I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2

No doubt, sometimes we are not quite sure how to approach this instruction. If you like the current administration and the way things are going, no problem. If not, well.... A few years ago, one of my friends asked, "Can we just pray for regime change?" Truth be told, you can pray anything you want.

My beautiful daughter, to whom this volume is dedicated, had a bedtime prayer one night when she was in kindergarten — having heard in school of the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the danger it posed for the environment, she prayed, "Dear God, those peo…