prayers
 This is our 40th day of prayers for this President and this election. I will continue to post and pray until we have a final conclusion to our presidential race. I hope you are continuing to pray with me. 2 Chronicles 6:40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." God is on board Habakkuk 1:5 – Look among the nations and see, wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. Those who “go down to the sea in ships” know that the time to plan for a storm is before it hits. They know it is good to have a written plan to rely on when it is time to start locking the hatches, securing the port holes and setting the anchor. When the severe weather is at hand, the checklist keeps the sailor calm as he prepares. An unprepared boat will likely break free. Corrie Ten Boom once wrote, “In order to realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm.” The American ship of state is being tossed about on very stormy political seas. In his book, God’s Chaos Code, Dr. Lance Walnau, author and professor, writes: “The American storm is larger than racial, gender, and political division. When the disciples feared that the storm would sink the boat, they cried out and awakened Jesus who arose to rebuke the storm. The challenge for us is that there is no physical Jesus to awaken—it is the sleeping body of Christ that must awaken and speak to the storm. Angry waves have overtaken the ship, and demonic winds may lash the vessel violently, but God is on board this boat. To quell the ferocity of the storm, it’s going to take all of us finding our place in the midst of the crisis, the chaos, and the call of God.” O Mighty and Righteous God, the condition of America is no surprise to you. To have watched us build to the position we are in through years of setting You aside from national discourse to now when You and we are mocked, ridiculed, and, in some cases, persecuted. Jesus said that in this world we would have troubles, but we need not fear, for He has overcome the world. We place our reliance on You today to guide us in overcoming. Help us stand strong for You, to contend for the faith, not to give in to the “demonic winds that lash the vessel violently,” but to maintain our reliance on You and the work You are doing. We await in anticipation of what You are performing. Guide us into the part You desire us to have, we pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 The Great I Am - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgpoOhoc4Hs The mountains shake before him The demons run and flee At the mention of the name King Of Majesty There is no power in Hell Or any who can stand Before the power and the presence of the Great I Am! AND REMEMBER HE HAS A BRIGHTER DAY PLANNED FOR US! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itbi6V9oFIk "What you did on Calvary makes me wanna love you more" What is your strategy? Psalm 5:11 – But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Every professional golfer, and many amateurs, know that the best strategy when it comes to sand traps is to avoid them completely. But that doesn’t happen. Getting out of a sand trap can be one of the hardest shots to master in golf. The right loft, spin, and impact are tricky. The golfer’s number one decision when he finds himself in that situation is to choose the right club. Then take the right set-up, find the right grip, make the right shot, and follow through. Another seldom considered strength is for the golfer to keep the right mindset. And consistent practice is essential. For many Christ-followers, they prefer living the life of faith as one smooth fairway shot after another, and an easy putt into the cup time after time. Just one blessing after another! Even as you talk about being thankful for the blessings that God gives, when you are honest, you will admit that the spiritual sand traps are out there, and they can sometimes be hard to avoid. James says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2), when you fall into those sand traps. Using the golfing metaphor, then, to extract yourself from those things that interrupt the flow of joy in your life, use the right tool—your Bible is the first place to go for answers. Then take the right stand…don’t shift about from one foot to the other but find your balance in the wisdom of God. Get a grip! Pray. Seek the Lord in all things. Having the right mindset means putting your thoughts on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Keep at it. Then look for the joy and put a smile in your heart, for God is continuing to bless you, to teach you, to comfort you, and to protect you. Holy God, today’s verse from Psalms says to sing for joy. Makes me think of an old hymn: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer.” And “Have you trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? You should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer.” Coming to Your very throne room and placing ourselves at Your feet is certain joy. Knowing You hear us because You love us and You care about what concerns us, brings us joy. Thank You for giving us that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. You are a good and loving Father, and we love you. Amen.
 Are you in a rut? 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you. When the clouds were dark over Europe and the British Isles and it looked as though Germany was winning, Prime Minister Winston Churchill recognized his countrymen were being overcome with a political inertia that endangered their future. The definition of inertia is a “lack of movement or continuous movement in a particular direction unless affected by something that alters that direction.” For many in the Christian community, a spiritual inertia has set in, and it will be a danger for America’s future if allowed to continue. You can identify spiritual inertia by its apathy, a lack of joy, the dullness of vision, functional depression, and an abdication of servanthood. Many Christians wring their hands in despair and isolate, not because of the coronavirus, but because they sense a personal lack of effectiveness. God wants you in motion—and powerfully so! If you are feeling that spiritual inertia today, recognize your spiritual dryness and pray for a reconnection with God Almighty. Don’t procrastinate. Remember what He has already done for you in the past, Faith isn’t expected to be blind. Look back and see God’s faithfulness to you. Let go of the things that stand in the way of your usefulness to God. Then be sober and vigilant, staying alert for the things that are determined to kill your soul. Lay hold of the power of God. Move forward! What does God expect from us in times like these? First, we are called to pray. This may seem obvious, but it is important enough to restate this crucial action with so many distractions vying for our attention every day and every hour. In telling Timothy to pray and intercede for those in authority, the Apostle Paul uses the very words… “first of all” (1 Timothy 2:1). There can be no greater mandate. Next, we are called to stand for righteousness. Culture and social pressures are drawing our attention away from God. Our convictions are drifting, too. These seemingly small changes are the sirens of the world trying to chip away at our values. We must be resolute and uphold Godly truths. “Contend for the faith,” it says in Jude 1:3. In Ephesians 6:10, it says “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Finally, we are called to bring light to the world as shining ambassadors for Christ in the darkness of this present time. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Let us be seen and heard that God’s glory and honor be praised. Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that we frequently become stuck in a spiritual rut and have allowed the things of this world to cloud our vision of You and the pathway that You have set out before us. We ask that Your Holy Spirit awaken us out of our torpor and let us feel the force of Your power in our lives. Prod us along in our journey with You when we need it. Give us a fresh vision and new energy to overcome the inertia we have allowed to sink in. It is our desire that our lives honor You. We acknowledge You and ask You to direct our paths today, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
WEEKLY PRAYER NEEDS: November 19th – November 25th, 2020
PRAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians during a short trip to Turkey, which upset Turkish officials as no meetings were scheduled with any of them. His talks have centered on religious freedoms. Rodney Scott, the head of the U.S. Border Patrol, said the constructed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border has surpassed 400 miles and is expected to total 450 miles by the end of 2020, with speculation the work will continue into 2021. Pray with thanksgiving for the focus of the president’s administration on religious liberty at home and abroad. PRAY FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California warned that some members want to expand the use of the proxy vote employed during the pandemic into a fully remote vote-by-text operation, which he called unproven, unsecure, and unconstitutional. Representative Chip Roy of Texas said Congress needs to do more to honor America’s veterans and those currently serving in the military with clarity and commitment as fewer than half of 1 percent of Americans serve in the Armed Forces. Pray for members of both House and Senate as they still have work to do in the current session. PRAY FOR OUR JUDICIARY Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito criticized his colleagues’ decision not to consider two lawsuits in which churches fought state coronavirus worship restrictions that he said “blatantly” disregarded the First Amendment. The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Harvard University’s race-based admissions, rejecting a challenge that alleged the school’s policy discriminates against Asian-Americans. Pray for the nation’s courts as they hear and rule on cases that involve discriminatory actions of any kind. CURRENT EVENTSWARS AND TERRORISM ISIS-linked terrorists beheaded and dismembered more than 50 people over three days in a mass killing at a soccer field in Mozambique after burning down homes and kidnapping and raping women and children. Islamic extremists in northern Uganda killed a well-known Christian pastor and radio preacher after he compared Christianity and Islam in a radio broadcast, beating and strangling him to death for saying Allah is not God. Pray for Christians in Africa who are contending for their faith in the face of terror from Islamists. FOREIGN INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition lawmakers said they would resign in protest against the dismissal of four of their colleagues from the city assembly after Beijing intensified its crackdown on dissent in the city. Thousands of Ethiopian refugees flooded into Sudan as Prime Minister Ahmed’s federal troops battled well-armed local forces in Tigray and protests against the northern region’s leaders were planned elsewhere. Pray for people across the world who desire freedom rather than oppression and the actions they are taking to support these positions. ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST Al Qaeda’s second-in-command, accused of helping mastermind the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa, was killed in Iran in August by Israeli operatives acting at the behest of the U.S., according to a news report that cited intelligence officials. Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan urged the United Nation’s Secretary-General to work with him to eliminate anti-Israel bias that permeates the international body. “The bias against Israel has become institutionalized,” Erdan said. Pray for those fighting the global spread of anti-Semitism and the resultant evil that comes with it. THE ECONOMY Prices for single-family homes across the U.S. increased 12 percent in all 81 measured metropolitan areas in the third quarter, the biggest annual jump in seven years, adding to affordability concerns, according to the National Association of Realtors. Mortgage applications have fallen to a six-month low, but homebuyer demand is still strong overall and the housing supply is inadequate, especially for first-time buyers and lower-income buyers, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports. Pray for stability in the U.S. housing market as well as for other sectors of the overall economy. ACROSS THE STATES Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said that he doesn’t have any immediate plans to lock down the state or reinstate any additional restrictions, even as coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths increase in Connecticut and across the country. New daily coronavirus cases ticked down to just over 7,000 this week in Ohio as Governor Mike DeWine explored a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on many businesses in a bid to further slow the COVID-19 pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, pray for state governors and health department officials to make the right decisions for their citizens. VERSE OF THE WEEK For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. – 1 Peter 2:15-16 |
Why pray?Lifting our elections up to the Lord helps all of us keep the focus on the most important topics as well as softens our hearts to love everyone, even those with whom we may disagree. Believing differently shouldn't stop us from sharing God's love and His Word with others. Archives
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