11^th signing deadline, the governor folded, and – without a water compromise in place, signed the majority of bills on his desk. Troubling to Californians of faith, the lame-duck governor signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 572, which honors homosexual icon Harvey Milk with a “day of significance” in the public schools; Senate Bill (SB) 54, which forces California to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the state prior to the November 5, 2009 passage of Proposition 8; and Senate Bill (SB) 471, which will promote morally questionable embryonic stem-cell and biotechnology education and workforce development as a state priority. 

 

Ecclesiastes portrays the hopelessness or meaningless of life lived without God. Solomon paints the endless cycles in life. The parable in 4:13-17 speaks of endless cycles of rulers, “There was no end to the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor.” The history of Israel and Judah cycles through good kings and bad kings, and good judges and bad judges. The same can be said for our state and our nation, but for those of us who know God, we cannot sit idly, waiting on the rotation of cycles. Instead, prayer can be our consistent response.

 

A recent Field Poll gave California’s governor and Legislature abysmal ratings. Only 13 percent of Californians approved of the Legislature’s performance, and 27 percent of the people gave Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a thumbs up. The survey illustrates a general dissatisfaction with our state’s elected leaders who pander to special interests while flaunting the will of the majority of California citizens.

 

Darkness abounds in the Golden State, yet we know that God is sovereign and we have his promise that “all things work for good to those whose love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Continue to focus on the truth, the certainty of God’s character and word. Where sin abounds, so does grace (Romans 5:20). Stand firm, and allow God to use you – and your prayers – to diffuse the fragrance of the knowledge of him throughout your home, community, and state. “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…” (II Corinthians 2:14-15) 

 

California Family Council

 

P.S. CFC’s bimonthly prayer guides can also be found online at www.californiafamily.org.

 

·       that efforts underway to overturn Proposition 8 – both in federal court and on a future California ballot – would not come to fruition. Pray God would give wisdom and discernment to the people of California – and the nation – to recognize the true value of traditional marriage to families and society, and to refuse to accept the lies and myths espoused by supporters of same-gender marriage. 

 

·       And praise God for recent Pew Research polling indicating that a clear majority of Americans still oppose same-sex marriage. Pray that policy makers – elected officials, appointed representatives, media, and judges – would support the will of the majority instead of pandering to smaller, vocal special interests. 

 

·       Pray that the passage of SB 54, which would require California to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the state prior to the November 5, 2008 passage of Proposition 8, would stir Californians to participate in public discourse and to select God-fearing leaders who are trustworthy and who hate dishonest gain. (Ex. 18:21)

 

·       A bipartisan group of scholars earlier this month announced that a recent “index of leading marriage indicators” demonstrated a dramatic decline in the health of marriages in recent decades. Pray for your own marriage and those across California and the nation. Pray for solid, godly, and permanent marriage relationships in which children are raised with strong ideals to respect the institute of marriage and their own parents. 

 

·       and praise God for dramatic decline in support of abortion reflected in a recently released poll by the Pew Research Center. The center noted that the election of a pro-choice Democrat for president may be a contributing factor. Pray that this decline in support for abortion would continue and result in a groundswell of citizens clamoring for the protection of life both at its inception and its end. 

 

·       and praise God for legislative strides made to remove barriers on husbands and wives who want to adopt. Thank God that the governor agreed with such sound principle and signed many bills that accomplish that legislative goal. 

 

·       Pray that the pro-life community will step up to the plate and actively provide financial, emotional, and adoptive help to women who make a difficult decision to give an unplanned, preborn child the gift of life.

 

·       Pray for young people confused by the prevalence of positive homosexual messages in the media, their schools, and among their peers. October is LGBT History Month, during which many schools study and honor homosexual icons. With recent emphasis on Harvey Milk and the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 572, this month has taken on added emphasis this year. Pray that – despite the governor’s action in signing the bill – school administrators and teachers would decide not to celebrate Milk at their schools.

 

·       that impressionable children would hear the truth – not biased “science” prioritizing morally repugnant embryonic stem-cell research – despite the recent passage of SB 471, which promotes morally questionable stem-cell and biotechnology education.   

 

·       October is Clergy Appreciation Month, a time set aside by churches to honor their pastors, church leaders, and their families for their dedication and sacrificial giving to enrich the lives of churches and communities. This month, pray not only for your own pastor, but for pastors statewide – for blessing, wisdom, and the ability to rouse their people to live godly lives.

 

·       that God will enlighten legislators and policy makers with truly family-friendly solutions to California’s looming problems – the budget, water supply, prisons, and economic uncertainty. With legislators expected to return to the Capitol this fall for special sessions to deal with some of these issues, pray that our elected representatives will be fair to families and not heed special-interest demands. 

 

·       that California citizens will increasingly be exposed to a biblical worldview. Pray for the expansion of the message and lessons in the Truth Project, Focus on the Family’s DVD-based curriculum designed to impart a biblical worldview. Pray for the success and outreach of the first Spanish-language Truth Project training event hosted by CFC. Pray God would draw key individuals with receptive spirits, who are ready to learn what God has for them.

 

 

United in passionate, effective prayer for California families

www.californiafamily.org