JoyReturns

It’s been a very interesting experience cleaning out my loved one’s house. I never know what books, documents, pictures, letters, and other things lie lurking in the dark shadows of the basement, cedar chests, and other nooks and crannies.

I found this book while cleaning out a bookcase. It was copyrighted back in 1954 and contains prayers for different stages and situations in life.

Intrigue set in and I started thumbing through the pages and reading different prayers.

One of the sections is titled “Of National Life.” The last prayer is the one that made me laugh. While this prayer might have been true back in 1954 and thereafter, there are some words and phrases that struck me as funny.

Before An Election

O Lord, look down in mercy upon our country at this time and bless all those who by virtue of their citizenship are called to make choice of fit persons to serve in the councils of this nation, that all things may be established among us with peace and justice. Give honesty, truthfulness, strength, and wisdom to those who govern, and grant us grace and willingness to do our part in supporting their great work for thee: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Book Of Prayers, compiled for Protestant Worship; Edited by Leon and Elfrieda McCauley (1954)

called to make choice of fit person – um, I am not sure anyone is running that is mentally, physically, and spiritually “fit.”

Give honesty, truthfulness, strength, and wisdom to those who govern – again, not sure these qualities are in those who currently govern this nation at least at the national level (I’m looking at you too Congress and the Supreme Court and not just the White House).

supporting their great work for thee: The government is not doing great work for God (In My Opinion). They may have in decades past but right now they are doing “great work” for others, and not those of us who elected them.

We need to earnestly pray this prayer and believe God will answer it according to His timeline. Who knows, it might just be in time for the 2024 election.

What a joy that would be.

…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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land

2 Chronicles 7:14

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures, hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. Michele is a lover of history. books, and lipstick. She is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com.