I received the prayer below from a friend this morning, along with this comment:
The current state of the political discourse and process really dismays me, and I worry about our world more than I admit. The media has a piece of all that.
I won’t out my friend because I suspect that because she is a very high profile elected official and we are of different political philosophies, her friends would not understand why she is my friend. That is a sad reality in politics today. I agree with her that the media owns a “piece” of the current state of political discourse but only a piece – we as citizens own the largest share. One of the things that I know for certain about prayer is that if you pray for your enemies, your own heart will be softened and your bitterness will cease. With that said, I offer this prayer from Windsor Village United Methodist Church.
Prayer Topic #3:
A Declaration of Truth and Honesty in the Media
November 3, 2013
Scripture Reading: II Samuel 22:47-51, James 3:1-12
Scriptural Prayer:
Holy Father, we thank You for freedom of speech in the United States of America. Thank You for allowing us to live in a society where we are free to exchange and express ideas. Thank You for revealing the technological knowledge that allows global communications. Father, You are the great and awesome God who keeps Your covenant of unfailing love with those who love You and obey Your commands. Lord, You are our Master. Every good thing we have comes from You. You alone are our inheritance, the cup of our blessing. We bless You because You are the One who guides us, even at night our hearts instruct us. Father, we know that You are always with us, so we will not be shaken.
Awesome Father, in these final days of the mayoral election, we take authority over the spirit of the airwaves. We command Your Word, which we speak with boldness and faith, to interrupt the airwaves and destroy every word that is spoken by the media that does not align with Your will for this election and our city. We decree that every attempt to misconstrue the Truth will be confused. We cancel the assignments of division, confusion, anger, wrath, lying and deceit that are being unleashed through the various forms of mass media. By faith, we declare that the heart of every station manager, editor, publisher, producer, reporter and writer will be pliable in Your hands. We silence the demonic voices that give direction and influence to the hearts of leaders in the area of communications. We command those who have intentionally used their positions to stir up strife and confusion to turn from evil and do good. In Jesus’ Name, they will search for peace and work to maintain it. As kings of the King and lords of the Lord, we understand that death and life are in the power of our tongues, so we declare that only the truth will prevail and all distortions and misrepresentations will be exposed and rendered powerless.
Holy Spirit, as I watch the news, show me how to pray for the candidates and our city:
Holy Spirit, please open the eyes and ears of our citizens to hear, see, and understand the messages that are being communicated concerning the issues being raised in the mayoral elections. Please convict the hearts of the members of the media who intentionally cause strife and confusion in this nation, especially those who are believers. Expose hidden agendas, deceitful motives, wicked schemes, and subversive plots. Speak to the members of the media about being impartial in their reporting. Direct the public to not base their voting decisions on a thirty-second sound bite, but to research every candidate and seek Your will so they can make informed decisions.
Loving Father, forgive the members of the media for allowing their personal feelings to color their professional duties. Forgive station executives who have sold out their integrity for corporate greed and positioning. Forgive the citizens of this nation whose ears are itching to believe untruths from both political parties. Forgive those in our city who incite racism, hatred, anger, and violence and forgive the members of the media who pander to these individuals. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that You have committed). Holy Spirit, remind the members of the media of those they need to forgive and help them to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to show You names or faces of people that You may need to forgive. As He shows You, say aloud, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in Your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help the members of the media to not yield to temptation; but deliver them from the evil one.
Almighty King, You are the great Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. You are the First and the Last; there is no other God. You are the Creator who made all things. You alone stretched out the heavens. You alone are worthy of glory, honor, and power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Nehemiah 1:5, Psalm 16:2,5,7-8, Deuteronomy 10:16, Psalm 34:14, Proverbs 18:21, Romans 2:11, II Timothy 4:3, Matthew 6:13, Isaiah 44:6,24, Revelation 4:11
texaswoman says
Amen
Rhymes W. Right says
I want to echo your friend’s comment and your lament that you cannot name her because of the problems bridging the partisan divide.
You would be shocked by the number of my fellow Republicans shocked that I am good friends with my Democrat alternate election judge — and the number of her Democrat brethren who are equally shocked that she is friends with me, the GOP election judge who is also a notorious right-wing blogger.
And we won’t even get into the folks who are taken aback that my wife and I are happily married despite the fact that I am right-wing and she is “wrong-wing” (as I often joke).
What will it take for folks to recognize that most folks on the other side are operating out of good will — even when we disagree with them?
Nick Carter says
Those that wish to find fault will never enjoy community unity. Their point of view will prevent them from it. We can choose to focus on difference or common points. The benefit of the common point is an opportunity to work together for the good of others.
Joan McMillan says
I too am friends with my Democrat alternate judge. I feel that we all want what is good but we disagree on how that should come about. Thank you David for sharing the prayer.
Angie Chesnut says
A beautifully written and appropriate prayer no matter your political affiliation. Thank you for sharing it. I hope it is repeated by many. Please tell your friend how much it is appreciated. Some of us are not as able to put our concerns and feeling into words or to share our thought.
Ed Vidal says
Yes, but let us not fall for all this false, cuddly, moral equivalence. The Democrat party is militantly God-less and pursues the growth of government for its own sake, even when it is shown not to work by empirical evidence. They are in effect worshiping Caesar, and short-changing God.
The Republicans may be a motley crew, but for the most part they fear God and accept the consequences. The Democrat standard-bearer for Governor of Texas next year is an outright pagan, who supports the killing of babies just a few months from being born. She worships Baal, the Phoenician god who demanded child sacrifice, and we cannot turn away from that truth.
In his Second Inaugural address, President Lincoln observed that both sides in the Civil War worshiped the same God, although both could not be fully right in their worship. Today one side no longer worships the God of the Bible, not even with perhaps a wrong interpretation, so the divide is much wider.
bob42 says
“Religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion” ~Rick Perry June 2013
“It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg” ~Thomas Jefferson
“The greatest degree of religious freedom for the largest number of people is achieved when government and religions are separated” ~ bob42