Legislative Prayer Update

111th Congress Begins
The 2008 election of members to the 111th Congress has concluded with the exception of the Minnesota Senate race. The House of Representatives began with 434 of 435 members and the Senate began with 98 of 100 members. Due to the change in executive administration and the selection of cabinet members from the legislative branch, the membership profile that is to be expected for most of this Congress' duration is not yet known.

• Ask God to establish the leaders he would have for our nation.
• Ask God to give our leaders wisdom in pursing righteousness and justice for our nation.

Greet all of your leaders and all the saints (Hebrews 13:24).

Daniel said, Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding (Daniel 2:20-21).


Suppressing Dissent
The majority in the House of Representatives has taken steps to hush any voice of correction outside its own ranks. In the last Congress, the minority found in the motion to recommit with instructions a method of substantively modifying legislation without delay.  The change in the rules prohibits this motion from not delaying legislation, thereby providing members of the majority with political cover for not supporting legislative innovations that originate in the other party.

• Ask God to give His people in Congress ways to make His words through their voices heard throughout the Halls of Congress and across our land.

Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, Take away all iniquity, And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips (Hosea 14:2).


Israel Affirmed
The leaders of both chambers of Congress introduced resolutions to support Israel in its fight against Gaza: H.Res. 34 and S.Res. 10.

• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).

Crowding out the Culture of Life
Members of the party that will soon control both legislative and executive branches of the federal government are now debating how they want to expand federal spending on embryonic stem cell research: through executive order or by legislation.

• Ask God to show all of our leaders the need to build on the affirmations of life during this past decade.
• Praise God for those leaders who are faithful to Him for Him to show them how they can at least maintain the gains for life we have seen in our nation.

I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live , you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:18-20).


Economic Stimulus
According to the Congressional Budget Office the sharp downturn in housing markets across the country has led the United States into a recession which began about a year ago and will last well into 2009 making it the longest recession since World War II. While there is ample motivation in Washington to address the problem, there is less clarity as to what can be done that would actually fix the problem.

• Ask God to give our leaders motivation to seek His guidance in what they should and should not do.
• Ask God to give the American public a willingness to accept responsibility for the problem.

The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).
O Lord, how many are Thy works! In wisdom Thou hast made them all; The earth is full of Thy possessions (Psalm 104:24).