Dear friends,
Janis Joplin was a famous singer in the 60s. One of her best known songs is entitled, “Mercedes Benz.” The opening lines (which becomes the chorus), says,
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
Today is Canada Day, so it is a good time to ask, “How should a Christian in Canada pray for Canada?”
If we are honest, politics will probably divide us. People who call Messiah their home church probably voted Conservative, Liberal, NDP, and Green — and maybe even for the Bloc. At a personal and private level, it is good to pour out your heart in prayer. If this means that you pray for the defeat of particular politicians and parties and the triumph of other politicians and parties, that is fine. God will listen and say “Yes” or “No” or “Not yet” — just like He always does. Remember several things though. Praying for the defeat or the success of one party is the same as praying for a Mercedes Benz. Janis Joplin’s song was mocking Christians, and I do not mean to mock Christians who pray like this — I just want to get your attention. In fact, God does want us to pray for particular things. Most Canadian Christians are probably too timid and hesitant in their prayers. It is better to pray honestly and God say “No” than to not pray and say God’s ‘No’ for Him. Remember that when we pray, God can start to form and guide our prayers. He wants us to grow as people of prayer. So do not wait to get prayer perfect, begin to pray and continue to pray and ask God to teach and help you to pray.
It is best to learn to pray from hearing the Bible. In light of Romans 13 and many other texts, consider praying something like this, “Dear God, please work in the hearts and minds of the leaders of this nation so that they will seek the true good of this nation and all its people. Please keep them mindful of the weak and vulnerable. Help them to know that You alone are God. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Under the mercy,
George+
