Capital Prayer Alert -- 1/10/26

As you know, my wife, Carol, prepares a monthly prayer alert. I hope you will share Carol's thoughts with your friends and fellow worshipers. Thank you for taking an interest in her monthly devotion. -- Gary

It’s the time of year when the old calendar with its scribbles and starred events comes down off the wall and a new, bright, clean calendar goes up in its place. The expanse of a number of unfilled days with no particular schedule is exhilarating . . . and it sure doesn’t last long! So, here’s to the joy of a bit lighter schedule after a busy and joyous holiday season. May God guide our steps and our priorities just as He has numbered our days.

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Washington had been in a temporary slumber with Congress out of session and the president decamped to the winter White House at Mar-A-Lago. That has all changed quickly. Announcements of retirements of members of the House and Senate continue, the GOP Congressional Caucus has held a day-long strategy session to address the midterm campaign ahead. Plans are underway for a first ever GOP midterm convention, and the nation’s 250th birthday is on the horizon.

The president will use the new convention vehicle to coordinate messaging for GOP candidates, showcase new candidates, and provide a natural vehicle to promote the promises he made in 2024 and how they are being fulfilled. In a time when working across the aisle seems downright archaic, the year ahead is certain to be memorable. Once again, Donald Trump will determine the agenda as the other side’s entire message seems to be only anti-Trump.

Please pray for the president, vice president, cabinet secretaries, congressional leaders, and rank and file members of the House and Senate. Pray that issue messaging in the year ahead would be clear, fact-based, and well-coordinated, giving the American people easy to understand choices. Protect those who are uncovering corruption so that Americans can be confident in how their taxes are being spent.

And finally, Lord, the level of vitriol aimed at many elected and appointed leaders is unprecedented. A number of top-level people who have chosen to serve the country in cabinet and White House positions have had to move their families onto local military bases, away from suburban neighborhoods where their presence prompted demonstrations, hateful signs, neighborhood petitions, and angry chalked sidewalk messages. Dear God, protect them and their families in this era of heightened political rhetoric.

We have all been watching the unfolding events in Minnesota with great concern. Minnesota seems to be a prime example of how an individual community or state's flaunting of federal laws, coupled with heated rhetoric against the president and federal authorities enforcing the law, can morph into violent actions and tragic consequences.

We remember the events in Minnesota five years ago when demonstrators took over large swaths of the city and burned over a thousand businesses and a police station. That was not a peaceful demonstration. It was a city in anarchy. Remember, the governor’s wife said she kept the windows of the governor’s mansion open so she could smell tires burning (and Minneapolis being ransacked). We need open discussions on policy differences, not irresponsible rhetoric.

Lord, protect our nation from enemies outside our borders. There are those around the world who look for vulnerabilities in times of crises so they can take advantage of our country. This is challenging but not unexpected.

And, there are those within our borders who relish the opportunity to magnify our differences so they can move their own agenda. They are the "never let a crisis go to waste" crowd. Too often they attribute wrong, hate-filled motives to law enforcement while bathing those defying the law and attacking law enforcement with angelic motives.

Heavenly Father, temper the words of those elected to lead so they do not incite further public safety issues. Instill in our leaders a desire to use good judgment with a long-term perspective on what is best for the country.

Next week the Supreme Court will hear two cases relating to the legality of whether transgender individuals can participate in girls’ and women’s sports programs. Over fifty years ago and with great fanfare and acclamation, the U.S. Congress passed legislation giving girls’ and women’s sports equal access to funding, opening the door to an array of sports opportunities which had been non-existent before.

Now that historic win is being undercut by transgender individuals born male, but who identify as female and, thus, demand to participate on girls’ and women’s teams. Young women who had been stars on their school teams and were being eyed for sports scholarships in college are now losing their places to biologically male individuals. This is the crux of the cases before the high court.

Heavenly Father, you created man and woman in Your image. You created two sexes with some very specific differences. Society cannot pretend there are no differences nor blur the lines between them to fit a political goal.

Lord, we lift up to you the members of the Supreme Court who will hear these arguments. Give them sharp minds, insightful questions, and common sense.

While this issue remains in the courts, protect those young women who right now are playing on teams with transgender members on the field and in their locker rooms. Protect their innocence and keep them from physical harm.

Lord, we ask Your blessing on our beloved country. May we never lose sight of the gift we have been given to live here.