Forty Days of Prayer for Our Country- Day 25
We have been reading some of the daily essays that Dr. Jim Denison publishes. You can read more and subscribe to his daily email about faith and culture at http://www.denisonforum.org/ . Although voter turnout in early voting has been very strong, read this portion of Dr. Denison's rescent essay in our Thought for the day below.
Scripture:
Scripture:
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21
Thought for the day:
Voter apathy among young people was a major concern after the last presidential election, and is shaping up to be a significant issue again this year. But this problem is not confined to young adults. In the most recent election, the U.S. had the second-lowest voter turnout rate in the developed world. At 47 percent, we were a point higher than South Korea. By contrast, Belgium's rate was above 90 percent; Greece, much maligned in recent years, votes at above 70 percent. Russia exceeds us by 17 percentage points, Canada by 13. Since our elections have been evenly divided in recent years, around 25 percent of the public elects our president.
Why such voter apathy? One reason is that many Americans don't believe elected leaders can solve our problems. According to a recent survey, 86 percent of us believe one person can make a difference in the world. Apparently, many of us don't think that person is a politician.
It's time to reverse this trend. God is calling more Christians into public service than are answering his call. His word instructs all believers to "honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17), to support the governing authorities (Romans 13:1), and to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). While churches should not become political organizations, Christians should be extremely engaged in the political process. Otherwise we leave our salt in the saltshaker, our light under a basket (Matthew 5:13-16). Dr. Jim Denison
Why such voter apathy? One reason is that many Americans don't believe elected leaders can solve our problems. According to a recent survey, 86 percent of us believe one person can make a difference in the world. Apparently, many of us don't think that person is a politician.
It's time to reverse this trend. God is calling more Christians into public service than are answering his call. His word instructs all believers to "honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17), to support the governing authorities (Romans 13:1), and to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). While churches should not become political organizations, Christians should be extremely engaged in the political process. Otherwise we leave our salt in the saltshaker, our light under a basket (Matthew 5:13-16). Dr. Jim Denison
Prayer:
Lord, help us to submit to your sovereign authority over us - to give to you what is yours. Help us as a country to do our duty in voting - to give to Caesar what is Caesar's as our Lord commanded. Teach us what that means, not just here and now in an election year, but all through life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Prayer Points for Today:
- Prayer for voter turnout but also for voter discernment.
- Ask that God's people would be good witnesses even as they go to the polling places.
- Pray that God would call out Christians to public service and to witness in the political area.
Memory Verse for the Week:
- Ask that God's people would be good witnesses even as they go to the polling places.
- Pray that God would call out Christians to public service and to witness in the political area.
Memory Verse for the Week:
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