April 20, 2010 Prayer Guide
April 20, 2010
Dear Praying Friend,
Throughout the Old Testament, God called upon his people to remember: to remember to keep the Sabbath holy (Exodus 20:8); to remember all the commandments (Numbers 15:39-40); and to remember the Lord (Deut. 8:18). As part of the Shema or Jewish creed, God instructed his people to lay his word or commands upon their hearts – teaching them to their children, talking of them throughout the day, and even binding them on their foreheads. (Deut. 6:4-9)
Yet despite her godly foundations, throughout her history, God’s chosen people followed a circuitous pattern of obedience and rebellion. Psalm 78 recounts God’s continued guidance and mercy, despite Israel’s constant unfaithfulness. Again, the psalmist reminds the people to tell their children, “the coming generation,” “the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders which he has wrought.” (vs. 3-4)
Our nation’s history is no different, for, indeed, we were founded by pilgrims seeking a place to live in harmony, according to the truths of God. Our forefathers built their faith in God into our earliest heritage – laws and institutions – and even inscribed God’s word into our national symbols and buildings. Our nation, like Israel, has forgotten and fallen away. Our culture bears the fruit of rebellion – secularism, humanism, and an attempt to remove God from public life. We can change that by returning to the God of our forefathers. He remains faithful.
Children are indeed a gift from the Lord, and it is our duty as parents and grandparents to lay that godly foundation in the lives of our children – despite the enticing voices that would draw them away. Studies show that anywhere from 69 to 94 percent of youth leave the church after high school. Many parents have abdicated their spiritual authority to churches and schools, and many youth – even those from Christian homes – are leaving their faith by age 19. Today’s generation – enmeshed in an increasingly post-Christian world – lacks the spiritual depth to navigate the future.
As you pray this month, pray for our coming generations – our children and grandchildren – that parents will intentionally build the foundations of God’s word into their children, and that the children (and grandchildren) will remember their God, and their responsibility to steward the Christian values of the past to protect future generations.
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 outcome 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.
· for the sad state of many marriages that – instead of being true partnerships – have become battlegrounds headed for divorce court. Pray for spouses suffering from abuse and children impacted by divorce and bitter fighting in their homes. Pray that children will not feel responsible for the quarrels of their parents.
· for the reversal of recent trends showing markedly increased cohabitation and out-of-wedlock parenting. Not only does cohabitation undermine the institution of marriage, but it is also short-lived and does not yield similar health benefits or child stability as does marriage.
· that churches and parents would be faithful in instructing children and youth about marriage as God designed it – as between one man and one woman.
· that God’s truth of marriage as between one man and one woman would remain steadfast and victorious in California – despite court challenges, petitions, future initiative drives, media blasts, and pro-homosexual voter-education campaigns. Pray that the people of California – and the nation – would discern the truth that natural marriage, a symbolic picture of the unity of Christ and his church, is the foundation of society and the best place for bringing up children.
…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.
· that women would think twice – and consider the financial, moral, and social implications – about unmarried motherhood. While headlines recently touted falling birthrates, blamed on the recession, the rest of the story was that 40.6 percent of the births in 2008 were to unmarried mothers, a factor which yields adverse circumstances for both child and mother – and devastating taxpayer and societal costs.
…for parental authority
· that Truth would overcome the humanist deception prevalent in our public schools. Pray for the many children who are exposed daily to misleading curricula. As spring ushers in a period of profound homosexual campus activism, pray that parents, peers, and teachers will counter the lies proposed by hollow and unreliable philosophies.
· that legislators would exercise caution in order to protect children, family privacy, and parental rights in legislation before them.
…for California families
· for legislators and their staffs as they examine language in thousands of bills which must clear committees in the next few weeks. Pray for wisdom and discernment to understand all the issues and that legislators will protect their constituents’ concerns – not those of special, politically powerful interests.
· for California families and individuals who face disappearing jobs and life savings, dissolving marriages, and moral confusion and failings. Pray they would find the answer to their uncertainties and challenges by placing their trust in a loving Savior.
…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 our upcoming Truth Project leaders’ training sessions – on May 15 in Clovis, and on May 1 and June 5 in Modesto – would transform people into influencers, equipped to articulate a biblical worldview. Pray that God would draw attendees with open hearts, who are ready to be prepared to challenge hostile voices in today’s culture.
“I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; yea, I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate on all thy work, and muse on thy mighty deeds. Thy way, O God, is holy, what god is great like our God?” – Psalms 77:11-13
United in passionate, effective prayer for California families
www.californiafamily.org
