One of my favorite Bluegrass Gospel renditions is sung by a group known as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. The song is titled, “He’s In Control” and the beginning reminds us:

There are days that darkness seems to gather in from every side.
But my Lord is in control.

He’s the Light of this old world and darkness never blocks His way.
With His voice, guides how to go.

Yes my Lord, my precious Lord is in control.
He will guide our every footstep through earth’s trials, pains, and woes.
He’s the power over darkness, He’s the way, the truth we know.
Christ my Lord, my precious Lord, He’s in control.

The song reminds us of vitally important truths that we tend to forget in the course of everyday pressures, stresses, and challenges.

Those of us who are concerned about how our families should navigate in our increasingly Babylonian culture have good reason to be concerned. Yet, the next line of the song helps us understand the problem and the solution:

Although darkness hampers travel and brings trouble day and night
Christ my Lord, shines clear the way. (The victory way.)

In the Psalms, we are told that God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105) In the book of Proverbs, we are instructed not to lean on our own understanding, but to trust in the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that He is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and a couple of chapters later we are told that the Holy Spirit “will guide us into all truth” (John 16:13).

Reading and knowing Scripture is crucial to understanding how we should respond to today’s cultural revolution. Likewise, prayer is essential in seeking and gaining wisdom and discernment. Putting them together, we can earnestly and humbly make Scripture our own as we pray:

• Lead me in Your righteousness… (Psalm 5:8)

• Teach me Your way, O Lord… (Psalm 27:11)

• Hear my cry, O God… Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:1-2)

• Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth. (Psalm 86:11)

• Teach me the way in which I should walk… (Psalm 143:8)

• Send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me… (Psalm 43:3)

The Lord would love to answer these genuine prayers of His children as well as the many other prayer-worthy verses we can find in every book of the Bible.

We need not only to pray Scripture regularly, but we also need to model it for our posterity and stress to them the importance of being rooted in God’s Word. When we do this, our roots grow deeper and we better know His perfect will. Moreover, “blessed is the man who… delights in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night.”

He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
~Psalm 1:1-3

Springfield Legislative Session
In addition to all that is going on nationally and internationally, our Illinois state lawmakers are back in Springfield holding hearings on dozens and possibly hundreds of bills. Stay tuned and we will do our best to keep you informed on how to take action.

We also have critically important primary campaigns going on now through election day, March 19th. To complicate matters, early voting begins on February 8th. IFI’s Voter Guide is now available online HERE.

To say we have much to pray about is an understatement. Our state government is immersed in muddlement and malfeasance. Yet we are told to “pray for all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Please Pray:

• That God will open the eyes of policy-makers and candidates to the sanctity of human life. Pray that they will understand that life begins at conception. Pray that they would be convicted to become defenders of life and not enablers of sexual immorality and death.

• That federal and state investigators will root out all corruption at the Capitol and among our legislators and that honest and wise public servants will replace self-serving lawmakers.

• That in the 2024 election season, pro-life candidates will have the time, energy, and funding needed to saturate their districts with their campaign messages and materials.

• That our federal lawmakers would prioritize national security and close the southern border.

• That God will give wisdom and discernment to the honest public servants in Springfield who must work in the swamp of corruption. Pray also that they will have the courage to serve the Lord with fear and trembling and not shrink back from calling out every form of wickedness. (Psalm 2:10-11)

• That many godly counselors and advisers will surround our elected officials and that local pastors and Christian leaders will intentionally seek opportunities to visit and minister to these men and women. (Proverbs 11:14)

• That God will work in the hearts of key federal officials, including President Joe Biden, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. Add to that Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois President of the Senate Don Harmon, and Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch. (Proverbs 21:1-8)

• That President Biden would not be swayed by the radical, far-left, pro-Palestinian voices in Congress and on the streets. Pray that he stays the course in support of Israel’s efforts against the radical jihadists of Hamas and Hezbollah.

• That efforts to indoctrinate children in government schools fail–especially the new law that mandates mental health screening. This will certainly be used to identify students who do not agree with the status quo on homosexuality and the “trans” ideology, CRT, religion, evolution, and other leftwing projects.

• That God will use the upcoming IFI Worldview Conference on March 2nd to better equip and challenge parents, grandparents, and pastors. May it be a blessing!

• That both parents and grandparents would understand the threats to their children and grandchildren in this godless culture. Pray that they would take steps to protect them from social media influences and provide them an escape from the extremism in government schools. Pray that instead, they prioritize following Ephesians 6:4b, which exhorts us to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

• For your local mayor, police chief, township trustees, and county board members.

I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
~Psalm 16:7-11