Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares. She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates: “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you… But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger.” (Proverbs 1:20-27,33)
 
Thursday is the National Day of Prayer, a day to cry out to God on behalf of our nation and our leaders.  So many of our nation’s problems stem directly from the abandonment of God’s wisdom.  Historically, the United States has been a Christian nation, not in the sense that all or most of its citizens were true believers, but rather in the sense that the culture embraced Judeo-Christian (that is, biblical) standards of right and wrong.  As a culture, however, we now reject God’s standards, and we are reaping the harvest.  Pray that Americans – one by one, regular citizens and leaders – will hear and heed the wisdom God offers in His Word.  Pray that, in the process, many might also submit their lives to Him.
 
Here are other suggested prayer ingredients for this week:
 
1.  Pray that our sanctuary will be filled to capacity on Wednesday evening for our National Day of Prayer service.
 
2.  I received an e-mail from Pastor Tomasz Chylka in Poland asking us to pray for him and his congregation as they get ready for Bible Week.  This ambitious outreach event will be held May 23-31.  (Read Tomasz’s description of the activities here.)  Ask the Lord to guide everyone involved in the preparations and to be at work even now in the hearts of the people who will attend.

3.  Pray that we at Calvary will live more as a body, a community, and less as individuals.
 
4.  It’s crunch time for our high school and college students as the end of the semester nears.  Pray for physical health, excellent time management, and an unswerving commitment to put God first even during very busy times of life.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea