CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON -- The Moral of the Story

“Let there be no limit to what we take to God in prayer, so that there

may be no limit to God’s reign and rule in all of life.”

-- Roger Hazelton

A friend of mine has a wooden plaque with the words “Life is fragile,

handle with prayer” carved into it. I love that sentence because it

reminds me not only to pray daily, but that there truly is power in

prayer.

That phrase made me think back to last spring when I participated in a

National Day of Prayer ceremony. That phrase also made me think ahead to

election day next week.

I picked up a list of all the federal, Supreme Court, state and local

officials at a National Day of Prayer observance last year. For almost 50

years, our country has observed the National Day of Prayer as a day to

ask God for his guidance, strength and healing for our nation and our

leaders.

I was amazed at the number of people involved in official leadership,

as well as a bit embarrassed by how few of them I specifically pray for

on a regular basis. Then I read the following quote by Gary Bergel of a

group called Intercessors for America, and realized that the number of

influential people in our country is staggering, and should challenge

each one of us to pray.

“The life of every citizen is impacted by an estimated 500,000 or more

individuals who wield significant influence each day. Consider the vast

multitude of elected officials, appointed judges, lawyers, police

officers, bureaucrats, officials, military officers, media elite, news

anchors, publishers and editors, talk show hosts, business executives and

managers, theologians, ministers, rabbis, chaplains, priests, elders,

pastors, deacons, lay workers, para-church ministry heads, educators,

professors, teachers, medical practitioners and hospital administrators,

scientists, researchers inventors and engineers, artists and designers,

athletes, actors and entertainment figures. How might we pray for these?”

Yes, we all need to pray for these men and women. We need to pray that

they would seek God’s wisdom and guidance daily for their decisions and

their actions.

We as individuals also need to vote and to pray for the elections this

Tuesday. We have the right and the responsibility to do so. We have the

opportunity to make choices that will affect us locally, as well as

federally. What better time to ask for God’s wisdom and guidance?

Yes, this is the ideal time to pray. We can pray daily for God to

change the world, and to change us as well.

But prayer isn’t just something to do yearly at election time or on a

National Day. Prayer is something to do daily, as a National Way.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.