Perhaps we should take a closer look at the last sentence in this scripture, this word from God from Mt. Sinai.  God has already told Moses to tell the Israelites camped up close to the mountain that he has brought them out of Egypt and to Himself.  In this last sentence of scripture, he tells them they must hear his voice and keep His covenant, and they will be his “peculiar” possession above all people.  This might be thought of as special or distinctive. 

But first they have to listen.  “Oh.”  “Ok.”  Now that’s not such a demanding activity to meet.  All we have to do is listen to the voice of God.  Not so difficult.

But there’s more.  They are also, in God’s words, to “keep My covenant.” Now that is a bit more demanding.  Oh, yes, the keeping of covenants is entirely more demanding.  But here it is commanded that this one must be kept.

Why do we sometimes rail against being told to keep faithful to something, to a covenant?  What is it about us that doesn’t want to be tied down to something, to have something required of us?  We all know that it is our stubborn self-will.  Not that our wills are of no value – it is our wills that allow us to do the “things we will,” to accomplish things, to choose a pathway and walk it.  But when we get stubborn, especially against God, our wills can definitely get in the way.  In a big way.

God knows this.  He knew it about the Israelites before they ever set out on their journey to the Promised Land.  He knew they would run hot and cold toward Him, repenting and then sliding away from Him over and over.  And here, when He first speaks to them from Sinai, this subject is brought up, right in front.

What He says is great, though.  He is just telling his children (and Christians are His children also) that they will be His in a wonderfully unique and special way.  But they must listen and follow His ways. 

We, too, although not under the law of Moses, must do the same.  There is no greater happiness than when Christians are following their Lord’s directives and walking through life as cherished special persons.  It is a thing of joy.

And so, Lord, we ask you to help us keep your covenant with us, your law of love.  Help us to play it out as we serve those in pro-life work and in the lives of those who need help with LIFE issues.  Although we know that You forgive us when we stray, help us to be faithful children who enjoy Your presence in special ways because we have been willing to keep Your law and will.

Topics:  Pray for wisdom to keep God’s covenants and to thus remain very close to Him because we are keeping our lives in line with His will.
Community Impact teams in churches

Sometimes words just seem to fly off of your Bible page and into your consciousness.  The metaphor of God bearing us on the wings of eagles, as these noble birds do when teaching their young to fly, is powerful.  We can just feel God’s strong wings carrying us in the heights, up and down.  We have never a fear.  (I see, amusedly, that the use of the word “fly” when speaking of the words in our Bibles, fits quite well with the words about eagles!)

But there is more here, something close and personal.  We are told that God not only carries us, He brings us in unto Himself.  He takes our weight onto His holy wings.  And He also brings us to Himself.  He carries us; He holds us close.  He’s mighty; he’s tender. 

In carrying us, we see his majesty and power, his strength.  In bringing us in close, we see his nurture and care.  Those wings of strength surely must fold around us, holding us secure in the warmth of God’s arms.  The really astounding thing about this scripture is that God himself says he brings us to “Myself.”  What other relationship could ever offer as great a protection and love as this?  None.  Ever.  We are brought in close; we are important in this way, to our God.

Lord, help us to know that you want to bring us in to Yourself, and help us to realize that you want to do the same with every individual on Earth, even those who are preborn.  Help us to picture ourselves, as well as them, safe in your arms, those arms like wings that hold us up as we fly, and then bring us in for fellowship with and protection from, You.

Topics:  Pray to understand how much God loves us and wants to carry us and to protect us, just as He does unwed mothers and babies that are a surprise to their families.
The United States Air Force and the attitudes toward LIFE that the members carry with them

Pray as you are led directly from God or from postings on prolifeunity.com and the Prayer Pivot for Life.  Choose as led, any or all topics, events, groups, organizations, states, Pro-Life Action Calls, Prayer Action Calls, Peter and Patrizia Shinn and more.  With information about what is going on “out there,” we can pray more knowledgeably and with focus.  God hears from Heaven.  He moves valiantly in Heaven and on Earth.

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  RSV
[Scripture quotations are from] Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  (Read this scripture and more at http://prayerpivot.com).

She was a small woman, grey-haired, and very concerned about the music her husband was getting out for a little program at a nursing home.  She told him again and again that the music was hers, not his.  He tried to tell her that he would use it for the program.  She just fussed around over it, agitated.

So a staff member sat down with her, got her some decaf, took her for a little walk down the hall to see something, kept her occupied during the performance.  It was a good plan, keeping her busy and distracted from the issue of the music. 

After the end of this short program, here she came.  She placed her small hands on the upper notes of the piano keys and started playing.  She played an old fun song about dancing, quite well.  I complimented her.  I said she could sit by me on the piano bench.  She was demure about it, but she did sit down and play some more; then I gave her the whole bench.

She played several songs totally without music.  And as pretty as the songs were, it was her face that was the true song.  In smiles, it seemed to shine.  It was transformed. 

Gone was the fretting frown.  Gone were the anxious glances and hovering around; gone was the effect of Alzheimer’s.  She was in an element of joy, and it showed.  It showed that she was still “in there.”  The essence of the person she is (and I say is, not was), became her true melody, rising up out of the music.  The disease had not erased all of her that was herself!  It was miraculous; yes, a transformation.   

I will not forget the program and this little lady.  It was such a beautiful event for me.  And it shows that God has planned into our selves, the selves of the entire human race, certain elements that are universal and timeless.  Music is one of these.  Everyone everywhere has potential to relate to a lovely tune.  Here it was a connector from her to those who were listening to the piano. 

This woman certainly connected with herself and others, and it was the highlight of the program for me – and many others probably if they realized what was going on.  She was truly green in her older age, but not to be seen from the outside.  It was her inner green that claimed the day for her and beautified it for others.

I don’t know anything about her relationship or righteousness with God, but I did see her displaying this inner green-ness.  Each child born has potential for inner green.  To develop the effects of this to be enjoyed, the child must be birthed.  Lord, we pray for an end to abortion so that all preborn children now and in the future will have a chance to show their green from You, clearly, until their last days. 
 
Topics:  Pray for those with Alzheimer’s, that they will be able to show their true selves, at least on occasion, for the joy of themselves, for the joy of others.
All abortionists’ employees around the globe.

Do you ever wake up in the morning with many great spiritual intentions?  You are going to go get your Bible, perhaps perk a little coffee, and you are going to read that Bible and pray and get the day off to the best start possible.

Halt.

This didn’t happen.

First mistake – turning on the computer and reading e-mail.  Seems to take a while, especially when you feel compelled to answer several items in the Inbox; and then reading one e-mail gets you on track to Google something on the ‘Net, and then you remember something else you wanted to check on while at the computer.  And then maybe you‘ve been up an hour or more, and the Bible still lies on the end table or sits on the shelf, unread. 

Second mistake – not calling yourself to attention and dressing yourself down real good for your failure.  In the military, this could happen, possibly with the result that the needed action took place.  Maybe dressing yourself down would bring yourself up short to realize where your priorities have been the first two hours you were up.

This surely must happen to all of us; or maybe there are some believers so dedicated to our Lord that they always are able to choose the best for themselves at the beginning of each day.  But for those of us who fail miserably at this doable goal, what can help us?  We’re instructed to be earnest in all seasons.  How do we get our earnestness to work when there are so many distractions to hinder our best intentions?

Well, we must admit that this is a problem; don’t ignore it.  If we are truly meaningful in the desire to start our days in this great manner, then we must admit that we don’t do this.  And, in asking God to help us, we must also be honest.  He knows every weakness; he can strengthen us in every weakness.

Perhaps a plan will help.  I believe I’ll try placing my Bible in a very visible spot in the house, a spot not off of the beaten pathways in the rooms.  Maybe if my eyes are reminded of how easy it is to pick up the Bible and open it—I will.  Also, either go to a place in the house where it seems conducive to reading the Bible.  Or go to a new place for fresh outlook.

Lord, help us to be earnest and faithful.  Help us in our weaknesses.  Help us to grow in You because we are faithful to Your Word.  We ask this of you, Lord, especially when we think of pro-life issues that need to be just and true.  We ask this of You.

Topics:  Pray for willingness to begin any day in the Bible and in prayer.
Pray for all abortionists around the globe.