Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Psalm 20 (NIV)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. 4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. 6 Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!
What does it mean to trust in the Lord instead of weapons in our modern world?
Holy Father, I praise and honor You. I am so privileged to live in the United States of America. You guided the founding fathers to create this nation on Godly principles. I hold those principles in high esteem. Right now, I am deeply distressed by what I see happening in this country. There is hatred, manipulation, violence, murder, lack of respect, and fear and it is tearing us apart. Instead of being one people united, we are being divided by those who want to eliminate Your Godly principles and take away our rights. Lord, I believe that You are still in control through the chaos. Hear the prayers of those who trust in You and protect us from the evil that is intending to destroy this country. Send help and come to our rescue! You created each person with an ability to think, reason, and thrive through their work. Let us celebrate the different opinions and listen to each other’s ideas to learn from each other and grow stronger together. Instead of resorting to violence, let us love and respect each other. Bring peace to the people who are in conflict. Let us worship You freely and bring Your Spirit back to our churches. Sweep through this nation and heal our land. Replace hate and anger, with respect for all people from all backgrounds and walks of life as we work together to create the beautiful and diverse tapestry of America. Help me to submit to Your plan. Your will be done. I trust in Your name, Lord our God. May You answer all of our prayers! Amen