No "Dibs" On God's Blessings

I remember when I was a kid whoever called "dibs" on some coveted object had the first rights of ownership on it. In a similar way I guess that you could say that America has had "dibs" on the blessings of God. But in the last thirty to forty years I'm not so sure that is as true as it has been in the past. We have seen the blessings wane as God has little by little been removed from our nation's life.

O Lord, can we rightfully ask you to bless this country without a repentant heart? We've so left you out, indeed forced you out of public life. Political correctness has become the rule of the day expunging you from public discourse. "Please DON'T come to my house Sir, but please bless my house." Somethings not right here.

While we cannot rightfully ask of the Lord for [dibs on] His blessings for this country,  we can rightfully ask that He put us back on the right track. We can ask of the Lord, that He bring us back into a right relationship with Him, that He not turn from us in a time when we need Him more than anything. But a repentant heart must be the first order of business.

Lord, I would ask that you revive the heart of your church. Bring her in brokenness back from the "far country" in which she has been living. I ask for an out pouring of your Spirit on the church and on this land. Send a great awakening of national proportions. FOR THIS WE MAY SHAMELESSLY CALL "DIBS."

For our leaders we pray, to quote several sources: 

• "Instill awareness in our leaders of the godly heritage of our country and their responsibility to honor and preserve that tradition." 
• "Raise up leaders who desire principle over politics; for servant-leaders who desire to be statesmen not politicians; for men and women devoted to the truth of God."
• "Show favor to those who are devoted to God and godly principles. That their influence will grow and be felt. That God's transforming power would be at work in the lives of those who would try to deceive, divide, and destroy."
• "May foolish greed and selfish ambition not supersede or precede any leader's desire for you Lord."
• "May there not be any attacks against Christianity without cause by those in government leadership."

For those candidates campaigning now for the highest office in our land:

• May their lives show love for country, family, and godly values.
• May they speak truth, stay on issues and be accurate with facts.
• May their agendas be clear as to the intent of their goals for governing America.
• May they and their political action groups show discernment and restraint in ad campaigns.
• May they not use personal destruction or defamation of another to win an election.
• Give the electorate wisdom to see through heavy-handed, high-handed tactics designed to confuse or threaten thinking men and women.
• Keep all candidates on the issues: Sanctity of life, of marriage, and of family; national security; reducing the national debt; improving education; enforcement and reform of immigration laws; unemployment; and the threat of European style socialization of the nation's resources. 

For candidates to elevate truth as in 1Tim 6:3-6; 2Tim 2:14-19:

• They not manipulate the truth.
• They not fabricate truth.
• That they would postulate truth.
• That they would elevate truth.
• That true godliness would be revealed in their lives.

"DIBS" ON THE BLESSINGS OF GOD FOR SUCH A 

NATION WITH LEADERS AND CITIZENS  LIKE THIS