Wed. May 12

Today I have the singular privilege of leading the opening prayer at our Louisiana House of Representatives.  I appreciate this invitation by my lifelong friend and fellow teacher,  Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill.

I’ll be praying at 2:00 PM.  I’m asking each of you to join me in this prayer for wisdom and direction for our state leaders.  Our home state of Louisiana is facing many challenges, all of which God is bigger than.

I will not be reading the prayer below but will pray from my heart.  However, the prayer belows flows from my heart.

I’m asking each of you to join in focusing God’s blessings and influence on our leaders.

A prayer for our state leaders.

Lord, we come to you on behalf of the leaders of our state of Louisiana.

We pray for blessings and guidance for each of them, especially the men and women here in the House of Representatives.

Thank you for their service and commitment to our state. I ask for blessings on them, their families back home, and their hard-working staffs.

Lord, I want to thank you for the blessings of living in a place we love called Louisiana. We thank you for what a good place it is to raise a family and live life.  Teach us to count these blessings and the thousands of others we take for granted daily.

Lord, the men and women leading our state are facing many challenges and difficulties.  They’re dealing with budget cuts, an oil spill, and the uncertainties we Louisianans face yearly with an approaching hurricane season.

Give these folks wisdom and unusual insight as they deal with so many complex situations.  Guide them in your wisdom and knowledge.

Lord, we especially pray for the richest heritage we have: our young people.  They are the future of our state.  I ask you to personally guide our leaders in making decisions that will benefit and bless our young people and their families for generations to come.

Finally, we ask forgiveness for our many sins and thank you that the blood of your son Jesus has both covered and cleansed  them.

And as always, we pray in His name.  The name of Jesus. Amen.

I’m not sharing about today’s privilege out of pride.  In fact I’m humbled that a country boy from Dry Creek would have this opportunity.  I ask for your prayers that I’ll be a witness for God in every part of my day today, including when I pray.

Thanks for  letting me share about this.

Proverbs 12:25   “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

The tough things about an anxious heart is that it often is unseen, and if we’re not sensitive, it will be unnoticed.

Because people seek me out with their anxious hearts, I’ve become aware of something:  everyone you will meet today is carrying a burden.  I heard these wise words from  a pastor,  “Every Sunday morning there’s enough pain on one long church pew to make ten thousands angels cry.”

People, even people who know and love the Lord, are carrying burdens.  It’s the common denominator among being human.

That’s where the second part of Proverbs 12:25 comes into play: we can be dispensers of kind words.

Everyone can do it.

Everyone should do it.

It’s called encouragement.  It’s the one thing all of us can do.

And here’s the payoff:  it’ll lighten the load of others and give increased joy to our own hearts.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

In closing, I’d like to introduce you to my personal source of encouragement.  During his time  on earth, my Encourager said,  “Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

My Encourager and Savior, Jesus, has been faithful and true during both the anxious and cheerful parts of my life journey.  I can recommend him fully to you.

He understands.   Isaiah called him “a man well-acquainted with sorrows.”*

He cares.   Jesus’ close friend Peter said,  “Casting all your care on Him, because He cares for you.”**

He has the power to comfort and deliver.   According to Hebrews, He now sits at the right hand of the Father, “making intercession for us.”***

Call on Him.

Trust your entire life to Him.

He will give your anxious heart a “peace that passes all understanding.”

*Isaiah 53:3

**I Peter 5:7

***Hebrews 7:25