Philippians

You chose the image of “Father” to explain Yourself to us. That has infuriated the woken and blinded among us. They prefer to concept of “toxic masculinity”
and mock the need for true manhood.

It’s understandable…men have failed in their responsibilities as men and as fathers. Jesus was the epitome of manhood. He was humble, obedient…kind, and gentle to those in need in His culture. He spoke truth boldly to power. He refused to buckle to the cancel culture of His day. He never played the victim nor shirked His duty… When faced with execution, He never compromised truth but took the brunt of mankind’s injustice and conquered it.

America needs this God/man. She needs men and women with Biblical character. May I stand without fear in the face of today’s bullies.

AMEN

Scripture: “He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death–even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8

I am saddened as I look around today…I remember a better day in my country. A day when America was committed to protect the innocent. But no longer…today innocence is to be attacked mercilessly and destroyed as rapidly as possible.

I don’t know when we declared war on innocence but I know precisely when it came forth in full bloom. There was a much rewarded musical stage play and Hollywood hit movie that celebrated the compromise of innocence and our decent into the sewer of carnal knowledge. “Grease” was a long running Broadway musical turned into a hit movie. Promoted as a “love story” it launched Olivia Newton John and John Travolta to immense wealth and popularity. I come asking You to lift us from this sewer and restore our innocence.

AMEN

Scripture: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8

Often the world has charged Christ-followers as being “Holier than Thou”.

But since the cancel culture and the #metoo movements have taken over, those in opposition to Your authority have chosen their own form of proving their “righteousness”. Virtue signaling has become an accepted form of silencing critics. Both pretentious approaches to silencing opposition are equally wrong. Whenever either side tries to establish the rightness of their position, both have fallen into the same trap. Mankind is without any virtue before a Holy God.

Please forgive me when my pride blinds me to my own hypocrisy…and help me to give grace to those who oppose You when they claim a false righteousness. Father, teach me to walk humbly…love others and forgive as You have forgiven me.

AMEN

Scripture: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

I am amazed at the multitude of gifts you have showered on Your creation…and the way You challenge each of us to excellence. Mankind benefits when we are stretched to explore and discover the secrets of Your creation.

We are in bondage when only the elites among us are given the opportunity to excel. In America, we now promote “equity” rather than merit. Merit recognizes those who strive to be the best…equity promotes “group think” and rebukes individuality and excellence. Winning and success are shamed. The attempt to achieve equity is an attack on the very soul of America.

Awaken in us again that character that produces greatness and achievement. That character which acknowledges the uniqueness and value of every human life…character which strives to benefit all mankind.

AMEN

Scripture: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

It is reassuring knowing one day every knee shall bow before Your throne and acknowledge Your authority and no challenge to Your findings of guilt will stand. It is reassuring knowing…despite my guilt…my penalty was paid by Jesus at Calvary.

Judgment day will surprise many because their “preferred social status” will not cover the consequences of their choices. Blinded by the cruel deception of social justice, many are deceived…believing the consequences of their choices have been satisfied by their favored status in man’s flawed system. Many will perish blinded by this deception.
Reveal to us true justice: every person proclaiming their innocence to their death will perish; but those repenting of their guilt will be forgiven. Use me to bring an understanding of personal accountability into focus for those blinded by this foolishness before it is too late.

AMEN

Scripture: “…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow-in heaven and on earth and under the earth-and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

I am weeping today for the depravity of man so unashamedly on display. How can mankind be so consumed by sexual immorality that we now insist on being identified by our sexual perversions?

What was once shameful behavior is no longer. Parades are held to celebrate this new freedom to exploit others to satisfy personal lust. The byproduct of this reckless behavior is readily apparent…broken victims, STDs, fatherless children, abortion on demand, and now Monkeypox is declared a public health emergency to advance the politically correct protection of the immoral behavior spreading the disease as they once did HIV.

Father, only You can put this toothpaste back in the tube. Please restore a sense of morality and dignity to America. Help me love…and stand in the gap for the victims.

AMEN

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. Philippians 3:19

As all around me grows more unhinged, I find great comfort in knowing where to go to find an unfailing fountain of wisdom. You are like a fountain of pure water in a parched desert.

The serpent has struck America deeply. We have become delusional in our attempt to find truth without You. We bicker and call it debate…we harbor deep divisions and blindly justify them. We have turned generation against generation
each of us defending our own truth. As this fever consumes us, You are the only anti-venom for our delusions.

We definitely need to hit the reset button…but we define any effort to reconcile
as compromise. I am guilty of this conceit.

Humble me and strengthen my faith that I may be may be a beacon illuminating the dangerous shoals ahead.

AMEN

Scripture: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; Philippians 2:3

 

In just a few short hours, I will be responsible to cast my vote for men and women…mostly unknown to me personally…and give them my approval to lead America and our communities for at least two years.

It is my sacred duty to vote and to vote wisely. Help me to knowledgeably fulfill my duty…driven not by my own self-interests, but by the common good.

Help me to cast an honorable vote worthy of the sacrifice of those who’ve bled and died to pass this responsibility to me. May I be motivated by the noble impulse of patriotism rather than the selfish desire for personal gain.

Lord, may I not be driven by the loudest voices but rather by the honest ones putting the needs of my country first.

AMEN

Scripture: “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourself.” Philippians 2:3

Amid the daily destruction of the Godly standards which made America the hope of all mankind, I find great peace and comfort in the intimate relationship we share through Christ.

Father, parenting in today’s culture is stressful as we see the assault on our children escalating at every level. As parents and grandparents we are troubled and feel inadequate to protect our families. Inflation is wrecking our budgets, social media is invading our homes, school curriculum is determined to undermine our authority as parents and the beat goes on.

Surrounded by secular advise, we find no peace. Your way has been abandoned…replaced by self-help psychobabble.

Help us rediscover You are our only source of peace. You promise…if we ask…You will provide a peace unknown to the world. Lead us back to You.

AMEN

Scripture: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

As fallen human beings, we have pretty much made a hot mess of everything beautiful You gave us. I am brokenhearted to know how I have taken Your gifts for granted and assumed I was entitled to Your blessing. You reached down and rescued me from myself.

Now, I am surrounded by lost and ungrateful people and the fabric of our society is being ripped apart by jealousy, personal egos, and anger at the failures we’ve made of our lives.

Father, You are the source of all purpose peace, and joy. We need You to re-establish an understanding of the forgiveness available through Christ and a humility that will allow us to consider others first…regardless of our own needs.

Awaken across America and fresh breeze of community and unity in You.

AMEN

Scripture: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3