By Allen Palmeri
Associate Editor
JEFFERSON CITY—The Show Me Your Glory Lord prayer initiative for Missouri lawmakers to balance the state budget is a targeted operation that is designed to cleanse the State Capital from the inside out.
Kerry Messer, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) lobbyist and president of Missouri Family Network, is excited about the 40 days of prayer and fasting from March 29 through May 7. Pain that was excruciatingly delivered in a bipartisan manner led both Republican and Democrat legislators to ask the Church to beseech Jehovah God for spiritual solutions to severe budget shortfalls. It’s time to pray!
Messer is functioning from ground zero. He suggests prayer over the eight major areas of the budget. They are: education and higher education; public safety/corrections and law enforcement; public health and social services; infrastructure and transportation; economic development and professional registration; agriculture, natural resources, and conservation; revenue and general administration; and judiciary, legislature, and executive offices.
The 197 lawmakers themselves (163 representatives, 34 senators) by way of their own leaders have asked for prayer in seven specific categories. They are: unity; motives; wisdom; patience; humility; solutions; and revival.
Unity: The first draft of the budget comes from the Governor’s Office (led by a Democrat) and is then entrusted to the Legislature (led by Republicans). It then goes back to the governor, who has line veto authority as well as the ability to withhold monies. April is when nearly 200 men and women from a variety of backgrounds and vocations must come together in Jefferson City and start to agree on fiscal priorities.
“I pray that God’s grace will pour over our General Assembly with a spirit of cooperation that they have never seen before,” Messer said. “May the Lord so lead the hearts of lawmakers that they cannot deny God’s intervention and that His glory is recognized by their unity. May unity in the Church, responding with prayer and understanding, show the glory of the Lord!”
Motives: Each House member is elected to a two-year term. Each senator gets a four-year term. As these lawmakers collectively introduce between 1,500 and 1,900 bills a year, electoral politics commonly taints the overall process—and the budget is not immune. That is our lot in 2010, which is an election year.
Messer has observed that some lawmakers have mixed emotions or misdirected motives for the positions they advocate. People cannot unravel the effects of electoral politics on legislative priorities, Messer said. The budget is always impacted at various points.
“I pray that in the face of this financial crisis our Legislature will be led by a spirit of purity,” Messer said. “I pray that each and every member of the House and Senate may focus on the big picture of Missouri and that they each maintain pure motives as public servants working together. May the purity of motives focus hearts to see the glory of the Lord as He reveals Himself.”
Wisdom: Man’s wisdom comes from garnering the ideas of many men. Godly wisdom comes from one source.
Lobbyists abound at the State Capitol. Ideas travel from all corners of the state. How can Missouri obtain a wise budget? Prayer is the pathway to peace.
“I pray that God’s wisdom will empower lawmakers and guide them to make wise decisions,” Messer said. “Wisdom is found in a multitude of (wise) counselors. Wisdom is granted to those who pray for it. I pray that House and Senate members seek, find, discern, and apply godly wisdom. I pray that all Missourians see the glory of the Lord and His wisdom through this crisis.”
Patience: Every week of the legislative session shows how short mankind falls in this area. The legislative gauntlet of passing one bill into law is hard enough, but the stress of hammering out a $20 billion+ budget can be immense.
Messer noted that while many lawmakers show great restraint in dealing with the bulk of the budget, their heightened emotions usually become associated with it at some point. Every legislator will be pressured by constituents urging changes in the budget, simply because there is a lot of money at stake.
“I pray that lawmakers receive a peace that passes all understanding and thus a new level of patience with one another,” Messer said. “I pray that they may have a greater amount of patience with constituents. I pray that the Church and Christian citizens be a source of peace and patience rather than contention and complaints. May they have patience to see the glory of the Lord.”
Humility: Lawmakers need to know that they are not the ultimate authority. The State can dictate externally, but only the Lord can rule men from within their hearts.
“I pray that the glory of the Lord be displayed through an outpouring of humility,” Messer said.
Solutions: Missouri does not engage in deficit spending to hide its problems. Nor does it artificially print money. Missouri’s solution is to pray.
Every year the state budget is expected to grow along with Missouri’s economy, population, and complexity. New programs are always being developed as old ones expand. As the national economy has swooned, Missouri has not escaped the consequences. Revenues are dropping through the floor as infrastructure needs, demand for government services, and a host of other financial pressures continue to build.
“I pray that those responsible for allocating Missouri’s resources through the budget process will find solutions that will minimize the loss of jobs and services Missourians are dependent upon,” Messer said. “I pray that they discover innovative solutions that can streamline government without hurting people. I pray that solutions be found that point out the glory of the Lord.”
Revival: Fasting in a bipartisan manner for God to be glorified in the land known as Missouri is an April objective.
“I pray that many will find the Lord as they seek Him,” Messer said.