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- Bible heroes show us where we can pray!
- Presidents show they know when to pray!
- Billy Graham says the best privilege in the world is available to YOU! What is it?
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Earlier this week President Bush announced his desire to increase funding for global HIV/AIDS relief. With him is Baron Mosima Loyiso Tantoh, whose mother, Kunene, is active in treatment and support service for HIV-positive mothers in South Africa. Pray for success and support for the President’s initiative, that many more at-risk people will be helped. Photo courtesy of the White House. |
- President Bush is going to Germany! The 33rd G8 Summit will take place in Heiligendamm, June 6-8. The G8 is a group of the largest and most prosperous democracies in the world. When the heads of each of these countries come together they discuss all kinds of things, seeking to make our world better for everyone. Next week they will consider such important issues as poverty, economic growth, energy efficiency and global warming. Heiligendamm is a small village with a large resort that will host the leaders. It is hoped that it will be easier to secure that way! Isn’t this a great time to pray for these important leaders as they gather? We can pray not only for the concerns and issues they will consider but also for each one by name, asking God to speak directly to them with His will and His word as they work together. They are:
- Host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel
- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- French President Nicolas Sarkozy
- Italy’s Prime Minister Romano Prodi
- Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe
- Russian President Vladimir Putin
- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair
- United States of America’s President George Bush
- European Union representative, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
- Any time world leaders get together, there are protesters and protests! Next week will be no different, and thousands are expected to come to express concern about all kinds of things. This is their right—that’s the great thing about living in a democracy! But it is also a very good time to pray for the protests at Heiligendamm to be orderly and safe--that no one will get hurt and that the messages will be heard appropriately. Pray that no terrorist acts will be planned or carried out during these crucial meetings too.
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These are three—or are they four—really special people! First Lady Laura Bush poses with her twin daughters Jenna and Barbara, and with Sesame Street character Elmo at the Sesame Workshop Benefit on May 30. Mrs. Bush was honored for her commitment to helping children learn to read.
Photo courtesy of the White House. |
- Did you know that President and Mrs. Bush have twin daughters? The women, named Jenna and Barbara, are in their twenties and both have launched their careers. They are a very important part of President and Mrs. Bush’s lives, so this is a great time to pray for President and Mrs. Bush and all the members of their family—especially daughters Jenna and Barbara. Pray for health, strength and safety for each of them, especially as they give their energy and effort to a variety of important causes.
- Pray for our troops who work hard to safeguard freedom. Every day thousands of men and women put themselves in harm’s way, just to bring greater freedom to the Middle East and to preserve our liberties. Thank God for their tremendous sacrifice, and ask Him to bless and protect each one as they serve.
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| Photo courtesy of the White House. |
Secretary of State—Condoleezza Rice
Dr. Condoleezza Rice served our nation and our president for four years as the National Security Advisor. When President Bush won his second term of office, she was given a new job as Secretary of State. In that position she leads our country’s relationships and negotiations with other countries (nations of the world are also known as states, in case this wording confused you!). She takes over for Colin Powell who did a fantastic job for the past four years.
In her job as Secretary of State, Dr. Rice has already gone to the Middle East to help Israel and the Palestinians stop fighting each other and make peace. The mission of the State Department is to work with other nations of the world to ensure peace, prosperity and security all around the world! That’s a big job that may seem nearly impossible, but when you think about the tremendous influence America has with most all the countries of the world, you can see what a really important job it is! In fact, that’s why The Presidential Prayer Team has so many members around the world—because they know that America’s policies and plans affect everyone everywhere!
Dr. Rice is single and is very close friends with President and Mrs. Bush. She often spends time with them, both at Camp David, MD and at their Crawford, TX ranch. She works out regularly, loves sports and carefully follows the athletic teams of Stanford University where she taught and served as provost for several years before coming to Washington, D. C.
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Photo courtesy of the White House. |
Attorney General—Alberto Gonzales
The Attorney General (AG) is the nation’s top lawyer and the head of the Department of Justice (DOJ). He is also the chief law enforcement officer for the government, and it’s his job to make sure all our laws are carried out effectively and fairly. Along with all that, the AG is one of the President’s closest advisors, offering him sound advice on any legal matters, and he represents our government in any cases that come before the Supreme Court, or other cases of great importance. Phew! That is a lot to keep track of, but Alberto Gonzales is definitely a great man for the job.
Alberto Gonzales came to this job with terrific experience. He has been a faithful public servant for many years, first, as general counsel to newly elected Texas Governor Bush and later as Texas’ Secretary of State. He followed President Bush to Washington to be White House counsel.
As head of the DOJ, Mr. Gonzales and his team work hard to be sure that everyone in America gets equal justice under the law, especially those who are marginalized. While the war on terror is certainly the highest priority of the DOJ, they also work to protect Americans from those who commit crimes with guns and those who deal drugs. They also work to protect victims of child abuse and domestic violence and create a compassionate society that upholds the dignity of every human life.
Alberto Gonzales’ story is an inspiring one, for he is one of eight children in the family of a migrant worker. Graduating high school with high honors, he believed college was beyond his grasp so he enlisted in the Air Force. When his officers suggested he apply to the Air Force Academy, he did so and was accepted. Tiring of science and engineering, his interests turned to politics. Gambling his future, Alberto Gonzales prayed and applied to his hometown university, Rice, in Houston. When he was accepted, he enrolled and next matriculated at Harvard University. He worked with a prestigious law firm upon graduation until he met Governor-elect Bush.
Alberto Gonzales is from Houston, TX and is a graduate of Texas public schools, Rice University, and Harvard Law School. With his wife, Rebecca Turner Gonzales, he has three sons.
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These great kids had a very special visit to the White House this week. They are the 15 Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship finalists, and they are seen here with First Lady Laura Bush during a television taping at the White House Thursday, May 31. The kids all appeared in the Spelling Bee finals, televised live that night. Evan O’Dorney (center, right in front of Mrs. Bush) from Danville, CA won on the word, "serrefine" after successfully spelling stumpers like "Zoilus", "laquear" and "schuhplattler". Would you know how to spell any of those tough words? Evan said he loves math more than spelling and he hopes to be a pastor when he grows up. Photo courtesy of the White House. |
Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.
--II Kings 8:28
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.
--Psalm 34:1
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Pray for Rev. Billy Graham who was honored this week at the dedication of the newly built Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. Rev. Graham is frail and not in the best health. Photo courtesy of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. |
What a glorious thing it would be if millions of us would avail ourselves of the greatest privilege and the greatest power this side of heaven—the privilege and power of prayer!
—Billy Graham
God is Working Even When We Can’t See It!
We err when we judge our prayers solely by what we can see happening around us. Prayer is a matter of faith. Prayer is taking God at His word. Prayer is understanding God’s promise that if we pray, He will work. And we must keep on praying even when we cannot see what He is doing. We do not see into the world in which God lives, but He definitely sees into ours…we will often discover that when God finally answers our prayers, His answer came in a moment in time but was being prepared over a long period of time. We did not know it, but the preparation was going on all the while we were praying.
--Dr. David Jeremiah, in Prayer the Great Adventure
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Kids love to pray in church.
Where else can kids pray? |
Do you have a special place you like to pray? Maybe you pray in your room or at your desk. Some people pray on their knees by their bed. Or maybe you feel most comfortable praying at church—in Sunday School or youth group.
Have you ever thought about the other places where a person could pray? Where did people in the Bible go to pray?
Prayer is such an awesome privilege. It’s the incredible blessing of talking with God, knowing He is listening and talking back to us. This week we will take a look at some real-life people in our Bible to see where they prayed their most heartfelt prayers. Maybe this look will help you decide where and when you can pray! Before you know it you will be praying in all kinds of new places!
From Ezra to Peter, from Jesus to Paul, God’s servants have been known to pray in all kinds of interesting places. Maybe we can learn something by looking at these interesting locations!
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| Ezra the priest knew that he could pray to God in any circumstance--even when his heart was filled with sorrow over sin. You can pray any time and anywhere! Image courtesy of biblepicturegallery.com. |
Have you ever done something so terribly wrong that you just felt like falling on the ground? You felt so humbled and saddened by your sin that you dove for the dirt? You have something in common with Ezra the Priest! A sorrowful and repentant Ezra prayed on the ground, in the dirt, in front of the Temple, crying out to God with such power and sincerity that others saw his repentance and turned back to God too!
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| King Hezekiah was a godly king of Judah who was known for his prayer and faithfulness. This image shows him praying before an altar, but Hezekiah also prayed in other places too! Where do you like to be when you pray? Image courtesy of biblerevival.com |
Have you ever met godly King Hezekiah? One of the few good kings of Judah, Hezekiah was a man of prayer whose faith was recorded in intimate detail on the pages of Scripture.
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| Although this picture doesn’t show King Hezekiah, it’s a good reminder that you can pray in your bed any time, whether you are sick or not! God hears you when you pray, and He loves to hear your prayers—even or especially, when you are sick! Image courtesy of the University of Houston. |
When he was deathly ill, King Hezekiah prayed from his sickbed and God sent his friend, the prophet Isaiah to tell him that he would be healed by God. |
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| Daniel was an amazing young man, known for his excellent character and leadership. He relied on God for pretty much everything and turned to prayer rather than panicking. Do you do the same? Image courtesy of creationism.org. |
When you think of the great biblical prophet Daniel, you probably think of the story of his victory over injustice when he was delivered from the lion’s den! Remember it was his reliance on prayer that put Daniel in that pit in the first place, and it was his faithful prayers to our mighty God that pulled him out of that pit! That’s right, when the jealous leaders of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom plotted to get Daniel in trouble with the king, Daniel didn’t panic, he just went to his room and prayed, giving thanks to God! Is that what you do when you pray? Hover HERE to read about Daniel’s habit of fearless, faithful prayer.
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| Does your room look anything like this? Whatever your room looks like, it’s your special place, even if you share it with a sibling or two. Remember that you can always pray in your room, just like Daniel did. Image courtesy cheyennemillwork.com. |
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| Elijah was a great prophet who prayed on top of a mountain, and under a broom tree, among other places! God heard Elijah’s prayer and sent an angel to encourage him. Has God sent encouragement to you when you’ve been down and discouraged? He will if you pray! Image courtesy of Web Gallery of Art. |
Elijah was a great and unique Old Testament prophet who was used by God many times to reveal His greatness and power—like the time when he went toe to toe with the prophets of Baal. After the back-and-forth dueling, Elijah called out to God in I Kings 18:36-37 and astounded everyone when God revealed His power and answered Elijah’s prayer! God had a great victory that day and Elijah was smack dab in the middle of it!
But things weren’t always so rosy for Elijah—that’s how it goes when you are a prophet. It’s a job with definite ups and downs! In fact, shortly after the great victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah found himself terrified and intimidated after Jezebel threatened him with death. Elijah was so scared he almost gave up hope. Do you ever feel that way?
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| This is a great picture of a broom plant, though they can grow much larger than this. Does this look like a good place to pray? Photo courtesy of the University of Arizona. |
Elijah felt so badly that he went out in the desert and hid under a broom tree. It’s probably pretty dusty and dirty under a broom tree, but Elijah’s experience of dust wasn’t like Ezra’s repentant dive for the dirt. Elijah was despairing and while he did remember to pray (that’s always good!) under the broom tree, his prayer was for God to take his life—that’s how scared and hopeless he felt. Fortunately, God didn’t answer that prayer.
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| This is one artist’s idea of what Elisha might have looked like. He was a faithful prophet who prayed with complete trust and faithfulness. |
Elisha was a great and godly prophet whose ministry followed right on the heels of Elijah’s. Once he was in a very tight spot in the middle of a battle. He knew that he would need God’s help to win. Have you ever had that kind of experience, where you simply can’t win anything unless you cry out to God and ask Him for help?
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| This battlefield in Italy is different from the one the Elisha prayed from, but it reminds us that God hears our prayers all the time, even in the middle of a fight! |
On that day, Elisha woke up and saw that he and his men were surrounded by enemy troops. Elijah prayed in the middle of a battlefield asking God to blind the advancing enemy so they could be led away. Was that ever an eye-opening experience! Hover HERE to read Elisha’s faithful prayer from the battlefield.
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This soldier is riding a chariot into battle. Though this image occurs later than Elisha’s era, it gives us an idea of what Elisha experienced as he trusted God in the middle of a battle! It reminds us that God hears our prayers all the time, even in the middle of a fight!
Image courtesy of the BBC. |
Bible characters had real and life-changing encounters with God when they prayed—just like PPT Kids do! For sure, many Bible characters did pray in the Temple, at the altar, and in special holy places. And they also prayed in the dirt, on a sickbed, in their rooms, in the desert and on the battlefield. When you look at all the other places where they prayed, you quickly see that prayer is for everywhere! It’s meant to connect us with God wherever we are, whenever we need to pray!
During the earliest years of our nation, it was common for the President to call the entire country to a day (or several days) of fasting and prayer. This would sometimes occur during special times like a presidential inauguration or during times of conflict, war or other hardships. Those men knew, as we know today, that our whole nation is strengthened and protected when we acknowledge God through prayer.
God loves to hear His people pray! That means YOU, PPT Kids!
Here are two of the urgent appeals that have called Americans to prayer.
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| Portrait of George Washington courtesy of the National Gallery of Art. |
When George Washington was elected as the first president of our nation, no one even knew what to call him because the position was so new! Some suggested “Excellency” and others “His Highness the President.” But everyone, including President Washington, knew what to call for—prayer! Here is an excerpt from a local New York newspaper that describes the events planned for Washington’s inauguration to be held on April 30, 1789 in New York City. (Remember that Washington, D.C. was not yet our nation’s capitol.):
On the morning of the day on which our illustrious President will be invested with his office, the bells will ring at nine o’clock, when the people may go up and in a solemn manner commit the new government, with its important train of consequences, to the holy protection and blessings of the Most High. An early hour is prudently fixed for this peculiar act of devotion, and it is designed wholly for prayer.
Members of Congress prayed for God’s help with a battle, much like Elisha! As the War of 1812 raged along young America’s eastern coast, the many members of the House and Senate felt concern. They believed that America would only succeed in this effort if she cried out to God in prayer. They called on President James Madison to declare a day of fasting and prayer. This was the result:
A Proclamation. By the President of the United States of America
Whereas the Congress of the United States, by a joint resolution of the two Houses have signified a request, that a day may be recommended, to be observed by the people of the United States, with religious solemnity, as a day of public humiliation and prayer:
And whereas such a recommendation will enable the several religious denominations and societies so disposed, to offer, at one and the same time, their common vows and adorations to Almighty God, on the solemn occasion produced by the war, in which He has been pleased to permit the injustice of a foreign Power to involve these United States…
Given at Washington, the 9th day of July, A. D. 1812
James Madison
Many other presidents called for prayer. These are just two great examples of our nation’s reliance on prayer from the very start!
QUESTION 1
Read again the quotation from the newspaper that tells of George Washington’s activities on his first inaugural day. Why were bells rung at 9:00 am?
- Bells were rung because alarm clocks hadn’t been invented yet. They wanted everyone to wake up in time to see the Inauguration.
- Bells were rung to make sure that all the British redcoats knew they were not welcome in New York on that day.
- Bells were rung to call everyone to prayer. Everyone was invited to march together to dedicate the new nation and the new President to God.
QUESTION 2
The newspaper announcement talks about the “new government with its important train of consequences.” What do you think the writer means by a train of consequences?
- The writer is talking about a new railroad that will be coming to New York City.
- The consequences of freedom were yet to be seen, but they would be felt for many years.
QUESTION 3
True or false: People can pray just about anywhere they’d like, because God is always listening and always hears our prayers.
- True
- False
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| Portrait courtesy of the White House. |
But let not the foundation of our hope rest upon man's wisdom. It will not be sufficient that sectional prejudices find no place in the public deliberations. It will not be sufficient that the rash counsels of human passion are rejected. It must be felt that there is no national security but in the nation's humble, acknowledged dependence upon God and His overruling providence.
--Franklin Pierce, Inaugural Address, March 4, 1853
This week we’ve seen that God’s people can pray wherever they are! That is fantastic news for kids who pray, because kids who pray can be just about anywhere! And God is always listening to our prayers and working in response to them! So whether you remember to pray in the dirt, in your room or in the middle of a battle (of any kind—especially a spiritual battle!) you can pray anywhere, any time! Our Bible heroes know this and you know it too!
Have you remembered to pray in a tough situation or during a tough time? Did you see God move powerfully at that time? Would you like to tell other kids about that? Tell us about the special times or places you’ve prayed and seen God’s answers! Editor@presidentialprayerteam.org.
Have you visited our Prayer Walls yet? We have a new Adopt Our Troops Prayer Wall. It’s filled with inspiring photos of our troops from every branch of our military working hard, all around the world. Click HERE to check it out and, after you check with your mom or dad, you can post your prayer right away!
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