Maranatha Baptist Church

Site updates: 4/1/2012

February 25

Our pastor was invited by Senator Judy Emmons to offer the invocation before the Michigan State Senate on Thursday, February 23, 2012. This is that prayer.

Our Father, we humbly come before You today on behalf of those who serve the citizens of this great State.

We come today first of all recognizing that Your Word teaches that these powers are ordained by You. Help us to see these duties as a God-given stewardship that is to be cared for and nurtured and as a sacred trust that is to be guarded.

We also believe that these powers are derived from the consent of people, who are but our family, friends and neighbors. Help the things done in this Hall protect our rights and freedoms. Help them commit to protecting our safety and providing a structure of government that encourages a healthy economy so that we can provide for our families, educate our children, and have the greatest opportunity to pursue our dreams. May there be a commitment to a system of government that brings out the best in our citizenry, not a system that handicaps us and causes us to cease to dream.

We believe today that the Scriptures teach us that the king's heart is in Your hand and that You can turn it whithersoever You will. May those who occupy these seats be pliable in Your hand. May their minds be willing to consider Your ways, and may their hearts be tender to Your leading. For to take up this great task that lies before these men and women – Father, to do so without seeking Your help would be a tragedy. For it is in You, as the Scriptures teach us, that we live and move and have our very being. To attempt such a great task requires a wisdom that is above and beyond any single individual, and that is on a higher plane than this combined body could provide, but rather it requires Your wisdom, for Your ways are higher than our ways, and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts. The task of a few taking action on behalf of the whole, is a heavy burden to bear and requires the wisdom of the One Who encompasses the path of mankind and Who is acquainted with all our ways. May You, Father, guide the thoughts and decisions of this body today. May You allow the right decisions to be made in this hallowed hall, so that Your blessing may rest upon the State of Michigan.

We humbly ask these things in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN