Day 4 of 40 Days of Prayer

First of all, then, I admonish and  urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,  For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 AMP)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that we can come to you in prayer, thank you that we can boldly come to your throne of grace, thank you that we live in a country where we are allowed to worship you and freely share your Good News with others. And please forgive us of our sins, sins against you and each other.  Today, we come together to pray for our nation and our leaders, Lord, we pray that they would look to you for your guidance, and seek your will in all that they do. We pray that all the people of our land would serve you, not just with lip service and routines, but with their whole hearts.  We pray that lives would be changed and made anew in you. We pray that all would see how your love outshines the darkness of this world! We pray that the lost would hear your voice and turn to you for their salvation and not make the government their savior. You alone are our rock and our fortress, our deliverer, our God, in whom we take refuge, our shield, our salvation and our stronghold and only in you have we been given a new life! We give you all the praise, honor and glory that only you are due, dear Lord, thank you Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercies and grace, thank you for your precious Son Jesus, thank you for your Holy Spirit and thank you for all you have given us, we love you Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN

Day 3 of 40 Days of Prayer

until at last the Spirit is poured out

    on us from heaven.

Then the wilderness will become a fertile field,

    and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. (Isaiah 32:15 NLT)

For I will pour out water to quench your thirst

    and to irrigate your parched fields.

And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants,

    and my blessing on your children. (Isaiah 44:3 NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your mercy and your grace and for your never-ending love! Lord, we ask for forgiveness of our sins, sins against you and each other – sins that your Son bought with his blood, sins that only He can wash white as snow – so thank you for your Son, our Lord and Savior, who has redeemed us and made us your children! We thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides us and leads us in your ways. We come together today, to pray for our nation and our leaders – we pray that your Holy Spirit would be heard and felt, we pray for a stirring in their hearts, a softening and a turning to you. We pray for a pouring out of your Holy Spirit on all your children, cover us, so that every breath we take would be for you and not for ourselves. Saturate every molecule of our being so that your thoughts are our thoughts, your words are our words, your actions are our actions, fill us till we are overflowing so we don’t know where you end and we begin. Lord, we want to be more like you and less like us – so that your light shining within us can be seen by any who are near us. We want the lost to know that we are your children without ever having to say a word, because we are so full of you and your Holy Spirit. May we each be a laborer in your Harvest, whether planting or watering a seed, may we share you and your Son with all we meet - in a smile, a kind word, or an act of selflessness – but to you ALL the honor and glory! In Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN

Day 2 of 40 Days of Prayer

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you have done for country, thank you for the people that have joined together to pray for our nation, thank you for your Word that guides us and teaches us, and thank you for sending your Son to save us – we want to honor you with our praise and prayers Lord! We ask for forgiveness of our sins against you and each other, Lord, and we thank you for your mercy and grace, because your Word tells us that when we confess our sins, you are just and true to cast them as far as the east is to the west. We pray for the leaders of our nations, we pray for their eyes to be opened and their hearts to turn to you Lord. We pray for all who have been blinded, whose eyes have been veiled by the enemy, we plead the Blood of Jesus’ over each and every pair of eyes that have been shut to your light, your message, the truth.  Lord, the time is drawing near, the harvest is great and the workers are few.  Let us be the light in this world that shines the love of your Son Jesus’ onto every heart and every soul, give us the boldness to speak – let us walk the talk Lord, following the path that you have given each and every one of us. We pray that you would correct us when we stray from your path, we pray that our hearts would remain tender to you and your will, we pray that we would be the likeness of your Son, the salt of the earth, the hands and feet of Jesus. Give us the words to speak, strengthen us to live as Ambassadors of Christ, so that we would be the laborers for your harvest, to you all the honor and glory and in your Son Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN 

Day 1 of 40 Days of Prayer

Every day I will share a new verse with a prayer for our Nation for the 40 days of Prayer. It seemed only fitting to start with this:

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)

Dear Heavenly Father , we thank you for all you have done for us, for our families, and for our nation - we want to give you all the honor and glory that only you are due!  We come together today as your people and your church, to pray for our nation. Lord, we ask for forgiveness of the sins we have made against you and each other.  We are seeking you and your presence Lord; pour out your Holy Spirit onto your people, awaken our hearts, our minds, our eyes and our ears Lord, that we would be led by you, and not this world. Renew us, Lord, restore our nation, and please keep your favor and hand upon our country.  We pray for your divine guidance and direction for our leaders, that they would follow you and your will. Give us your wisdom, understanding, and discernment needed at this time, so that we would be more than just listeners of your Word, but doers as well.  Thank you God that we can come together in prayer, your Son told us that when two agree here on earth on anything that we ask, it will be done by you in heaven – so we stand together in agreement for your church and our country and ask these things in your Son Jesus’ name ~ AMEN

40 Days of Prayer

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.    (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

I believe God is calling out to His church, calling to His children, calling to the hands and feet of Jesus – a calling to seek God’s face, to humble ourselves, to pray for forgiveness, to turn from the world’s way to God’s way. This call is a stirring in all of our hearts, the tugging of the Holy Spirit to seek God for restoration -not man or the government.

This country was founded on Christian principles, blessed by God because the people sought after God to free them from oppression. In the time since the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, our country has sought refuge in our government instead of God. We have allowed the ‘freedom from religion’ instead of the original purpose ‘freedom of religion’, by remaining silent.  It’s time to declare Jesus as our Lord and not our government; we must seek God as a people, united in the body of Christ.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT)

Choosing life and blessings means we seek God’s holiness, that we are turning from the world’s way and following God. We make the choice with not just our minds, but with our hearts, we have to turn our hearts to God to receive the blessings He has for us, our children, and our country.  So choose this day, to live for God and not for ourselves, make the heart choice that the Lord will be our master and not this world we live in.

Join me in my ’40 Days of Prayer’ for our nation, beginning September 28 through November 6, 2012 – Election Day in the United States. I believe this is a pivotal event, not just in the USA, but in the world! I will be posting a prayer everyday during the 40 days on my Facebook page, Stir Me UpLord – if you have not Liked my page, please do so and join the event of prayer and share with others.

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). (Ephesians 6:18 AMP) 

Standing Up to Your Goliath

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.46 Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!

47 And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:45-46 NLT)

Talk about motivational speeches, this just gets me ready to conquer the Goliaths in my life! I’m so tired of being attacked by the enemy, he’s relentless in his attacks on God’s children, because he knows we already have won and wants to trick us into thinking we can still be defeated - BUT the truth is, we can’t!

4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:4 NLT)

Once we have believed and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for mankind’s sins, rose again on the third day and is now seated in Heaven at God’s right hand – we became children of God! We have an inheritance and we are made righteous because of Jesus – not because of us (we could never achieve that on our own).

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.t Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. (Romans 8:14-17 NLT)

That suffering is what the devil brings upon us, but because of Christ we can defeat the devil and the suffering he brings us. Jesus bore the cross, the misery and death for us – but he defeated the devil when he rose again on that third day! So anything the devil brings to us, we can refuse it and kick it back to him. David stood up and without fear told Goliath that he was going to defeat him, not because of who he was, but because of WHO his GOD was! And that’s exactly what we need to do! When the devil attacks, grab a scripture and defeat him with that sword, say it out loud!  When we speak God’s Word over the enemy and the circumstance, we are calling on God’s truth over the devil’s lies and there’s no greater power than the name of Jesus – so believe it and use it!

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NLT)

So stand up to your Goliath now, whether it be finances, illness, or relationships – speak the Word of God over that circumstance and be free from the bondage that the devil is trying to trick you with.

Jesus has already won, claim the victory and receive the blessings, favor and grace that God has for you!!

10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11  And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.12  And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:10-12 AMP)

Just Trust

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV)

I’ve often been amazed at how complex we can try to make life, when God has a  simple solution for us. So many times we try to force how we think things should go, when we cannot even conceive the thoughts of the Creator of the universe. He has reminded us that His wisdom is not the world’s wisdom.

This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25 NLT)

Sometimes we’ll let our pride get in the way or maybe even think, that’s okay God, I got this. God never tests us to see if we can handle a challenge, but He will wait to to see if we trust in Him to get us through whatever situation we have gotten into.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:5-7 NLT)

When we’re told to fear the Lord, it’s not about being scared, it’s about reverence and respect; the way a child wants to please their parents because of the love, not because of fear of getting into trouble. Jesus told us that we didn’t need to carry our burdens, He came so we could be free from those worries.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

Once we can give those burdens up, once we can let go and let God – we’ve given God complete and perfect trust in Him and not in ourselves. It’s at the point, that we can learn the freedom that God has had for us all along.

Boldness and Faith

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating,  a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. 

4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”   (Mark 14:3-9 NLT)

I was just thinking of this woman, Mary of Bethany.  Imagining what it would have been like for her…thinking of how she might have been at her home praying when the Holy Spirit urged her to get up, get her jar of oil, go to where Jesus was and pour the oil over his head.

I’m not sure about all the customs and procedures of Biblical times, but what I’ve read, has told me that women did not have the equality and freedoms we have today. I imagine it took a lot of courage to step out and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.  She knew what she was doing was going to be unorthodox; people might talk about her being inappropriate, maybe even a little crazy, going against customs and stepping out where the world thought she didn’t belong.

I’m not sure if Mary had a husband or if she was wealthy. According to the scripture, this alabaster of oil was worth a year’s wages. So this oil had an extremely large monetary value and using it in this way, was a major financial sacrifice.  I’m sure if she had hesitated and maybe asked a friend for advice they would have discouraged her and told her not to do that, maybe they would have tried to convince her that someone more ‘special’ might have that calling, that she didn’t need that burden.

This is what I’ve learned from Mary: not only did she hear the message God had for her, she listened, and obeyed.  She knew it wasn’t going to be easy, she knew it was going to take a lot of courage, but she stepped out in faith and followed God.   I see Mary’s courageousness, faithfulness, and sacrifice – and I want that boldness and faith! 

I now believe I have been called to step out in faith and I know I will face obstacles, I will be unpopular, and I will lose 'friends' and family - but none of that matters – the only thing that matters is to hear my Jesus tell me one day, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.

*I wrote this blog entry in less than hour on Friday Sept 7^th, for some reason I thought I should hold off on publishing it. I think I know why now; Sunday my Pastor spoke on Luke 7:36-50 – the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointed him with her alabaster of oil. I know the Holy Spirit speaks to all the Believers as one, and it seems most of my devotions and the messages I’ve listened to have been of one accord and this strengthens and encourages me greatly!!  So I was able to change up the last paragraph and claim what GOD has for me!!

Choose God or the World

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:7-10 NIV)

Silence is a choice, we are living in times where we must choose where we stand.  One day we will have to give an account of all of our actions before God and I believe the times that we stood quietly while injustices, mockery and evil took place will weigh as greatly as if we had participated in those ungodly acts ourselves.

When Jesus went into the Temple, he didn’t speak to the merchants calmly and say,’ God loves you and so do I, so let’s stop making a business out of my Father’s House’ – NO! He was consumed with passion and drove those merchants out with a whip!

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:15-17 NIV,  ref v17 Psalm 69:9)

Jesus came to save us, but he’s not going to let anyone mock God in the process.  We need to align ourselves with God’s Word and not the world. There is a choice that every Believer has to make, either you will follow God or you will follow the world. Make your choice, God wants your heart and your obedience on a full time basis, He’s not looking for part-time Believers.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’  (Matthew 10:34-36 NIV, v35 ref Micah 7:6)

There are many issues today that are given as a choice (these same issues are in the Bible as black and white, not gray areas) from abortion to same-sex marriage – we are asked to choose where we stand; with God or with the world. If we don’t have passion on these topics, then maybe we need to spend some time with God praying about this and ask God why we aren’t passionate about His Word and His will – not ours, He will always give us His wisdom when we ask.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5 NIV)

Sadly, there will be a never ending sorrow for the people who choose the world over God.

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NLT)

DEC 19, 2013****Updated

I've decided to revisit this post in light of recent events, it seems Christians are fighting against one another over Phil Robertson's opinions in a GQ article when asked his thoughts on homosexuality. After reading the entire article, I found no offense against any person, there was no hatred, no animosity, no judging or condemnation, as a matter of fact, most media outlets seemed to leave out this key statement he made:

 "Robertson issued a response to the controversy that reinforced his point rather than backed down from it. "I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior,” he said today. “My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.”

Robertson concluded, “However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other."

These key statements should show that their is no judging nor condemnation, as a Believer we all know a sin is a sin, regardless if it's a lie or adultery - there is no degree of sin and as a human we all sin, and just like Jesus told the adulteress, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" "No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more." (John 8:10-11 NLT)  Once we have the Holy Spirit living in us, our life is a constant battle of the flesh (the world) and the Spirit (God's holiness) so as Believers we have to say no to the sin and yes to God, that includes stopping whatever sins we battle with. 

Believers need to stop watering down the Gospel, we need to share with everyone the Truth as it is, we can't seek repentance from a sin if we stop calling it a sin. Live the life we were called to live, a life of Truth and of love, but staying in alignment with God's Word and accepting His grace for our sins, but not living outside His will.

Conquering Evil

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. (Romans 12:21 NLT)

I love action movies, I enjoy watching the good guy kicking the bad guy’s butt and winning. So maybe that’s part of the reason I joined the Army after college, I wanted to do something really great (this was after Desert Storm and before 9/11).  To this day, I struggle with regret and envy that I never got any combat time in (after my husband and I got out of the Army, he has spent the last 5 years working in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan).  

I've  recently felt encouraged that my desires to conquer evil (aka the ultimate bad guy) can still be done here, without going into the foreign war zones.  After all, we are each taking part in a continuing spiritual war, so maybe I won’t be able to go into combat in full battle rattle (that means dressed in all your military armor) but I can put on the full Armor of God.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT)

The spiritual battles that we go through as Christians might not be as physically dangerous as a military firefight, but they are extremely important and strategic in claiming victory in our lives. We have to decide in advance, will we let the next battle we are in, strengthen us or weaken us. The choice is ours, a person doesn’t go into battle without his armor or weapons, so why would we try to fight a spiritual battle without ours?  

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.   For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:14-18 NLT)

When we remain prepared and vigilant, we will always be victorious in our battles! So keep your guard up and keep your focus on the Lord.

And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47 NLT)