Good Monday Morning.  Here’s Today’s Nugget to chew on:

“Not About Me Today”

1 Timothy 2:1-4 King James Version (KJV)

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

——–

Further Thought: I want to encourage you today to make your prayer time today about others and not you. Remember, Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive, and what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. So google the names if you don’t already know of your congressional leaders in both the Senate and House, as well as your state and local government officials. You can also add your children’s teachers, coaches, neighbors, supervisors, and pastors (not just your pastors). I want to encourage you to call their names out [don’t just say our President, say “President Donald Trump”] if not daily, at least weekly before God.

According to the passage above, this is how we are going to live in peace, godliness, and holiness, not by just changing laws. God is simply saying, “Give me permission in their lives.” Allow me permission to speak into their lives, to give them my ideas, to show them how to lead, govern, instruct, and live. This will also allow you and me to stay focused on what God has called us to do.

Now, once you’ve prayed, you have to make a decision to turn off CNN and Fox News… If you don’t, you will find yourself speaking against the prayer you are about to pray and, as a result, limit God in the earth. I’m not saying don’t stay informed, but we don’t need to be consumed by every headline. Yes, the news may be juicy, but when we peel the onion back, families and lives are being affected.

Remember Psalm 115:16: God has given the responsibility of the earth to you and me. So, let’s make our prayers count and use our energy wisely. Now, just imagine how our country would change if we, as the Church of God, consistently called out the name of President Donald Trump, members of his cabinet, and our state and local government officials to God. My brothers and sisters, I believe this could change everything.

——–

Sample Prayer: Father, today, according to your word in 1 Timothy chapter 2, I dedicate this time of prayer to praying for others today. So today, I give you permission to get involved in the lives of President Donald Trump and his cabinet [google “The second Trump cabinet” for the names]. Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Virginia House of Representatives: Robert Wittman, Jennifer Kiggans, Robert Scott, Jennifer McClellan, John McGuire, Ben Cline, Eugene Vindman, Donald Beyer, Morgan Griffith, Suhas Subramanyam and Gerald Connolly.  Governor Glenn Youngkin, Mayor Letty Hardi, and all those under their leadership.  My Pastors TJ & Karrianne Hall and other local pastors, my family and neighbors [call out their names]… The students of [XXX school]. You know the concerns and pressures associated with life, governing, managing, leading, and, most importantly, fulfilling the assignment you’ve given to each of these men and women. I’m asking you to give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. Open the eyes of their understanding so that they may know without any doubt what you have called them to do and just how valuable they are to you. Thank you, Father, for leading, guiding, and directing them today to make wise, sound, and timely decisions that will bring glory and honor to you. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen!

P.S. You don’t have to limit your prayer to praying for those in the United States of America. I would encourage you to call out the names of Vladimir Putin (Russia), Xi Jinping (China), Kim Jong-un (North Korea), Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine), Masoud Pezeshkian (Iran), and the leaders of every terrorist and hate organization. If God could change “Saul” who was a terrorist against the early church, to “Paul” who wrote most of the New Testament, imagine what He desires to do in the lives of these leaders and their families.

Please share this with your friends and family, as well as church leaders from other states and countries, so they can begin to call out the names of their leaders.

Have a great day, and keep chewing on God’s Word.

Additional references:  Matthew 7:12; Ephesians 6:8 and Jeremiah 29:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

——–

“2025 Stop & Listen”

Today’s Recommended Reading Mark 5