MY OATH

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” That is the oath that President Obama will take tomorrow. He will pledge his loyalty to our country and the laws and beliefs that formed it and to do the job he was elected to do. We, as citizens of two worlds, The United States and Heaven, need to think about our own pledge and to faithfully recommit ourselves to it. You could write your own or borrow mine.
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute my obligations and remember my privileges as a citizen of the United States and within the Family of God. I will help to preserve our Constitution, reminding myself of its contents by reading it (online or on paper) on Inauguration Day and I will preserve our Bible by acknowledging it as the divine word of God and reading some portion of it each day. I will protect and defend our Constitution and our Holy Bible by speaking up and speaking out to those who would seek to undermine their message and rewrite their sacred words. I will execute the office of ‘citizen’ by participating in the life of our country and Christ’s Church, finding where God can use the talents he has given me, and exercising those talents to the glory of God.” Let us pray:

“Father of all, we praise your holy name and thank you for all you have done in our lives. Tomorrow will be the day we begin a new governing administration. We pray that you will bless and preserve our country, our constitution, our president, and those who govern, both new and those newly elected. May they realize the awesome responsibility that has been intrusted to them and know they will need to trust in you for insight and strength. May your presence be known and felt each day of their term in office, that your will for our country may rise out of their decisions, with their cooperation or in spite of themselves. We pledge our loyalty and support by the oath we also take, to remember each blessing and stand up and be counted in this world we live and in your blessed family of believers. Forgive us for past lazy citizenship and our inability to see that the kingdom of God is at hand, as Jesus said it was, expanding our world from the earth to heaven. We do not live in two worlds but when we invite you into our heart in this world, we complete the wholeness of our citizenship. Where we go, when we speak, when we defend and preserve, so goes your kingdom within us. Blessed be your name for you are holy, holy, holy. Lead us not into the temptation of believing that we have done anything marvelous. Miracles are within your purview, not ours. We are merely witnesses to your glory and give testimony to your greatness in our lives. May you shine your smile on the United States and bless your people once again. In the name of your precious son, our redeemer and Lord, Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
Doris
“Copyright 2009 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to his love. Let me tell you mine.”