Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.

Isaiah 5:20a

Dear Lord, 

Our world today tells us that there is no such thing as absolute truth, and that we can all decide our own truths. Because of that, we are told that we have no right to judge another person for his or her choices. Tolerance must prevail. And yet, “tolerance” in modern-day context means not only accepting other people’s choices, but wholeheartedly agreeing with and supporting them. Those who do not agree with the LGBTQIA agenda, for example, are labeled intolerant and hateful. Please help people understand that disagreeing with someone else’s lifestyle does not equal hatred. In fact, the opposite is true. It is more loving to call someone to repentance and faith in You than it is to allow someone to continue in sin, as You show by Your own example in dealing with Your children throughout the Bible. Many times You had to administer  Your Law as You urged them to repent, for You “take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). It seems that the call to tolerance in our society extends to everyone but Christians. Because Christians believe in absolute truth as revealed in Your Word, we are viewed as closed-minded, which of course cannot be tolerated by a world that wants to define its own truth. Please give Christians the courage to stand against those behaviors and practices in our society that are contrary to Your will, rather than ignore them or choose to remain silent about them. But at the same time, grant that we not be harsh or condemning to others. Help us to know what the Bible teaches and says so that we may “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us].” But let us do so with “gentleness and respect, having a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:15-16). Allow us to have honest and open conversations with those whose views differ from ours, and give open minds to those who need to repent, that they may repent of their sins and find forgiveness in You.

Today I pray for the following people or issues…

Please give me courage to… 

In Your name I pray. Amen.

(For a full explanation of this challenge, see the post 12-Minute Prayer Challenge. If you are just joining us, feel free to continue on with us from the current day, or if you prefer, you can go back and start at Day 1.)