James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
It has been a long road to this Inauguration Day, a road full of unexpected potholes, barriers, turns, bumps, roadblocks, and detours. And the final destination, for many, doesn’t look at all the way they had expected it to appear upon arrival. We prepared our hearts before enduring another election cycle by praising, repenting, pleading, crying, and offering our petitions on behalf of America. Because of the promises in God’s Word, we know that He heard us, even if the answers for some are different than imagined. Nevertheless, we have much to celebrate on this day. We believe that America is exceptional because, since its birth, we have experienced God’s undeserved blessings. We understand that all of us as citizens have been given much, and we mustn’t take it for granted. We can trust Him knowing that, as our scripture for today says, everything from Him is a good and perfect gift, and it is part of His plan. And so, we are able to celebrate His gift of faithfully bringing us to this day which demonstrates that our country believes in a peaceful transfer of power.
Months ago when the election prayer initiative began, we asked God, as the song says, “God Bless America.” May we live in harmony, dignity, equality, and most of all, freedom—which is the yearning of the human heart to breathe freely without fear. Whoever holds the office of President of the United States, the countless ills of our nation won’t be magically fixed in four years; they can only be fixed by the intervention of God Himself, by His mercy and grace. The prayers of His people, “for such a time as this,” have been poured out on America’s behalf, and we know that we must continue beyond Inauguration Day. May we continue to ask that He help our country be a beacon of liberty and democracy. There is nothing we can do apart from the Father; rather, we dare do nothing apart from our holy God.
Lord, on this first full day of a new administration, we give you this day and thank you that you have brought us to this turning point in our nation. We humbly plead once again for Your wisdom to pour down on our President and the leaders of our nation, and we pray for Your continued blessing upon America. In the righteous name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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~ painting artist unknown
