What Are You Thankful For?

What Are You Thankful For?  I'm thankful for many things; my wife, my dogs, my family and friends, my community, the list goes on and on.  Yesterday I had the honor of reading a prayer for our Government, and a few other things, at the Capitol Mall for the National Day of Prayer festivities.  I would like to thank Chaplain Greg Carr from our Crisis Care Chaplaincy for help me craft the prayer and I thought that I'd take a moment to share it with you:

"Our Father, You are the sole Creator and Ruler of this world.  The Bible gives Your Son the name of King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  You have established the authority of our nation, our state, our counties and our cities.  Your righteousness transcends all of our efforts and understanding.  Forgive us of the pride that puffs us up and threatens to separate us from Your presence.  Even in the midst of the current crisis our world is in, we sense Your presence and for that we give You thanks.

Today, we pause in humble prayer.  We lift up in prayer our national leaders; our President, his Cabinet, our Vice President, Congress and Judges, as well as their staff and families.  Guard the men and women whom you have ordained to lead our nation from harm and give them peace and strength.  Strengthen their character and draw them closer to You.  A house divided against itself cannot stand, therefore, we humbly ask for you to bring unity to our national leaders.

We lift up our state leaders in prayer, our Governor and Lieutenant Governor, our Congress, our state Judges and every state employee as well as their families.  Protect them from harm and give them peace and strength.  Give them Your wisdom as they govern our state.  Strengthen their character and draw them closer to You.

We also lift up our local leaders within the counties and cities of North Dakota as they govern their local municipalities. Give us all clear direction in uncertain times.  We ask that You grant them wisdom, discernment and hearts that are open to Your leading.

We pray your blessing, protection and provision upon each person and their families at this time.  Be with our city and county workers as they serve on the front lines of this pandemic.  We ask that You let wisdom and integrity reign in every leader’s life as they govern our nation, our state, our counties and our cities.

Father, we give thanks for our First Responders. We pray for Your protection to cover all of our First Responders and give them wisdom as they deal with each crisis situation.

We also pray for our Military Personnel throughout this land as well as those serving abroad that You would protect them and bless them and their families as they serve You and our nation.

Father, we lift up our communities and pray that friendship, kindness and compassion will be the rule of the land.  Help us to treat each other the way we want to be treated according to Your Word.  We pray for Your blessings on every family and every business in our communities. We ask you to strengthen marriages, encourage parents, and heal relationships.

Father, we pray for Your will to be done in our communities as it is in heaven.  Thank you for all You have done and all You are going to do.  In Your Son’s name I pray.

AMEN!

Please take a few moments to think about what you're thankful for.