For the month of July, we are focused on the Secretariat of Commerce and Trade. Our secretary is Caren Merrick.

• The Secretary of Commerce and Trade supports the Governor’s leadership in making Virginia a desirable place that can attract businesses to the area.  Thankfully, there are more working people now as reflected in the state ranking which recently moved Virginia up from 20^th to top 5 in the nation.

• In the Commerce and Trade Secretariat, there is The Virginia Economic Development Partnerships (VEDP) agency. This agency does many things. For instance, it recruits and encourages the expansion of businesses, industries, and entrepreneurship in the Commonwealth; creates employment with higher income opportunities; significantly increases capital investment; works for the expansion of the tax base; and encourages international trade.

This team collaborates with local, regional, and state partners to encourage the expansion and diversification of Virginia’s economy. We have been asked to pray that they would be able to find more of the right people to add value to this important agency.

• We have been also asked to pray for the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) which serves to support the Commonwealth’s vision for the expansion of innovation, opportunity, and job creation here in Virginia. The Secretary asked that we pray over their significant investments in start-ups as well as the mentoring of entrepreneurs. 

• The workforce housing shortage is real, and the Secretary welcomes prayers around lifting barriers to allow the private sector to invest.

Devotional:

In Matthew 5:43–45, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” 

In our culture today, there is so much hate and division—not only in government between political parties, but now we see the hatred that our fellow Americans have toward one another, even in everyday life. For example, we often see it while driving. 

82% of drivers in the U.S. admit to having road rage or driving aggressively at least once in the past year. Aggressive driving has been linked to more than half of all traffic fatalities. Tension and strife abound. 

Also, religious and political persecution is rising in the United States.

As followers of Christ, we can make a difference in our culture not only by loving those who love us but also by loving those who hate us. One way we can love those who hate us is by praying for them. It is easy to pray for those who love us but not easy to pray for those who hate or persecute us. 

In Acts 7, we read the account of the stoning and death of Stephen who was one of the disciples of Christ in the days of the early church. While Stephen lay dying, he prayed for those who were stoning him. Stephen obeyed the words of Jesus and prayed for those persecuting him. 

One man that took part in the stoning of Stephen was a man named Saul. He hated the Christians and was doing everything in his power to persecute and imprison them. But soon after Stephen’s death Saul had a glorious conversion and became the great apostle Paul. Stephen’s prayer for those who hated him was not in vain. 

As we pray for the Commerce & Trade Agency this month, let us also pray for those who hate us, for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. If you are not experiencing persecution, begin to pray for those who are cursing others. Pray for those who are full of hate and causing division in our state. 

Imagine how different Virginia would be if there was love across party lines, love across denominational lines. Then, our state would be an example of perfect love. Our state would be transformed.

Let us love our enemies, let us bless them that curse us, let us do good to them that hate us, and let us pray for them who despitefully use us and persecute us.