11/12/2020 Prayer

”Therefore, IF anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap IF we do not grow weary. – Galatians 6:9

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​Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that some days it feels like we’ve been put through the wringer. Our emotions are frayed and our hopes and dreams have been hung out to dry. Forgive us, for in those times, we have allowed our faith to waiver. We know Your Word says that when our faith is tested, our character grows as we turn and rely once again on You. So, help us keep our focus on You and not on our trials and tribulations. We long to have that golden precious faith that Peter mentioned. 
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
 
We pray for our local elections and the strength to keep fighting the political battles.  May we not lose our ability to witness your love to EVERYONE we meet.
We ask for your blessing on our rally this Sunday.  Please bring the right people and let our voices be heard by many.  Let us bring hope and encouragement to all who are praying for protection from a Democratic president.
We pray for President Trump, his legal advisers, and campaign staff, as they challenge election results.
We pray for all of the ballot counters here in Tarrant County as well as all over the country.  Please put a stop to all of the fraud, Lord.  And bless those volunteers who are doing it correctly.
We pray for discernment for the president and vice president as they consider the needs of the country.
We pray for the State Department as diplomatic relationships and negotiations are made with foreign nations.
We pray for the Treasury Department as foreign and domestic economic measures are discussed and decided.
 
You are so good, and we love You, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name
Amen.

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If – The Biggest Word in the Bible
The word ‘if’ is interesting. It is one of the most important words in the Bible because it speaks directly to our responsibility to God. Most promises in the Bible have conditions and the word ‘if’ speaks to those conditions. Our responses to God’s commands affect our relationship with Him and determine our receiving from Him.
Jesus used the word ‘if’ all the time. Almost half of the 574 occurrences in the New Testament are in the four Gospels.

​Jesus always put the ‘if’ on man’s side and never on God’s side – If man does, God will.

This is a wonderful article about how the Lord uses "if" when he speaks to us, teaches us, and blesses us.
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https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/biggest-word-bible/

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LISTEN TO THE POEM HERE: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSSqc1qG238

IF
​   by Rudyard Kipling
 
If you can keep your head when all about you   
    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
    But make allowance for their doubting too;   
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
 
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   
    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
    And treat those two impostors just the same;   
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
 
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
    And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
 
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   
    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
    If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   
    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!