June 22, 2010 Prayer Guide

For God alone my soul waits in silence...

June 22, 2010

Dear Praying Friend,

“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.”  (Psalm 62: 5-7)

Begin with the basics.  Express your confidence in who God is and his unchanging, solid nature.  He is dependable, trustworthy, and wise.  The uncertain world around us makes sense only in light of our powerful Creator.  He is the author of life and love, and in him all things hold together.

June was once remembered as the month children began summer vacation from school, and also as the wedding month when young men and women began their lives together as one.  Joyfully, couples committed themselves to each other before God, and their family and friends.  Homosexual activists battle against those family times, supplanting them with ideas of June as “Gay Pride Month,” with parades, “Gay Days” at theme parks, and events commemorating their lifestyles.  In today’s culture, keeping innocence in our activities and minds is much more difficult.

This month, June took on added significance, as Judge Vaughn Walker called attorneys back into his San Francisco courtroom for closing arguments in the federal challenge to Proposition 8, the people’s initiative that defined marriage as between a man and a woman. 

Against this backdrop and in this cultural climate, pray for the God-ordained institution of marriage this month.  Pray that God’s people would unite in prayer and conviction to protect marriage in the Golden State and the nation.  Pray that Judge Walker would faithfully consider the truth, without bias, in making his decision.  Pray, too, for any future actions in this case, which is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a day when marriage is under attack as an antiquated institution that needs to change with the times, pray for its strengthening, as God’s chosen instrument for solid families where children can thrive with both a mother and a father. Pray for those who have been married for decades and those just beginning their life journeys together.  Pray, too, for those families that have been splintered by the mistakes of adults, leading to decisions that “ever after” is no longer possible.

“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.”  (Psalm 103: 17-18)

California Family Council

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

Please Pray…

…for the sanctity of marriage

·         for the approaching end of the federal trial in San Francisco challenging the constitutionality of Prop 8.  Pray that Judge Walker would competently fulfill his duty to evaluate the arguments presented, without bias. 

·         that, despite the hubbub and attention on homosexual marriage, Californians would take great joy in celebrating traditional marriage this month.  Pray that those couples planning summer weddings will enter marriage with a strong commitment to their vows to each other, before God.  Pray, too, for couples whose marriages have now become battlegrounds instead of true partnerships and oases of mutual care, respect, and support.

·         for insight and courage for California’s legislators considering legislation diluting the meaning of marriage, despite their constituents’ strong stand in passing Prop 8.  SB 906, which would create a new class of marriage – “civil” marriage – possibly an incremental precursor to redefining what marriage is, will be considered in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on June 22. 

…for the protection of life

·         that Christians would embrace the sanctity of life as their own personal mission and minister to their local communities by helping with crisis pregnancy centers and adoption ministries.

·         and praise God that recent federal statistics show that 60 percent of teens are heeding warnings and remaining abstinent.  Pray that more teens will choose to delay sexual activity until marriage.  Pray they will remain strong and committed to what’s best for themselves despite being bombarded with messages to the contrary from their peers and the media. 

…for parental authority

·         that legislators would exercise caution in order to protect children, family privacy, and parental rights in legislation before them. 

·         especially in the days following Fathers’ Day, for children who are being raised in fatherless families.  Children thrive in intact families with both a mother and a father.  Pray for healing for those who have caused pain to their children, and for the children caught in the middle – without a father to guide, encourage, and support them. 

…for California families

·         June is widely known as “gay pride” month, with often-raucous parades by the pro-homosexual activist community and a display in the Capitol building.  Pray for those prisoners of pride, who deny God’s truth and cling to sinful behaviors.  Pray, too, for young people confused by the prevalence of positive homosexual messages from their schools, the media, and their peers. 

·         that legislators will commit themselves to give ample time and attention to California’s budget deficit.  Although the final California budget deadline is July 1, legislators seem far from a solution.  Pray they will give serious attention to our economic uncertainties – and make courageous decisions that will benefit generations of Californians to follow.

…for California Family Council

·         for CFC’s continued efforts to serve God in 2010 by transforming the laws and culture of California.  Please pray for the income necessary to fulfill what God desires of CFC. 

·         that Californians will be exposed to a true biblical worldview.  Pray for opportunities for the expansion of the message and lessons in Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project – and TrueU – in our state and nation.

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being;  May my meditations be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” – Psalms 104:33-34

United in passionate, effective prayer for California families

www.californiafamily.org