Just Another Battle

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.  These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. (1 Timothy 4:1-2 NLT)

This election has brought a heartache I didn’t think possible, I honestly did not expect the outcome and have felt a deep sadness for our country because of it. I’ve been praying and talking to God, trying to receive some sort of revelation about the whole thing, and the best thing He could give me has turned out to be His peace. I’m no longer worried or anxious about the future of our country, I’m not tied up in knots over the government and what’s going to happen; instead I’ve found a peaceful calmness, that could only be given by God.

I was reading some statistics¹ on the voters in this election and there are some shocking numbers related to people of faith and how they voted. Basically the consensus was that over 6 million self-described evangelical Christians voted for a President that supports abortion (of any kind) on demand and same-sex marriage (all which are specifically against the Bible’s teachings). This is the sort of thing that truly breaks my heart, the thought that there are so many believers out there, that have missed God. We're not talking about the lost– their eyes are veiled to the truth; this is suppose to be our Brothers and Sisters in Christ! I have written before on believers being forced to make a decision, to choose between God or this world we live in,² but honestly I had no idea that there were so many self-described Christians, who chose the world over God.

I started writing this blog last October because I believed my purpose was to build up and encourage other Christians. I never imagined that God would reveal so much to me or that I would reach people in countries I never heard of, let alone countries where they are predominantly of Muslim faith. So I have been reminded that God can use anyone to share His Word, and I have been blessed to be His vessel here. I don’t claim to be a knowledgeable Christian; I really wish I had more Bible teaching, but I've learned that when we get into the Bible, God will reveal scripture to us. I've heard it said before, that ‘God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called’. When I stepped out in faith to start my Facebook page and this Blog, God gave me what I needed to reach out and teach His Word. I've been blessed with a wonderful church, that has enabled me to exponentially grow spiritually from when I first returned to the Lord in 2004 and there's still a lot more learning to do.

I think the revelation that God is trying to share with me, is that, there is much work to be done. One scripture has stayed with me for over a year now:

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:37-38 NLT)

We each have work to do, each and everyone of us are His workers – whether we feel called or qualified, that’s who we are. There is a war that is waging, a war for the souls of the lost - and every day that we wake up, we are expected to do battle. This election just means that the stakes are higher now, time is running out and we need to step up and take our roles. No soldier goes into battle without being prepared and Believers are warriors of God – maybe that's what went wrong with the 6 million, maybe they weren't prepared.  That’s why Paul told us to pick up the WHOLE armor of God.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (Ephesians 6:13-18 MSG)

So there’s no time for mourning, we've got work to do, this battle might have been lost – but the war wages on and we haven't finished until Jesus returns for us!

¹ JoelC. Rosenberg’s Blog: More than 6 million self-described “evangelicals” votedfor Obama. Why & what else do the exit polls tell us about how Christiansvoted? Nov. 8, 2012

² Stir Me Up Lord!: Choose God or the World Sept 5, 2012

Day 40 of 40 Days of Prayer

Now I’m returning to you.

I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing

So my people can experience

My joy completed in them.

I gave them your word;

The godless world hated them because of it,

Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,

Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.

I’m not asking that you take them out of the world

But that you guard them from the Evil One.

They are no more defined by the world

Than I am defined by the world.

Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;

Your word is consecrating truth.

In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,

I give them a mission in the world.

I’m consecrating myself for their sakes

So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission. (John 17:13-19 MSG)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Son Jesus – for his life he led here on earth, for his teachings, and for his sacrifice on the cross. We thank you for your Word that has instructed us how to live in this world that we don’t belong in.  Yet our mission you have given us, is here in this world, to share your truth with all.  We ask for forgiveness of our sins, sins against you and each other; sins where we have neglected our mission and lived among the world, instead of keeping ourselves consecrated.

Today is our final day of these 40 days of prayer and so we pray for our nation to seek you and your will. We pray for every heart to be softened and to turn to you God; we pray for eyes and ears to be opened to your consecrated truth. So many live as if they never knew you - they belong to this world, yet they call themselves your children.  We pray for those individuals to have the scales removed from their eyes, for a true repentance within their hearts and to realize that they are not right with you God.

We pray for our leaders to exalt you above every name and to give you the honor and glory that you are due. We pray for a revelation to believers and non-believers of your majesty and mercy – for a revival of every heart in this nation. We pray for today to be the day, that this nation is claimed as a nation united under God once and for all – never to stray again, but forever protected by your righteous right hand.

God, you told us in your Word, that when we come to you as a repentant nation prayerfully and humbly seeking your face, turning from our wicked ways you would hear us from Heaven, forgive us our sins and restore our land. So we thank you in advance, for the restoration of our land and for your mercy and grace upon us all –  not for us, but for your namesake and for your glory!  We give you all the honor, praise and glory that you are due, in Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN!

Day 39 of 40 Days of Prayer

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace and mercy. Although you don’t give us the thorns in our lives – we thank you, that you are the one who sustains us and strengthens us to overcome victoriously any thorn that we may experience. We ask for forgiveness of our sins, sins against you and each other; sins where we have complained about our thorns, instead of using those thorns to magnify your grace and mercy.

We pray for our land, that every heart come before you, united as one nation under God. We pray for our leaders to humbly seek your face, to boast about you and not themselves. We thank you for the many blessings you have given our country and we pray for your grace in removing the thorns that have corrupted our land. We join together to pray for eyes and ears to opened - that all your children and the people of this land, would seek you and your will. We thank you for all you have done for us – we want to give you all the honor, glory and praise! In Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN!

Day 38 of 40 Days

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (Luke 18:1-8 NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you Lord for your Word that tells us in our persistence, we will find justice. We thank you that you are a just judge and a loving Father, who answers prayers and the cries of your children. We ask for forgiveness of our sins, sins against you and each other; sins where we had given up before our prayers were answered.

We pray for our nation to turn to you, with sincere repentance, and a faithful heart. We pray for our leaders to follow your example of a just judge, instead of the unjust judge who only gave justice because he was weary. We pray for eyes and ears to be opened to the truth, for the deception and lies of the enemy to cease. We pray for this election – that you dear God would be voted back into our country and into every heart and home. We give you all the honor, glory and praise that only you are due – thank you God, in your Son Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN!

Day 37 of 40 Days of Prayer

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

9...for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:1-3, 9b  NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that we are chosen, that we are your very own children, that we have been made holy by your Son Jesus’ righteousness. Thank you for continuing to teach us through your Word and how to apply it to our lives.  We ask for forgiveness of our sins, sins against you and each other; sins where we have neglected you and your Word.

We pray for our nation, for a sincere desire to seek you out and to grow closer to you. We pray for our leaders to draw near to you and to follow your will for our country. We pray for the lost to no longer stumble on the cornerstone of our faith – but to be obedient to your Word. We pray for those that call you Lord, to continue praying for an awakening in our nation and that we all would grow closer to you. We thank you for all you have done for us and for our land, in Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN!

Day 36 of 40 Days of Prayer

9 When the person who is lawless comes, it will happen through Satan’s effort, with all kinds of fake power, signs, and wonders. 10 It will happen with every sort of wicked deception of those who are heading toward destruction because they have refused to love the truth that would allow them to be saved. 11 This is why God will send them an influence that will mislead them so that they will believe the lie. 12 The result will be that everyone will be judged who is not convinced by the truth but is happy with injustice. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 CEB)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit who brings your children discernment, thank you for your Word that guides us with your wisdom and understanding. We ask for forgiveness of our sins, sins against you and each other; sins where we have ignored the leading of the Holy Spirit and been led astray.  We pray for guidance for all who call you Lord; to heed the warnings of your Holy Spirit and to follow you and not be deceived by the enemy. We pray that as your children, we would always seek justice and to serve you.

We pray for our nation to see you God, as the creator of truth and life - whereas the enemy is a counterfeiter, who can only create deception and lies. We pray for the people to repent of their sins and to seek you out, to make you their Lord and Savior. We pray for our leaders to return to our country’s roots – a land founded by Christians seeking to worship God freely. We pray for those that have never known you as their Lord, to come to you today with open arms and a tender heart. We pray for those who have distanced themselves from you, that they would call upon you again and seek comfort in your presence.

We thank you for all you have done for us, for your blessings and favor you have lavished on our country for so many years. We thank you for your continued protection and mercy upon our land and people, we want to give you all the honor and glory you are due; in Jesus’ name we pray ~ AMEN!