B2B Concert of Prayer – Feedback #965

Posted on September 26, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 965

feedback “Feedback”

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matthew 5:37)

Feedback. It is a word of multiple meaning in our society today. Originating in the electronics industry the term ‘feedback’ described beneficial circuitry that brought stability and control. The word has been adopted by industry to describe everything from customer surveys, employee appraisals, and product performance. We have all experienced the effect of acoustic feedback – that piercing squeal of ever increasing volume that occurs when a microphone gets too close to its amplified output.

I have seen dysfunction in a variety of families and workplaces and they have at least one thing in common: negative, destructive talk. Such talk is a feedback mechanism of sorts. Spoken words are heard not only by others but also by the speaker. Have you ever noticed how someone speaking a tirade of negativism seems to escalate in volume and passion – much like the annoying, piercing squeal of acoustic feedback?

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit … For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks … I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:33-37)

How do we heal the ‘forest’ making the trees and their fruit good? We start by healing the environment of toxicity that contributes to dysfunction. The first step is to remove the audience that provides reinforcing feedback to the speaker of negativism and they will turn it off. It is as simple as walking away. A second method is to nurture the environment with positive talk about what is good and beneficial. This feedback brings stability to the environment. To paraphrase our reference Scripture: If you have nothing good to say, keep your mouth shut.

Ultimately, the Lord will hold us all accountable for our careless words. In the work place we too, need to hold the purveyor of negativism accountable for their destructive influence in creating a hostile work environment. This also works to heal the ‘forest’ allowing good fruit to be borne.

It is equally true that a poorly structured, led and managed work environment (the soil of the forest) is a ‘root cause’ (no pun intended) of diseased trees and bad fruit. Leadership would do well to follow Jesus’ example of servant leadership and create an environment that empowers and nurtures the well-being of those under their authority. How? Listen to their feedback. Get to the root causes and correct them. Repeat.

I confess that it is far too easy to get caught up in negative feedback frenzy. Our own words can affect our minds, spirits and attitudes as well as our physical well-being and the well-being of others. As Christians in a secular world we would do well to adhere to Ephesians 4:29-32: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – The Least of These #964

Posted on September 16, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 964

young-child-holding-hands-with-a-senior “The Least of These”

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me … Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these … you did it to me. (Matthew 25:36-40)

We are a society that rallies to the aid of others when a crisis hits. We are quick to get involved and help in one form or another when disaster strikes in various parts of the world. While this is all well and good these spikes in acts of love and compassion are not what the Christian walk is meant to be.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)

There are the extremes of life that are among the ‘least of these’ that Jesus is challenging us to reach out to and nurture, protect, and engage with encouragement and support. The life of our unborn children is no longer protected by our nation’s laws and millions are being murdered for profit yet the majority of professing Christians will either not vote at all to elect officials that will work to protect the unborn or if they do participate in the election process they vote for a candidate that promises to protect their 401k and prosperous way of life as a matter of priority.

The other extreme ‘least of these’ is the elderly among us – our parents and grandparents. In large numbers this segment of our society are being cast aside and left to fend for themselves.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. (1 Timothy 5:4)

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)

I have spent a lot of time over the last decade in nursing homes, retirement communities, assisted living centers, and hospitals. I have felt the burden of the Lord for the elderly that are lonely, forgotten, and estranged by their sons and daughters. Many are imprisoned in frail bodies. Others are imprisoned in minds afflicted with dementia. Some are imprisoned in their homes, unable to travel on their own to care for basic necessities. All long for contact, however brief, with family and friends and are encouraged by a feeling of being valued, loved and cared for when children and grandchildren reach out to them regularly.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)

May the Holy Spirit soften your heart and allow you the grace to know the burden of the Lord for the forgotten and neglected ‘least of these’ in our society beginning with your own family – parents and grandparents. May the Lord empower you to act in His love and compassion toward the elderly in your family and community, teaching your children by example that future generations will be trained up in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6)

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B2B Concert of Prayer – His Eyes #963

Posted on September 1, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 963

i want to see you“His Eyes”

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)

‘Look at me’, my wife stated when she wanted to make sure she had our children’s full attention. Depending upon the subject matter the kids would often avert their eyes and not look at her for to look into her eyes brought accountability. More often though to look into their Mother’s eyes meant to look deep into eyes of love and compassion. When they were afraid or discouraged, looking into their Mother’s eyes brought them peace and strength.

The Lord reminded me of this while writing in my prayer journal the other day. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. (1 Peter 3:12)

I did not have to be told to look at Him. I had in intense desire to seek His face. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! (1 Chronicles 16:11)

Sometimes life circumstances beat you down relentlessly and you feel overwhelmed by fears, discouragement and despair. This is when you seek His face, earnestly looking into His eyes of love. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

As His child, born-again and redeemed by Jesus, I am forgiven and blameless toward Him. In Christ, I can look deep into His eyes and not feel like I have to avert them because I fear the accountability of my sin.

Looking deep into His eyes brings peace. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

Looking deep into His eyes comforts and quiets your soul. Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

Looking into His eyes brings strength and courage to persevere. And David was greatly distressed …  But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)

No matter what you are going through – no matter how hopeless and overwhelming your situation may seem remember that He is God and nothing is too difficult for Him. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27) We must stop looking at the problems facing us with man’s eyes and we must stop trying to solve them with man’s resources.

My prayer is that the Lord will create an intense desire in your heart to seek His face and in doing so that He will flood your soul with His peace and love.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving… (Colossians 4:2)

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Grace and Judgment #962

Posted on August 24, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 962

PROMISE AND JUDGEMENT grace and law“Grace and Judgment”

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people… (Titus 2:11)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)

I was impressed by the visual metaphor for God’s grace and His judgment when I saw this photograph of a rainbow and lightning taken a few weeks ago in Arizona.

For many people God’s grace, mercy, and love are not thought about in concert with God’s justice and righteous judgment. We tend to want to think of Him only in terms of love and forgiveness. Many who live after the flesh even though they believe in God are hedging their bets that at the last day God’s love and mercy will give them a free pass.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

However, to know Jesus is to know Him as both Savior and Judge as His Word reveals Him to us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life … The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son… (John 3:16); (John 5:22)

In and of itself, judgment is neutral. It cuts both ways – one side for rewards and the other for punishment. Either way, there is no avoiding the judgment seat of Christ.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil … So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace…  (2 Corinthians 5:10); (Matthew 13:49-50)

My brothers and sisters in Christ, all you who profess to be Christians – do you possess the depth of realization of what Jesus has saved you from? I shared the Gospel with a young man the other day and his response was that he did not want to worship Jesus. His heart was hardened to the realization of what Jesus had done for him by His death on the cross. He refused to acknowledge that he had an eternal soul because if he did then he would have to make choice about Jesus and that was a choice he was not prepared to make.

May you have a lifestyle of worship always realizing the enormity and priceless value of the eternal free gift of salvation given to you by Jesus. May Jesus be more to you than a carnal blessing machine for the present age. May Jesus always be seen in the light of eternity as your advocate before the Father, as your Lord, Savior, and Judge. May you worship Him accordingly.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Theory or Fact #961

Posted on August 9, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 961

our good“Theory or Fact”

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Romans 8:28 is probably the best known promise of God. The question for each of us is whether this knowledge is merely ‘head knowledge’ or ‘heart knowledge’. Is it an interesting theory or is it fact? Let’s unpack this powerful promise of God.

Have you ever been so certain in your knowledge of something that you know that you know and despite all indicators to the contrary, you have remained steadfast in that knowledge? My wife has this level of certainty about things. All the tangible evidence and empirical data that I gather contradicts her knowledge, yet she remains steadfast – and she is almost always right. This is that level of steadfast knowledge indicated by the preface to this Scripture verse: And we know…

This is more than mere head knowledge. We can commit this verse to memory and be able to recite it from multiple translations and in other languages, but it remains as powerless head knowledge if we waver and faint in the face of difficult circumstances.

If we panic in fear and look to others or to our own abilities first instead of seeking God in faith and trust in His promise we do not have the heart knowledge of His Word of Truth. It has remained a disproven theorem and it is not yet fact for us. Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord! (Isaiah 31:1)

Living out the promise of Romans 8:28 means always abiding in the presence of our Lord – before us and at our right hand. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

The promise is specific to a certain people: …for those who love God…for those who are called according to his purpose. If we love God we will obey His commandments and love others as ourselves. And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40) See also 1 John 5:3 and 1 John 4:20

God’s call on our lives sometimes directs us into circumstances out of our comfort zone. At times His call brings us into protracted and very difficult and trying situations. Head knowledge of His promise that …all things work together for good… fails us here and our faith, trust and hope are shaken if not lost.

I encourage you to journal your prayers and to go back and review the past entries.  You will see how God has worked all things for your good and your faith will be strengthened. Hear the testimonies of others in the Body of Christ regarding how the Lord has worked all things for their good and further move your knowledge of His promise from your head to your heart so that you too will know that you know beyond a doubt that God works all things – All things – for your good.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Upside Down World #960

Posted on August 2, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 960

upside-down-world“Upside Down World”

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

Have you noticed how topsy-turvy our world has become? Common sense and sensibilities have all but been thrown out for good.

There is a greater public outcry over a dead lion than there is for the millions of murdered unborn children. To add further insult our politicians and judges rally their support for abortion agencies and suppress the release of the truth about the profitable business of selling aborted baby body parts.

A transgender athlete is idolized, awarded and recognized as courageous while a slain soldier is vilified for his service to our country because he was a sniper.

The redefinition of marriage undermines the very core of our humanity as created by God.

Illegal aliens are redefined as ‘undocumented immigrants’ and have greater access to food, housing, and medical care than do our veterans who have fought and suffered for our country.

Like an invasive weed, Sharia Law is challenging and supplanting our nation’s civil laws. Schools and other public funded entities that have removed all that is related to Christianity and Judaism are allowing the Islamic religion in. The pledge of allegiance as recited in Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colorado has replaced ‘One nation under God’ with ‘One nation under Allah’.

Our schools teach that we are merely a higher form of animal, having evolved by chance from some primordial ooze while creationism is downplayed or eliminated altogether.

The world has been upside down since the fall of Adam and Eve. David and Elijah, men of God fled for their lives living in caves and in the wilderness while Saul and Jezebel enjoyed life in their palaces. Joseph suffered in slavery and prison while his brothers who sold him lived off the fat of the land in their father’s household. Even Jesus, the Son of God declared …“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)

The early church was persecuted by the corrupt world systems of the day and accused of turning the world upside down. …taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and…dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men…have turned the world upside down…  (Acts 17:5,6)

In reality, the world was already upside down – The Gospel of the Lord seeks to turn it right side up as God intended it to be from the beginning.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, stand firm in the faith. Refuse to succumb to worldly pressures to compromise the Truth of God’s Word. In the power of His Holy Spirit carry the light of the Gospel into the darkness of this world society and work to turn it right side up as we eagerly anticipate the final push that Jesus will give it when He returns. Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Hearing God #959

Posted on July 28, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 959

squelch control“Hearing God”

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

As a senior citizen I am well aware of how difficult it is to hear a voice and discern words in the midst of many sounds, voices, and background noise. I wish there were an environmental squelch control that could suppress all but the desired signal or sound. Indeed, modern hearing aid technology employs such automatic circuitry to allow the hearing impaired to hear clearly the desired sounds and spoken words.

There are times during worship, prayer and Bible study where a thought squelch control would be useful. Do you find that your thoughts wander off during your quiet time with the Lord? Do you at times find it difficult to press into His presence and enter into worship because of all the distractions around you and in your mind? My desire is to hear from God continually and these issues are a hindrance to fulfilling that desire.

When we remain tuned in to hear God’s voice we hear Him assuring us of His love. We hear His promises to us. We hear Him comfort us and encourage us through difficult times. We hear His direction and guidance in uncertain times. When we stumble we hear His voice calling to us to lift us back up and set us on solid ground. We hear His conviction, correction and words of restoration when we have wandered off the path of righteousness.

The enemy of your soul does not want you to live such a life of faith and fellowship with Jesus. He will throw every weapon in his arsenal at you to distract you, lure you away, and weaken your faith. Our battle strategy to counter the attack of the enemy is outlined in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Some tactics are:

  1. Leave your devices at home or in the car when you go to church to worship and pray. Leave them off when at home during your quiet time with the Lord.

But Martha was distracted … anxious and troubled about many things…(Luke 10:40-41)

  1. Prayer ‘closet’. Set aside a time and place for daily bible study, prayer, worship, and communion with God. You can also establish an effective prayer ‘closet’ in the church sanctuary by choosing to sit in an area where you will be least distracted by the activity of others. Close your eyes during praise and worship if that helps. Sing praises – actively participate in worship rather than choosing to be entertained and you will be able to press in to the presence of God and hear His voice.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

  1. Journal. Writing your prayers, praise, thoughts and concerns as you pour your heart out to God focuses your mind and effectively squelch the noise and distractions of the enemy.

May your heart’s desire be to seek first His kingdom and righteousness and to walk continually with Him. May the Lord equip you to effectively squelch the noise of this evil world as you remain tuned in to hear His voice clearly.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Choosing Barabbas #958

Posted on July 19, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 958

Choosing-Barabbas.001“Choosing Barabbas”

Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Mark 15:6-15)

For several years, Jesus walked among His people teaching them, showing God’s love for them, healing the sick and raising the dead. How then we ask ourselves could these people who were literally in touch with God Himself turn their backs on Him and choose Barabbas instead. Barabbas had dared to resist the mighty power of Rome and was caught in the act of rebellion. He was probably a zealot, at any case a rebel who had committed murder.

Barabbas was an insurrectionist, Jesus a resurrectionist.

Barabbas fought against Roman rule, Jesus turned the other cheek.

Barabbas represented taking control in one’s own strength, Jesus taught us to trust in God.

We may question the actions of the Jews in their day, but before we get all self-righteous about it we should examine our own actions that in effect choose Barabbas over Jesus every day. How do we choose ‘Barabbas’ you ask? We choose ‘Barabbas’ over Jesus whenever we choose a path of sin over the path of obedience to God’s will and commands. We choose Barabbas when we remain silent allowing the minority voice of evil an undue influence in our society and its laws.

When we choose to divorce our spouse, we choose Barabbas.

When we choose to remain silent at the polls allowing evil a foothold we choose Barabbas.

When we defile our mind and body with immorality, we choose Barabbas.

When we choose to satisfy our addictions of the flesh, we choose Barabbas.

When we seek first the material and neglect the spiritual, we choose Barabbas.

When we seek vengeance and harbor unforgiveness, we choose Barabbas.

Reflect on your life style choices. Are you walking the narrow path of integrity that God has laid before you or are you disgracing God’s grace by choosing the wide path of the world? Choosing Barabbas represents choosing the wide and easy path to destruction. Choosing Jesus represents the narrow path to eternal life. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Matthew 7:13)

May the Holy Spirit equip you and empower you to stand firm in the faith and avoid the pull and momentum of the crowd to take the wide and easy path of the world. May your lifestyle example preach the Truth of the Gospel and lift the Light of Jesus high for all the world to see. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Sure Footed #957

Posted on July 12, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 957

difference-hiking-shoes-hiking-boots“Sure Footed”

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth … and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:14-15)

I loved hiking the Colorado mountain trails during the time I lived there. The terrain varied widely as the trails led you from the forested foothills up to the top of the mountains well above tree line. It was imperative that your clothes and shoes not only protected you but also gave you the freedom to maneuver, climb and maintain your footing.

Our reference Scripture about the belt and shoes portion of the full armor of God uses the metaphor of physical battle to describe how we are to prepare for the spiritual battle that we fight on a daily basis. The girding of the belt was to hold one’s tunic in such a manner as to free their legs to quickly maneuver in hand to hand combat. Having the proper shoes also allowed for sure, safe, footing giving the soldier the ability to stand their ground in combat.

The key elements in our reference Scripture are ‘Truth’ and the ‘Gospel’. The belt of truth keeps us free and nimble, and from tripping ourselves up. How many of us are caught up in religiosity and man-made doctrines that deny or supplant the Truth of God’s Word?

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:8-9)

In a recent interview a former President of the United States and professing Christian and Sunday school teacher stated that Jesus would condone same sex marriages. Sadly, he is not alone among many religious and political leaders who have also embraced the Supreme Court’s definition of truth instead of the Supreme Being’s Truth found in the Word of God. They have been tripped up and are causing others to stumble also. Without the belt of Truth they have lost their footing.

Shoes fitted by the readiness of the Gospel of peace equip the Christian to stand solidly and firmly in doing spiritual battle.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

We need to know the Gospel for ourselves. We need to study and read the Word of God daily. We need to feed our spirits as often if not more so than we do our physical bodies. It is one hundred percent health food for our spirit building spiritual muscle necessary to stand firm and fight the good fight of faith.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Put on the belt of Truth and the shoes of readiness given by the Gospel. May you stand firm in the faith as a sure footed follower of Jesus Christ.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Contend O Lord #956

Posted on July 5, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 956

no revenge“Contend O Lord”

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! (Psalm 35:1)

We were vandalized again. This marks the third time vandals and thieves have struck our home. This time nothing was stolen but they destroyed the solar powered post lights at my driveway entrance. Our neighbors who have also been investing in property improvements have also been vandalized.

In my flesh I have the desire to seek out the perpetrators and mete out a Dirty Harry, Rambo, and Terminator kind of justice. In my spirit, however, I know that vengeance belongs to the Lord – so I pray. I pray that the Lord will contend with those who contend with us. I pray for their salvation. I pray that if their heart will not change and their knee will not bend that the Lord will bring consequences to bear upon them. I pray that the Lord will purge the evil from our presence.

It dawned on me as I prayed for protection for my family, property, and neighborhood that I should also be praying these same prayers for my city, state, and country. I found myself repenting in that I have prayed in greater earnest for protection of carnal property than I have prayed for protection of the unborn children being legally murdered in our country. Lord, forgive me for my selfishness!

I have come to believe that the same evil influence that drives people to vandalize property and neighborhoods is driving our political leaders and lawmakers into vandalizing America. Yes, America is being vandalized. The Truth of God’s Word, upon which our country was founded, is now deemed offensive to minority factions and our governmental leaders have cowered before political pressure, motivated not by the will of the majority but rather by their desire to remain in political office.

Our initial reaction is to retaliate, to defend ourselves and to take the offense. However, God’s Word to us is clear: ‘Do not take revenge’. David knew that the battle was not his to fight: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15) It is not for us to destroy abortion clinics or physically harm those who work there. It is not for us to seek to inflict harm against those in political office nor are we to seek vengeance against the minority factions who attack those who believe the Word of God to be Truth and seek to bring economic harm to them and remove their rights to their faith.

Now is not the time for the church to go underground and cower. Now is the time for the church to rally under Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is our Banner and to lift His banner high. Now is the time to pray the confident prayers of those who have already won the battle and overcome the enemy. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

When persecuted, pray. When taken to court, pray. When accused of hate speech, pray. Do not fear, do not cower, stand firm and trust in the Lord and in the power of His Holy Spirit. Put on the full armor of God and you are equipped with what you need at the time you need it. Pray that the Lord will purge the evil from our government and put His people who have a heart for Him in office. Pray for the discernment to vote in the coming elections in accordance with God’s will.

If my people who are called by my name 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)

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