Subject: Capital Prayer Alert -- 8/24/07

To: Friends and Supporters of the Campaign for Working Families

From: Carol Bauer

Date: Friday, August 24, 2007


A note from Gary Bauer:

As you know, my wife, Carol, prepares a prayer alert about once a month.
We hope you will share Carol’s writing with your friends and fellow worshippers. Thank you for taking an interest in her devotion.

Capital Prayer Alert

Iraq and its future continue to be a prayer priority.  Last month I
challenged each of you to ask God to direct the steps of our political
leaders away from partisanship and shortsightedness and impart to them a
sense of the enormity of the choices we face in this volatile part of the
world.  We are at a crossroads. 

Your prayers are bearing fruit, as several outspoken critics of the war
effort have traveled to Iraq in recent weeks and returned to acknowledge
publicly the positive changes they are seeing thanks to a revised strategy
and the bravery of our fighting forces.  There’s a growing willingness to
let the surge play out and a renewed public conversation on the likely
disastrous consequences of a quick pullout of our troops.
 
Thank God for this new, measured tone evident among some previously
outspoken elected officials and well-placed journalists.  Pray that minds
would continue to be open to new facts and tactics.  Prompt decision-makers
to weigh their words; make them cognizant of the impact of their comments
on troop morale and the long-term security of our country. 

Ask Him to hold high the shield of protection around those serving us in
harm’s way by heightening their awareness of the daily dangers they face. 
Keep them vigilant and focused, and grant them the ability to make good
split-second decisions.  The enemy is changing tactics in an effort to
discourage the American people ahead of General Petraeus’ mid-September
report.  Open the eyes and minds of our military strategists to stay ahead
of the enemy. 

Longer deployments mean more time away from spouses and children.  Ask God
to grant the family members here at home an extra measure of patience and
understanding.  And, prompt each of us to thank the service members and
families we know for their dedication and sacrifice.
 

The presidential nomination process is underway.  Several debates have
already been held.  Even so, the field of candidates continues to be fluid
as some long-shot candidates drop out and some better-known potential
candidates have yet to enter the fray.  The long road to the White House
will be full of detours and potholes.  In the age of "gotcha politics"
and instant Internet communication each candidate will be put under the
intense, white-hot light of public scrutiny.  None will be immune. 

This time, the political season is longer than ever.  Yet, the attention
span of voters is short.  And, the personal attacks likely to fly between
opposing candidates demean the process.  The potential for voter cynicism
is high at a time when the country needs an engaged and educated
electorate.
 
Pray that the American people will become informed participants in our
political process and not leave the arena to partisan activists only. 
Primary and caucus dates continue to adjust to an earlier and earlier time
frame.  Pray that the electorate will become educated and engaged in the
choices it has and not grow weary of the process before it begins in
earnest.  Ask our Heavenly Father to lead and guide us as a people.  Turn
us away from superficial choices, and prompt us to evaluate candidates
knowing the challenges our country faces on so many fronts. 

Finally, as attention becomes more focused on the election, pray for
President Bush, the Cabinet and members of Congress as they continue to
govern throughout the campaign season. Ask God to grant them superb
judgment, and pray that they might place patriotism above partisanship at a
time when the stakes are so high.


Your prayers are making a difference!  May God bless you for your
commitment. 




 

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