My old friend from Bethlehem Baptist church days, Brent Nelson, Pastor of Five Points Community Church has been asked to deliver an invocation today at the Michigan State House of Representative at 10 AM. Below is the planned text of his prayer [boldface added by me] — an outstanding bit of praise to God and petition.

Almighty God and heavenly Father, eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, near and sovereign Holy Spirit of God I stand before your triune glory among those gathered in this honorable assembly to cherish your worth and grace over all that exists.

When we cherish you as you deserve, your glory is maximized and our good is optimized for this life and the life to come.

To that end I would ask of you these things, O Lord:

That you would strengthen and establish Christ-exalting churches in this state, in that your presence resides with us by their presence, and because the church will outlast every other institution.

I ask that you would strengthen the communities of this great State by sustaining the schools, businesses, health providers and governments, and thus preserve honor and order in our society.

I ask that you would protect healthy families and marriages from all that threatens them and make every home an emotionally, physically and spiritually safe place in which to grow.

I pray that you grant an atmosphere of respect, kindness, and dignity for all persons in this state. As bearers of your image, each person would be afforded the value that is theirs intrinsically.

To that end, I pray that you would make abortion as unthinkable as slavery.

I pray that you would bless the economic climate of this state. Grant us to be wise stewards of the wealth you have entrusted to us, knowing that to the one who is faithful with little, more will be given and that to whom much is given, much is required.

I would ask for all those in state public service, these Representatives, Governor Snyder, Lt. Governor Calley, State Supreme Court Justices and all others, that you would bless them with your wisdom, grace and insight. Continue to guard them from the moral pitfalls that can endanger their office of public service. Grant them foresight to craft laws and enact policies that best serve the State of Michigan. Bless them as they serve with the knowledge that they have been instituted by God in their role and for this time.

Because of their leadership, cause the citizens of this ‘pleasant peninsula’ to be both thankful to you O God, and well-prepared to hear the gospel of your Son. The news that it is by your grace alone, O God, than any can respond by faith alone – trusting wholly in Christ’s payment for sin and in His righteousness unto salvation — for the glory of God alone.”

In all these things, dear Lord, the priceless worth of your glory will be seen yet not only seen, but cherished, and this most plainly in the face of your Son. In whose name, I pray all these things. Amen.

Invocation – Michigan State House of Representatives
Pastor Brent Nelson
June 29th, 2011

May the Lord greatly bless this prayer!
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