Day 12

Saved with a Holy Calling

“And My People who are called by My name”

Who’s Responsible?

      As I sit down to write this, I am mindful of the moral collapse that is plaguing our nation. Inner city crime has spread to small towns and communities all across America, drugs have become an epidemic problem that virtually every family in America is dealing with, and sexual perversions of every kind have become socially acceptable. We pick up video cameras and idly watch while people are murdered, raped, and beaten instead of lending a helping hand and then use the video as a form of entertainment. Just a few weeks ago in a neighboring community, the police averted a planned school shooting that could have ended in great tragedy just as so many already have.

      When the tragedies come we ask, “Who is to blame?” and “Who’s responsible for this great tragedy?” We first start pointing our fingers at the parents saying they are to blame, then to the schools noting that they should have had better security or should have been more aware of their student’s activities. We even want to pass the blame on the guns themselves, desiring to sue the gun manufacturers. We say we need better laws or better politicians who will write better laws. Christians love to pass the blame onto the ACLU and those “liberal” activist judges. “They have kicked prayer out of school,” we say. But are we praying at home with our children? We fuss saying, “They have removed God’s Word from the schools.” But are we teaching our children God’s Word at home? We want to pass the buck, but to whom has God given the responsibility?

      A passage of scripture I have often found intriguing is Mark 14:17-21. Jesus was having the last supper with His disciples when He said to them, “One of you will betray Me.” What I find so intriguing about this text of scripture is the fact that Peter didn’t say “I know it’s John; I never really trusted him all that much anyway.” Nor did John say, “no it has to be Matthew; you know he use to be a tax collector.” Instead, each one turned to Jesus asking, “Surly, not I.” They weren’t passing the blame; they just wanted to make sure they were staying in right relationship. One of the major downfalls of modern society is that we are unwilling to accept responsibility for our own actions. Instead, we want to find someone else to pin it on. It seems as though taking responsibility for your own actions has gone the way of the ancient word.

      However, when it comes to the spiritual condition of this world, there is only one institution to which God has granted power and authority-the power and authority to overcome the spiritual forces of wickedness and tear down the gates of hell. It is the church. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” He then said in the next verse of the same chapter, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Out of the same breath that He said “I have all authority”, He said “Go”. In other words, we (the church) should go out into the world with the authority and the power of Jesus, making disciples who are followers of Jesus.

      Jesus also told the church in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” If the power of God is not falling down upon this earth to change the heart of man and transform him into whom God so desires him to be, there is none other to blame than the church. The church is the only institution that God has chosen to work through. There is no other. Therefore, if the church is not fulfilling the callings that God has placed upon them, heaven will be bound. God did not say if the government, or if the school systems, or if the laws, or even if society gets right that He would heal the land. He said, “if my people who are called by My name.” God has given the call, He has given the authority, and He has given the power. We simply have to accept it and walk in it. 

      We are at a point today where the world has become hostile toward Christianity. We think that they simply don’t want to hear what we have to say, and that is the reasoning for their hostility. I submit to you the opposite. I believe the world today is hostile toward Christianity not because of our voice but because of our silence. Paul said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power unto salvation.” We fail to remember the most phenomenal growth the church has ever experienced was in the first century. We know as well that this was a time when the world was the most hostile toward the Church. Therefore, I am not saying that if the church regains its voice the world will no longer be hostile toward it. On the contrary, the world will most likely be all the more hostile. However, their hostility will be lost in the power of God moving to save the masses. In other words, God will redirect the attention of the lost to His power rather than to the idle arguments of man. The church must stand up and be the church, regardless of the roars of the wicked.

Day 12 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Ask yourself why you serve God. If it’s not out of love, repent.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray that church will understand, and stand up to its calling.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches would be devoted to, and peruse the things that honor God.
• Pray that our churches will be a shining light upon the hill.
• Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray that the people of God will be broken hearted over the lost.
• Pray that the church will be a gospel centered church with a heart to evangelize the world while starting in their own back yard.
• Pray that the church would stand up to their calling and loose heaven on this earth.
• Pray that the power of God would fall on the church moving them to prayer and sowing the gospel seed.
• Pray as a result that the plagues and pestilences in society will be reversed.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Day 11

The Plagues and Pestilence

            When the church fails to be the church, it lays a wake of devastating consequence within society. It doesn’t take the most spiritually discerning individual to see that society is rapidly becoming hardened toward Christianity. I dare say that in the United States, a nation that was founded upon Judeo/Christian principles and has been known since its founding as a Christian nation is becoming increasingly hostile to true biblical Christianity. Sometimes we use the excuse, “These are the signs of the times”, or “Our nation is undergoing judgment.”

            There may be truth in both of those statements; however, I am firmly convinced the reason society is becoming increasingly hardened toward Christianity is for the simple fact that the church is not being the church. Paul urged the church in Ephesians 6:19, “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

            Paul’s simple request of the church was to pray for him as he proclaims the gospel. The sad reality is that Satan has convinced the majority of all Christians not to proclaim/share the gospel although the Bible clearly teaches that it is every Christian’s call and duty.  What is even more frightening is the fact that so few are willing to take the time to till the ground through the power of prayer for those who are sowing the seeds of the gospel. A prayerless church is a powerless church.

            In Matthew 13 we find Jesus telling the parable of the seed and the sower. Jesus tells of one who is casting seed everywhere he goes. As a farmer, he would be a bad steward of the seed. However Jesus tells us that the seed He speaks of is the Word of God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. In other words as you go, cast your seed everywhere and to everyone making disciples and teaching God’s Word. The result is not ours but God’s. We are simply being good stewards of the gospel seed, casting it as we go and leaving the result to God.

            Although the end result is God’s, Paul told the church of Ephesus to pray as he proclaims the gospel. The sower of the seed sowed seed on the roadside, on the rocky places, in the thorns, and on the good soil. As we begin to pray, we begin the process of tilling up the soil for the seed to be sown in the good soil.

            A farmer who does not prepare the soil prior to the sowing of the seed is not only foolish but also a bad steward of the seed. Every farmer knows that preparing the ground is the most vital element in producing a good crop. When the church fails to prepare the spiritual soil by refusing to pray, they are likewise foolishly being bad stewards of the gospel seed.  

            The stony, thistled spiritual soil of this modern day has proven difficult to sow the seed in. However this should encourage us all the more to pray. Our hearts should be so stirred with the compassion that Jesus had when He cried out to the stony-hearted inhabitants of Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”

            Untilled land unsown with the gospel seed that has the power unto salvation will only produce a crop of pestilence. The pestilence of sin plagues the unevangelized land leaving the citizens hopelessly lost to live out their lives in the immorality and the lusts of their flesh. So often we fuss about the ways of the unevangelized, but how should a lost person act other than as a lost person? “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14,15).

            The condition of the spiritual soil within the land is no doubt a direct result of the spiritual drought within our churches that has opened the door wide for the devourer leaving the land desolate for the pestilence of sin to settle in. We fuss about the immorality and sin that has plagued our society. Sexual perversions of all sorts have become the norm; families are being torn apart; and drugs, crime, violence, and overall disregard for humanity are now a part of daily life. However, the plague of sin is simply the symptom and not the cause. It is the fever that allows us to know our bodies are sick. Clearly, the biblical cause is the spiritual drought that has gripped so many of our churches. The time for revival is now! The fields are white unto harvest. Let’s stand up and reclaim this land in the name that is above all names, Jesus.

Day 11 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Ask yourself why you serve God. If it’s not out of love, repent.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
• Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
• Pray that our churches understand spiritual warfare and engage in it.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches would be devoted to, and peruse the things that honor God.
• Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
• Pray that our churches will be a shining light upon the hill.
• Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray that the people of God will be broken hearted over the lost.
• Pray that the church will be a gospel centered church with a heart to evangelize the world while starting in their own back yard.
• Pray that the church would stand up to their calling and loose heaven on this earth.
• Pray that the power of God would fall on the church moving them to prayer and sowing the gospel seed.
• Pray as a result that the plagues and pestilences in society will be reversed.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Day 10

The Destruction of the Devourer

            The reality is that we are at war-not a physical war but a spiritual war. Ephesians 6:12 tells us who the battle is against, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” It is a war that started in heaven as seen clearly in Isaiah 14 and was brought down to this earth resulting in the fall of man.

            This spiritual battle continues to this day and is fought for the souls of mankind. Satan found that he could not steal God’s glory and was greatly humbled for trying. Therefore, he will stop at nothing to blind mankind from seeing and responding to the glory of God through salvation. II Corinthians 4:3,4 says, “if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

            Satan’s strategy is threefold. First, he will do everything he can to prevent individuals from responding to the gospel. He will distract them in any way possible to prevent them from paying attention to or seeing the need of the gospel within their lives. Second, he will send false prophets to proclaim a false gospel deceiving people into the gates of hell. And third, he will stop at nothing to prevent the church from proclaiming the gospel message so people cannot hear.    

If a church has entered into the realm of spiritual drought, they will turn from being a gospel centered church to a self-seeking, self-honoring, and self-centered church. As a result, the church of spiritual drought has opened the door wide and rolled out the red carpet for the devourer to come and destroy. As far as Satan is concerned, a silent church is a successful church.

            In Matthew 16 we see Jesus telling His disciples that He is going to give the church the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said with those keys the church will have the ability to loose and bind things on earth and in heaven. Keys are symbols of authority. Jesus was teaching His disciples that He will give the church the authority of heaven and that the authority (gates) of hell could not stand up against it. 

            Immediately after Jesus shared these amazing truths to the disciples, Jesus began telling them what was about to happen to Him. Matthew 16:21 says, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.” Peter gladly accepted the message of authority and was even blessed by Jesus for responding to a revelation from the Father. However, Peter would have nothing to do with these teaching of Jesus. Matthew 16:22 shows Peters response. “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You”; Wow! Peter rebuked Jesus and said, “God forbid it” to the very plan of God. Jesus immediately let Peter know who he was speaking on behalf of as seen in verse 23, “But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”.

            How often do we say in our hearts (whether directly or indirectly): “I don’t care what God has said in His word; I’m simply not going to do it”. God has told us to go, give, teach, preach, pray, share, sacrifice, and love; yet, we continually tell God “no”. Why do we tell God no? We do so because we are not setting our minds on God’s interests but man’s, and we have played right into Satan’s hand.

            God has given to us the message to proclaim that is the “power of salvation to those who believe.” (Romans 1:16). He has also given to us the power of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) along with the authority to loose heaven on earth. Yet we stand amazed at the lostness of this world through the deception and distraction of the devourer while we have at our disposal the divinely powerful weapons of God to utterly defeat him.

            Jesus said in John 4:35, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” When Jesus said that the fields are white unto harvest, He meant that if you do not harvest the field immediately, the field will be left to ruin. Clearly, the harvest is plentiful; yet, so many Christians idly sit by allowing the devourer to destroy the crop.

Day 10 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Ask yourself why you serve God. If it’s not out of love, repent.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
• Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
• Pray that our churches understand spiritual warfare and engage in it.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches would be devoted to, and peruse the things that honor God.
• Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
• Pray that our churches will be a shining light upon the hill.
• Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray that the people of God will be broken hearted over the lost.
• Pray that the church will be a gospel centered church with a heart to evangelize the world while starting in their own back yard.
• Pray that the church would stand up to their calling and loose heaven on this earth.
• Pray the church will understand the urgency.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

This is the third entry in a series of blog posts calling for extraordinary prayer for the power of God to sweep the earth. This week I want am writing about a major concern in developed and rapidly developing countries around the world. Our lives become so full of activities that we have no time to devote to prayer. You will not be able to enter into extraordinary prayer without making time to pray.

Jesus prayed all night before appointing the twelve apostles. (Lk. 6:12) Could you do that? He must have planned that into His schedule. In Acts 12 the church had gathered to pray through the night when the Angel delivered Peter from prison where he was to be executed the next morning. That could not have been planned, although it may have lasted several nights. In the garden before the cross Jesus was surprised that His disciples couldn’t even pray with Him for one hour. I think we can draw from our Lord’s response that praying for an hour or more, maybe all day or all night, should be a regular practice for people entering into extraordinary prayer.

You can begin praying in activities that do not take all of your mind. These require little adjustment of your schedule. Do you ever wait in the bank or in a doctor’s office? Start praying for everyone around you. You can also carry a written prayer list with you for times when you are forced to wait. You will also need to memorize a prayer list or two for times when your hands are not free. Do you ever mow the lawn or wash dishes? You could pray for a list of family members or neighbors, church friends or missionaries on the field.

It is good to pray through prayers from the Bible or other Scripture passages. If you use The Lord’s Prayer, for instance, you can expand on every word praying for everything that comes to your mind. If you do not have another prayer or passage memorized yet, pray The Lord’s Prayer through again.

When you have begun working on these disciplines it is time to start adjusting your schedule. Do you start your day with prayer? Jesus did. In Mark 1:35 He turned it into extended prayer that changed His pattern of ministry. Other times of the day are often easier to turn into or even schedule extended prayer. You can start on evenings when you don’t want to watch what is on TV. But if spiritual awakening is important to you, you will have to sacrifice some of your chosen entertainment for prayer.

And be ready for God to prompt you to pray in ways and lengths and times that surprise you. He will encourage and strengthen you as you seek to give more and more time to prayer. There is absolutely no limit to what God will do in you and through you as you pray.

http: //watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

http://daveswatch.com/

Are you looking for purpose in your grandparenting local or long distance? I was looking for a way I could impact the lives of my grandchildren. After doing some research God gave me a passion to intentionally pray for my grandchildren and share His love with them.

Now I want to share with you five benefits I found in the book I authored titled, Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren.

1. Suggestions to imprint another generation with the message of God’s faithfulness.
2. Bridge the distance between me and my grandchildren with prayer
3. Creative resources to grandparent with a purpose
4. Examples of Scriptures to pray
5. How to develop a Photo Prayer Journal

Nancy Ann Yeager, author of A Grandmother’s Guide to Praying for Her Family writes, “Grandparenting with a P

urpose will provide you with specific examples of how to pray Scriptures for your grandchildren.”

This book won’t make you the perfect grandparent, however, it will give you resources for prayer, communication to grandparent with a purpose. As a result of writing thi

s book I was made more aware of grandparenting with a purpose by the way I live my life and intentionally praying for my nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and their parents. I am the National Prayer Coordinator of Christian Grandparenting Network and eager to share these resources.

Now you are at the point of making a decision: Are you going to learn how you can Grandparent with a Purpose?

The soft cover book, Grandparenting with Purpose retails 

for $11.99 plus shipping. At this time I have a special offer of $10.50 including shipping in the U.S. I will include a bonus of 2 prayer cards of “Suggestions to Pray for Children in School: Preschool, Elementary, High School and college.”  And “Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren.”

The eBook is available for $9.95 on Amazon.

To Buy Now: Go to http://www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com click on the Purchase button, complete order form, and the book and bo

nus will be shipped immediately for orders in the U.S.

This book is an excellent suggestion for a gift for a grandparent, especially a long distance grandparent.

For foreign orders I would suggest that you purch

ase the book in eBook form from Amazon.

By Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

Day 9

Spiritual Drought

The warning from Jesus to the church of Ephesus was simple: Repent or I will remove the golden lampstand from your midst. In Revelation 1, we find the beloved disciple, John, banished to the Island of Patmos as punishment for proclaiming the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. We find him in the Spirit worshiping the Lord on the Lord’s Day when Jesus appeared to Him with a voice as the “sound of a trumpet.” After hearing this demanding voice Revelation 1:12, 13 proclaims, “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man” He saw Jesus standing in the midst of the lampstands.

With the symbolic portrait of Jesus in Revelation 1 we have to decipher the meaning behind the symbolism. However, in regards to the lampstands, Jesus gave us a full description. He says in Revelation 1:20, “the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” For Jesus to remove the lampstand from the church of Ephesus would then mean that Jesus removed the very fact that they are a true Holy Spirit-anointed church.   

I can’t help but to wonder how many meeting places there are in this world that have the name church on a sign just outside of their building. They function as a church. They call themselves a church. Others more than likely view them as churches. They are likely members of a denomination that have many true Holy Spirit-anointed churches within its ranks. However, they chose at some point in their history not to heed the warnings of Jesus and repent. For that reason, they gave the Holy Spirit an eviction notice because they are more in love with their ways than they are with God’s. It is not our place to judge churches as to whether or not they are true Holy Spirit-anointed churches. However, the frightening fact is that I believe the above stated scenario is played out in cities, towns, and communities all over the world. 

Drought brings about death, and death is the absence of life. This statement is simplistically elementary; yet for some reason we have such a difficult time comprehending this very truth in spiritual life. If there is no function, there is no life. God has created the church to function. He has created the church to worship Him, to evangelize the lost, and to actively engage in missions and ministry. If we are not a functioning church, are we truly a living church?

I am not making a moral argument for or against artificial life support. However, we need to understand that when dealing with the church, artificial life support is nonexistent. Jesus is the only life support the church needs. Anything else is false fire which is manmade, man centered, and insulting to a holy God. We think having exciting music or excellent orators or an abundance of wealth is a sign of God’s blessings; yet, Jesus said to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:17, “you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

Exciting music, excellent orators, and an abundance of wealth are wonderful things if they are Jesus centered and used for His glory. However, when we view these and things of the like as signs of life rather than the presence of the Lord in our midst, we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. We stand in need of repentance. 

We have also fallen into the trap of thinking numbers, size, and finances are signs of the life and vitality of a church. An elephant void of vital signs is just as dead as a mouse in like condition. Likewise, a poor man is just as dead as a rich man when he breathes his last. Regardless of the size or wealth of the congregation, the true question is what is my church doing to have an impact for the kingdom of God in the name of and for the glory of Jesus Christ? Is my church functioning, is it moving, or is it simply existing? Jesus didn’t call us to simply exist; He called us to “go therefore”!

A church that is experiencing spiritual drought is not necessarily a dead church. Unresolved drought brings about death, but drought in and of itself is not death. It is a warning that the vital signs of the church are in critical condition and stand in need of action. If the church takes the appropriate action by repenting and turning back to Jesus, there will be revival. However, if the church refuses to respond to the looming reality of drought, death is inevitable.

I believe that God has given to us a great example of a healthy church in Acts 2:41-47. If our churches are healthy and vibrant, they should be devoted to the similar things that the first Christian church was devoted to. A church with the same devotion and passion as the first church is a healthy, vibrant church. However, if our churches are not lining up with the biblical model that God has given, we stand in need of repentance.

Before we move further I would like to give a warning. Often times we view a church that is dead or dying as a lost cause and lose hope for that church. We may then as vocational ministers of the church or as laymen have an inclination to jump ship and move to another church. I believe that this is one of the very reasons many of our churches are in such poor shape. Often pastors will stay at a church just long enough to discover that the church has problems only to go to another church to discover they too have problems. The problems are then left unattended and the church remains unhealthy and ineffective.

If churches were beyond hope, there would be no point in this study. The purpose of this study is not condemnation; it is for restoration leading to revival. Let us not forget that the same Jesus that called Lazarus from the tomb is the same Jesus that is working to restore our churches this present day. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

            With this in mind let us set in our hearts and minds that we will be the light that shines on a hill and the salt that preserves the life of the church. As the old hymn says, “though no one join me I still will follow, no turning back, no turning back”. With humble hearts set on being the Lord’s servants, let’s set our goal to be the one who is “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord”. And though we may stand alone, let us be the one who stands in the gap! Let us not be a part of the problem but a tool of the Lord for a solution to the problem.

Day 9 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Ask yourself why you serve God. If it’s not out of love, repent.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
• Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
• Pray that the church as a whole would return to their first love.
• Pray that the people of God would be passionately in love with Jesus.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches would be devoted to, and peruse the things that honor God.
• Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
• Pray that our churches will be shining bright lights on a hill.
• Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

“To be ‘on edge,’ you are literally not centered — not being in your spiritual center.”  (Carrie Latet)

When life gets confusing, Christ is our personal Tour Guide.  If we trust and obey the Lord, He will accompany us on our wilderness journey to the promised land. Christ is our Comforter, Coach, Guide, Defense Counsel, and Teacher. He is right beside us—praying, cheering, advising, forgiving, and instructing. If we yearn for Christ to be more real to us, we must obey Him unquestioningly. If we sincerely want His guidance on the road He wants us to travel, we must not take a step without Him.

When life gets rough, Christ is our Storm Shelter. If we open the eyes of our heart, we’ll see evidences of Love all around—shining in mercy, grace, compassion, pardon, and kindness. If we are seeking stability in a quicksand world, we must take our stand on the Solid Rock.

When life gets complicated, Christ is our Greatest Friend. When the pressures are on, we’re privileged to talk problems over with Him. If we’d like to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Him, we have to quit doing all the talking and listen to what He has to say. Hearing His voice, He puts us at ease.  

When our self-image is fractured, Christ is our Faithful Shepherd.  We may have trouble believing this, but He really likes us. When we’re down on ourselves, He isn’t. When we don’t feel like taking another step, He lifts us up and carries us. Nestling near His heart, we feel secure.

When everything nailed down comes loose, Christ holds us together. When our world falls apart, we don’t have to. When we stop searching for the panic button, He gives us unshakable courage and incomprehensible peace. We will not go crazy, if we make Him Lord of our intellect. We will not spin out of control, if we surrender to Him as King of our personality.

When we’re “on edge”, we can recover our emotional balance by spiritual centering—focusing on Christ, our Center of Gravity. Making Him our Resting Place, we can relax.

The Lord replied, ”My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  (Exodus 33;14 NIV)

Johnny R. Almond

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

[This devotion based on Day 55 of Gentle Whispers]

Interim Pastor, Nomini Baptist Church; Montross, Virginia

Blog & book info http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

Prayer is the constant desire to be in God's presence. We are learning His will, seeking to follow His will and inviting Him to be part of all we are doing.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon."

Few of us have really been trained in prayer. We see the pastor pray on Sundays, people pray before meals and over their kids, but few of us have ever been trained to desire to be in constant contact with the Father, asking Him to lead, guide and protect. Pray for old and young Christians in the Arabian Peninsula, both foreigners, and the few children from the local peoples, that God will become a greater companion all day long. He is there, we are not. Pray that this connection with the Father will release more of His presence right across the AP. Pray that Christians would be praying for Gulf Muslims more and more.

Day 8

The Time for Repentance is Now!

In the second chapter of Revelation, Jesus praised the church of Ephesus for their perseverance in the midst of persecution, for staying true to the Word of God and opposing false teachers, and for standing strong in the name of Jesus. On the outside, the church of Ephesus looked like the perfect church. However, Jesus knew they had a deadly deficiency in their midst.

Jesus told the church of Ephesus that they are guilty of a great sin, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Revelation 2:4). They began their ministry with passion and love toward Jesus. Yet, somehow through the years, their labor of love for the Lord slipped into the tedious traditions of the church. Jesus warned them and called them into repentance of their improper motivations of service. Just as so many churches today have replaced their passion for programs and their zeal for the name of Jesus for self notoriety, the church of Ephesus fell from being a church with a driving passion for Jesus to a church coasting along in autopilot.  

Jesus told them that they needed to repent. Similar to God’s warning to Solomon, Jesus warned the church of Emphasis that if they did not repent, there would be serious consequences to pay. However, if they chose to repent by turning back to their zeal and love of Him, God’s glorious hand of blessing would remain upon them. God always gives us a choice. Clearly, His heart is for us to choose loving devotion to Him.  

Stop and ask yourself right now, “Why do I serve God?” Is it out of a natural overflow of the love you have toward Jesus? If not, you stand in need of repentance! How can so many people who sit in churches Sunday after Sunday not serve the Lord? The answer is simple; it is due to the fact that they don’t love Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me you will obey Me.” Put simply, the church that refuses to serve the Lord is a church that does not love the Lord. Jesus did not say “If you obey me you will demonstrate your love for Me”; that is legalism. His heart is that we serve Him out of the overflow of love we have for Him with gladness and gratitude.

Solomon, along with the nation of Israel, sought God out with their whole heart in total surrender to His Majesty and glory. God saw their heart-led motivations and, therefore, blessed them with His presence and anointing, assuring Solomon with His words, “I have heard your prayer.” The warning of II Chronicles 7:14 is simple: When you see these signs of spiritual drought, the destruction of the devourer, and the plagues and pestilence “remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5).

As God told Solomon to pay attention to the signs around him, we must understand that the physical signs of drought, devastation, and pestilence are merely signs that God’s hand of blessing has been removed. We must also understand that in the Old Testament God dealt with His people in a physical way. Today through the New Covenant that is found only in Christ, God deals with His people in the spirit. (See John 4:24). In the Old Testament God’s people went into physical war; today we are in a spiritual war. Nonetheless, we see physical results of this spiritual war.  

Today, America is obviously in a deep spiritual drought. Our churches are dry and void of life, passion, and power. This opens the door wide for the devourer, Satan himself, to come in and destroy churches, families, and entire communities. The community where I pastor has had years of church fights and splits that have left a spiritual void laying out the welcome mat for the devourer to come in and destroy. Today, our community is full of the pestilence of drugs, violence, and immoral sexuality that is just as devastating if not more devastating, than any pestilence this world has ever seen. These are all physical evidences of spiritual battles. They are all signs that something has gone drastically wrong, and Satan is winning the battle for souls.

As I look at the church today, I see signs of spiritual drought that is drowning our world in spiritual devastation. We have allowed the devourer to come in and bring devastating pestilence upon the very world God created and loves. We see it in preachers with no passion, deacons who are not dedicated, congregations clutching for control, churches who won’t console the contrite, and the word of God wavered by the ways of man. Our churches have become lodges and social clubs with privileged membership unwelcoming to the stranger. Pastors have become hirelings to do the work that no one else is willing to do “After all, that’s what we pay the preacher for.” The pulpit has become a place where a polluted gospel is preached as to not hurt anyone’s feelings. Dare we say that we are sinners, and there is a place called hell reserved for those who refuse to repent?  If the preacher were to preach the truths of hell, would it really matter? Even if we know our neighbor is hell-bound, do we really care, or at least care enough, to actually do anything about it? We fuss and complain about the wickedness of the world; yet, we hold the very keys to loose the power of God into this world. We have not lost that power; we have surrendered that power to the fleshly desires of man seeking glory for self rather than for God. The signs of spiritual drought are crying out before us, and God has given us the solution. However, we must accept the challenge God has given by doing things His way. We must repent and return to our first love, Jesus! 

Day 8 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Ask yourself why you serve God. If it’s not out of love, repent.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
• Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
• Pray that the church as a whole would return to their first love.
• Pray that the people of God would be passionately in love with Jesus.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
• Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Day 7

Seeing the Signs

“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people”

II Chronicles 7:13

Immediately after God told Solomon “I have heard your prayer, He gave Solomon warning signs to look for: If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people”, (II Chronicles 7:13). God was telling Solomon not to take His current approval of their worship of Him for granted. His warning was clear. Although His hand of blessing was upon them at this current time, there was no guarantee that the blessings would stay. 

God’s blessings are conditional and come with very clear warnings of the consequences of not following His directions. God does not say “let’s make a deal”. Nor does He invite us to the negotiating table. He clearly states His will in His word and gives us the choice of whether or not we will choose to accept His deal on His terms.

Somewhere in the course of modern church history we have come to the conclusion that we can simply do things our way and expect God’s blessings. Unfortunately for those of that persuasion the consistency of God’s Word greatly contradicts this notion. Have we forgotten that “He is a rewarder of those who seek Him”, (Hebrews 11:6)? Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Then he said in I Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily”. God’s heart is not for us to seek Him once and then forget about Him. His heart, and thus our heart, should be to seek the Lord daily.

Day 7 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Ask God to reveal and convict the church of sin.
• Pray that the church would see sin as God sees it.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray that the people of God will see the spiritual drought and be burdened by it.
• Pray for the people of God that they would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray that the people of God would have a desire and stand in anticipation for God to pour out the fires of revival upon churches and a great awakening in our land.
• Pray that God’s people will seek the heart of God and desire His will and not their own.
• Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
• Ask God to align His people and prepare them for a mighty revival and a great awakening.
• Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Seventy years ago today, 33-year-old Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, having being rejected from serving in the Army due to poor eyesight, took a photograph that would become widely recognized and reproduced. The image records U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman raising an American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, site of the only Marine battle where the American casualties, 26,000, exceeded the Japanese. Not surprisingly, today’s USA Today headline describes this war photo as “iconic.”

“Iconic” is one of the most overused words in the English vocabulary, perhaps more overworked than “wonderful” ever was. Sports heroes, movie stars, political leaders, buildings, and landmarks are all candidates for this tired adjective.

Computer users refer to symbols appearing on their monitor to represent a command as icons. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, icons are representations of some sacred personage, as Christ or a saint or angel, painted on a wood surface and venerated itself as sacred. The core meaning of icon is a picture or image.

The greatest image maker throughout human history has been the church. Long before literacy, theology, or philosophy, there were images—symbols that taught lessons about God, stained-glass windows that preached messages to people who couldn’t read, icons that spoke volumes without words.

The ultimate icon is the cross—site of the fierce battle between heaven and hell won by Light beyond light, the apparent defeat of goodness transformed by the triumph of vicarious Love, and the bloody sacrifice of the flawless Lamb who saves all who kneel before him in repentance. The serpent sunk his poisonous fangs into Christ’s heel, but the Son of God crushed the head of the snake. Victory over death—our greatest enemy, and victory over sin—our lifelong problem, were both accomplished at the cross.

After seventy years, Joe Rosenthal’s picture of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima still stirs the hearts of patriotic Americans. After more than two thousand years, the raising of the cross on Skull Hill and Christ’s words, “Father, forgive them” still echoes in the hearts of Christ-followers. The image of the cross burned into our consciousness is powerful enough to change our everyday demeanor and eternal destiny.

 “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Interim Pastor, Nomini Baptist Church; Montross, Virginia

http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

Day 6

Turn From Their Wicked Ways

            Solomon prayed in II Chronicles 6:22, 23, “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head.” In other words, Solomon was asking God that if a wicked, unrepentant soul comes before God, then God should give him what he deserves. God just said He wants us to seek His face. However, the Bible is clear that God will hide his face from sinners. See (Deuteronomy 31:17, 18).

            All too often we make excuses for our sins. We think our sins are just little insignificant sins that are nothing compared to the people of this world, and we have the attitude that God overlooks the small stuff. However, Paul said in Romans 6:1, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Let me be abundantly clear; God is not, has never been, nor ever will be okay with sin-any sin. If we ever see yelling in writing, we see it in this verse when Paul says, “may it never be!” Paul said in this same chapter in verse 11, “consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to Christ Jesus.” When God said, “be holy therefore because I also am holy”, wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command.  

            A major excuse the devil gives to people for staying away from church is, “there are too many hypocrites in the church.” Now I know, as well as you, that if that excuse was gone, he would just find another one. However, THERE ARE too many hypocrites in the church. We get so bothered over the unredeemed and unchurched people acting the way they do when we have sin in our own camp. Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-5, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Here’s a clue: Lost people will act like lost people because they are lost people. However, Christians should act like Christians because they are Christians called by the name of God Almighty. Paul said in Ephesians 5:1-5, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

            We cannot expect God’s hand of blessing to be upon us if we are in rebellion against Him. To be friends with this world is to be in hostility toward God according to James 4:4. We allow the world to influence us and wonder why God’s hand of blessing is not upon us. In II Corinthians 3 Paul rebuked the church due to the fact that he wanted to give them meat to eat. Instead he gave them milk. Meat is food for the mature, while milk is the baby’s food. He said because of their fleshliness, he gave them milk. We need to grow up, become mature, remove all fleshliness from our lives, and live for God. Then and only then will His hand of blessing be upon us. “Then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

            Solomon understood that although God’s hand of blessing was upon them this day His continual hand of blessing was conditional. In Solomon’s prayer he asked of God, “If Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You have given to them and to their fathers.” Solomon was saying to God that when we see Your hand of blessing has been removed and we recognize it is due to our sins and we then repent, return to us Oh God, forgive our sins. 

            God answered Solomon when He told Solomon “I have heard your prayer”. God said, “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and 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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” I often stand amazed at the stubbornness of man. I am included in that number. We buck against God bull-headedly determined to do things our way. Then when things fall all to pieces, we say, “Where have You been God?” God hasn’t changed, nor has He moved. We try to make deals with God rejecting the fact that God has already said this is the deal. There is no compromise. There is no negotiation. There is no middle ground. There is only His way and His way is the only way.

            I also stand in amazement that when we finally come to the point of surrender and say to God, “I give up; I will do things your way”, a light bulb illuminates the dullness of our intellect; and we discover this is the right way. Then God’s hand of blessing, provision, and presence comes down upon us. The drought has turned into a deluge of deliverance, the devourer has been rebuked by the divine, and the pestilence has been replaced by His presence. I wonder sometimes if I stand alone in feeling like such a fool when I come to the realization that God’s hand has been there waiting for me the whole time. I just had to get me out of the way and allow God to be God.

Day 6 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Ask God to reveal and convict the church of sin.
• Pray that the church would see sin as God sees it.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray for the people of God that they would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray that the people of God would have a desire and stand in anticipation for God to pour out the fires of revival upon churches and a great awakening in our land.
• Pray that God’s people will seek the heart of God and desire His will and not their own.
• Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
• Ask God to align His people and prepare them for a mighty revival and a great awakening.
• Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
• Pray that the people of God will be living representations of Jesus.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Seek My Face

            In Solomon’s prayer he asked God in verses 34 and 35, “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.” Solomon was asking God to answer their prayers when they look towards His city and His house seeking Him. The Bible tells us in Daniel 6:10 that when Daniel prayed, he faced Jerusalem. The Psalmist also wrote in Psalms 5:7, “but as for me, by Your abundant loving-kindness I will enter Your house,
at (toward) Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.” The significance of facing the temple was to face the very presence of God. Today, we no longer worship God in the temple, we worship God in Spirit; therefore, we seek His presence in Spirit.

            Words of wisdom were spoken to Solomon many years prior to this great day by Solomon’s father, King David. He said to Solomon in I Chronicles 28:9, “If you seek Him, He will let you find Him.” David, the man after God’s own heart, was speaking to his son about God. God said that He wants us to seek His face. To seek one’s face is to know the person. God created us for the purpose of having a relationship with Him. He loves us and wants us to love Him back. He has not hidden His face from us. He has made Himself available. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

The greatest act of love ever committed was God sending His Son Jesus to the cross. The purpose in this is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Sin cannot come into the presence of God because He is perfectly righteous and holy. However, God desires a relationship with us so much that He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. The Bible says in John 14:13, “This is love, that one would lay down his life for another.” Through the cross God has done everything necessary for us to have a relationship with Him. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23, “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” For this reason alone we should be willing to respond to the Gospel laying down our lives in full pursuit of the fullness of God.

Growing up I was taught that when you speak to a person or they are speaking to you, you look the individual in the eye. If they are unwilling to look you in the eye, then they must be hiding something from you. Now that simply is the culture in which I was raised, and other cultures may think differently. However, God wants us to look Him in the eye. He wants us to seek His face because He has nothing to hide from us. He wants us to know Him. Psalm 31:16 says, “Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your loving-kindness.” I am thoroughly convinced that to know God is to love Him. Paul said in Ephesians 3:14-19, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

Day 5 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray for the people of God that they would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray that the people of God would have a desire and stand in anticipation for God to pour out the fires of revival upon churches and a great awakening in our land.
• Pray that God’s people will seek the heart of God and desire His will and not their own.
• Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
• Ask God to align His people and prepare them for a mighty revival and a great awakening.
• Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
• Pray that the people of God will be living representations of Jesus.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Last week I began a series of blog posts calling for extraordinary prayer that in the power of God might sweep the earth. Such extraordinary prayer will need to come from several fronts. One of the most important focuses of our prayer needs to be Bible colleges and seminaries. If we look back through history at times when God moved mightily on human society, we see that He always raised up men to work through. So it stands to reason that if we want to be a part of an end-time revival, we should direct extraordinary prayer toward young people who sense the call of God on their lives.

We have begun this on one campus of a large multi-site seminary on the west coast. The students, faculty and staff were given questionnaires with questions about how we could pray for them. We also invited volunteers and support staff to fill out prayer questionnaires. Janitors and secretaries play an important part in what God is doing on campuses. They are often used by God to impact the lives of students. Brother Laurence touches lives to this day. He was a dishwasher in an obscure monastery.

We compiled the answers given, put them on flash drives and asked people at a regional denomination meeting to commit to pray for the seminary. People signed up pray leaving their e-mail addresses where they could be sent additional prayer requests. All of our prepared flash drives were given out before the program could be announced on the floor of the meeting.

This ministry could be contagious. Students could be sent to speak in churches asking people to commit to pray for the students and the school. Pastors’ could encourage church members to sign up. People who have hardly prayed for anyone but themselves could catch the vision to pray for a new generation of spiritual leaders.

Please pray for me as I write college and seminary presidents to present this idea. Pray that they will be receptive. Pray that they will become passionate for this. This will require busy staffs to take on new responsibilities. This will cost time and money. Pray for God to provide. And such an undertaking will certainly arouse spiritual opposition. Pray for spiritual protection for schools, students, and churches we will ask to become involved. And watch with me as God glorifies His name by raising up a mighty spiritual army to touch the world in these days.

Pray

Prayer is an act of worship as well as an act of humility. The Bible reminds us in I Peter 5:6, “therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Prayer is also an act of faith. As we recognize that we are insufficient on our own, we also come to the realization that through faith there is One who is more than sufficient. Before God spoke the words to Solomon that “I have heard your prayer”, he bowed his knees to the God of Israel claiming the promises of God in full faith and assurance that God was hearing his prayer. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrew 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God. Romans 12:3 also tells us, God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” In other words God has granted everyone some faith. But we must walk in that faith. II Corinthians 5:7 says, “We walk by faith and not by sight.” We must simply believe God. If God says He is going to do something, then we believe it. Romans 3:4 says, “Let God be found true though every man be found a liar.” With humility in mind we understand that we are in full dependence upon God and insufficient on our own. We then will pray in faith that God will supply our every need.   

            Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” He also said nine times within that same text of scripture that we need to abide in Him. True life comes only from abiding in Jesus. Abiding in Jesus is the point in life that we have completely died to ourselves and come totally alive to Christ. One of many ways we abide in Christ is through prayer. We find life, hope, healing, restoration, reconciliation, provision, direction, wisdom, and every form of blessing God has in store for us through the power of prayer. Jesus said if we seek, we will find; if we knock, the door will be open; and if we ask it will be given to us. How do we do this? We do this through the great gift of prayer that God has given to us!

            After God told Solomon that “I have heard your prayer” and after He gave him the formula for revival, God then said to Solomon in II Chronicles 7:15, “My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.” In other words, God is saying I’m waiting, and I’m watching, and I’m listening; now the rest is up to you. God heard Solomon’s previous prayer, and God answered Solomon’s previous prayer. But God wanted him to keep praying. Prayer strengthens our relationship with God. It strengthens our dependence upon God. God doesn’t just want us to pray when we are in need or we are in trouble. I Thessalonians 5:17, says to “pray without ceasing.” Abiding in Christ is not a switch we turn on and off. Christ is our life source. If you’re happy, tell the Lord. If you’re sad, tell the Lord. If you’re in need, tell the Lord. If you have abundance, praise the Lord.

            In the Gospels we see Jesus going into the temple many times. One of those times Jesus drove people out for making His house something God had not intended for it to be. Many times we have become guilty of making God’s house into something other than what He intended. Jesus said in Matthew 21:13, “It is written My house shall be a house of prayer, but you are making it a robbers den.” We emphasize missions and so we should; but that’s not what Jesus said. He said His house would be a house of prayer. We focus on preaching and teaching, and so we should; but that’s not what Jesus said. He said His house would be a house of prayer. Music gets much of the attention in ministry as well, and again it should. But that’s not what Jesus said; He said His house would be the house of prayer. Jesus said, “My house shall be a house of PRAYER.” Missions, evangelism, teaching, preaching, music, and many other things are very important; however, they are empowered by prayer. Have we made God’s house a house of prayer? Or are we making it into something God never intended?

Day 4 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray for the people of God that they would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray that the people of God would have a desire and stand in anticipation for God to pour out the fires of revival upon churches and a great awakening in our land.
• Pray that God’s people will seek the heart of God and desire His will and not their own.
• Ask God to align His people and prepare them for a mighty revival and a great awakening.
• Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
• Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
• Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
• Pray that the people of God will be living representations of Jesus.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Day 3

Humble Themselves

            Upon this day of dedication, King Solomon stood in the midst of his subjects, the very people over whom he had full authority and a people that had great respect and reverence for their mighty king. No other nation could rival the power and influence of Israel under Solomon’s leadership. Through Solomon, the wealth of Israel increased beyond anything it would ever see again. The kingdoms of the world came from near and far bearing gifts simply to wonder at his wisdom. A king of Solomon’s wealth, power, and influence had to bow his knee to no one; they bowed the knee to him.  

            However, upon this day the mighty king humbled himself in the presence of his people and bowed his knee to the King of Kings. To bow one’s knee to another is an act of humility-a sign of submission to one who is sovereign. Solomon recognized that all the power and prestige he had accumulated upon this earth was nothing compared to the power and prestige of God. He also recognized that he had no power or authority other than what God had granted him. To bow ones knee to another was a sign of recognition that the other was greater than oneself. In the presence of his people Solomon recognized the greatness of God.

            Worship is simply the recognition of who God is, followed by a response of the worshiper toward the character of God. This response can be acted upon in many ways. In the Old Testament the raising of one’s hands in worship was a common form of responding to God. The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 28:2, “Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.” Just before beginning his prayer, Solomon Spread out his hands toward heaven as an act of worship to his mighty God saying “O Lord the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth.” (II Chronicles 6:12-14)

            Lifting ones hand to another is a sign of surrender. It is recognition that I am not sufficient on my own, I can no longer fight the battle, I recognize your superiority, and I have surrendered myself to your authority.  It is like raising the white flag. Solomon was in total recognition that he did not have the skills, the power, or the wisdom to lead the people of Israel. Many times we think we are capable of standing on our own, but God’s Word reminds us in I Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” Jesus reminds us in John 15:5, Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Humility is the recognition of the fact that I am not nor will I ever be sufficient on my own; therefore, I must surrender to the sovereignty of God.

            God is not impressed with our outward actions. Outward actions must be motivated by our inward attitude. If our inward attitude is one of worship that spontaneously motivates outward actions this is acceptable worship. However, if our outward actions are a form of appeasement to God or even worse a demonstration before man to show we are holy or righteous God will have no part of that. That is a form of pride. But when our hearts are filled with the fullness and splendor of the nature and character of God and we spontaneously surrender to Him in an outward form of worship which disregards the presence or even the thought of man surrounding us, this is pleasing to God. It is not only an act of worship but an act of humility.

Day 3 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Ask God to reveal any hidden pride in our hearts so we can repent of it.
• Pray for the people of God that they would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray that the people of God would have a desire and stand in anticipation for God to pour out the fires of revival upon churches and a great awakening in our land.
• Pray that God’s people will seek the heart of God and desire His will and not their own.
• Ask God to align His people and prepare them for a mighty revival and a great awakening.
• Pray that the people of God will recognize and respond to the power and prestige of God.
• Pray that the people of God will live in humility before God.
• Pray that the fruit of our humility will be full dependency on God and obedience. 
• Pray that our worship won’t simply be outward manifestation but led of a heart in love and fully surrendered to an all powerful God.
• Pray that the people of God will be living representations of Jesus.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation. 

Recently a friend, Cathy Jacobs asked me to share with her and her friends in Charleston, South Carolina how they could start  Grandparents@Prayer intercessory groups. It was encouraging to observe their interest for the urgency to be prayer warriors for their grandchildren.

As grandparents, we can make a significant difference in the world by uniting in prayer to pray regularly and deliberately for our grandchildren and their parents. We have an opportunity to powerfully touch the lives of another generation with our prayers.

Just as Esther stood in the gap when the lives of the Israelites was threatened physically we can stand in the gap as the spiritual lives of our grandchildren is threatened.

I would like to invite you to join other grandparents in a Grandparents@Prayer (G@P) group to pray together for your grandchildren. Grandparents are saying that they enjoy the G@P meetings because they feel safe to share their concerns for their grandchildren because they share the same concerns. I prayed with another grandparent for about a year before anyone joined us, now we have ten in our group.

There are about 30 Grandparents@Prayer groups throughout the U.S. and Canada. Perhaps no time in history has there been a more urgent time for grandparents to join in prayer for their grandchildren.

Are you willing to start or join a Grandparents@Prayer intercessory group?

I would like to send you some guidelines and resources to help you get started. Email me at lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net or go to www.christiangrandparenting.net, prayer link for locations, testimonials and complete the form to receive guidelines to get started.

Lillian Penner,

National Prayer Coordinator

Christian Grandparenting Network

Day 2

My People Who are Called by My Name

King Solomon stood on a bronze stage in the midst of his people to dedicate the newly constructed Temple to God. The Temple was a demonstration to the nation of Israel and to the world that the one true God of glory had chosen them as a people and that his hand of anointing and blessing and provisions would be upon them. God was showing the world that they were His people and that He was their God. 

In II Samuel 7 God made a covenant with King David that one of his descendants would build for Him a permanent dwelling. Solomon was the one called to be the king of God’s people, those called by God’s very own name. God told Solomon, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice,” (II Chronicles 7:12). God also said, in verse 16 of the same chapter, “For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”

Solomon knew who he was a man-called by God. He knew the calling God had placed upon his life-to build the temple. He also knew and fully understood that this was not his plan in the making it was God’s plan. A plan that had been at work even before the light was commanded to illuminate the darkness of the earth that still laid formless and void. In Solomon’s prayer of dedication in II Chronicles 6:3-11, he repeated back to God the promises that he knew in faith would come to fulfillment long before the first stone of the temple had ever been laid.

Far too often we fall short of God’s glory because we fail to realize who God is, who we are and who God has called us to be. God said in His word in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD.” Apart from the scriptures how do we know the plans and promises God has declared and set aside for us? Apart from the scriptures, we become guilty of conforming God into our image and turning His calling into our personal desires.

Solomon knew the God of the Bible and the calling the God of the Bible placed upon him because he knew God’s word. Jesus said in John 14:14, “If you ask me anything in My name I will do it.” Wow! That is an awesome promise. However, this is a greatly misunderstood promise. Asking something in someone’s name means, that you represent the very nature and character of that individual. Asking something in Jesus name is to ask what honors, glorifies and reflects the very character of Jesus.

God said, “If My people who are called by My name.” That is the starting point. To be one called after one’s name is to be a living representation of the other. Jesus said in John 17:3, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Eternal life is to know God. God has given to us His word and the Power of His Holy Spirit to understand His word in order to know Him. We must search the scripture to discover who He is, who we are, and who He has called us to be. Apart from the knowledge of God’s word, we can never truly know God. If we don’t know Him, how then can we represent Him?

Solomon knew the day of the dedication of the temple was not about him. It was all about God. As he stood to offer the prayer to God, he represented God as the man called of God giving glory to the name of God. The Bible says in II Corinthians 5:20, “we are ambassadors for Christ.” If we truly want God’s hand of blessing upon our lives we must be willing to lose our life and come to the realization that it is not about us; it’s all about Him. It’s not about who we are; it’s about who He is. It’s not about what we want; it’s about discovering what He has already set in motion and getting on board with God’s plan. It’s about being God’s people called by His name. The prayer that God heard was a prayer with full intentions of honoring the very name and character of God. 

Day 2 Prayer Guide

• Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
• Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
• Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
• Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
• Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
• Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
• Pray for the people of God that they would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
• Pray that the people of God would have a desire and stand in anticipation for God to pour out the fires of revival upon churches and a great awakening in our land.
• Pray that God’s people will seek the heart of God and desire His will and not their own.
• Pray that God’s people will align themselves with Him that He will hear their prayers.
• Ask God to align His people and prepare them for a mighty revival and a great awakening.
• Ask God to reveal to you how He would have you serve Him. Seek Him for strength to live it out in obedience.
• Ask God to raise up His people to live in obedience to Him by serving Him in the capacity that He has called them to. Pray that they would know their calling.
• Pray that we would not conform God to our image and if we have that He would lead us into repentance.
• Pray that the people of God would know God’s word and stand on the principles of His word.
• Pray that the people of God will be living representations of Jesus.
• Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
• Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
• Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
• Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation

God calls us to pray for the government leaders around us. Please pray for the kings, princes, sheiks, emirs and presidents of the AP that God will give them wisdom and guidance. Pray that each of them will have the chance to hear the Gospel.

Pray that with all the extremists in the region that many people will get disillusioned with their religion and that they will search for the Prince of Peace.

Please pray for a young couple who love the Lord but face many challenges in their new marriage. Pray that God will teach them how to rely on Him in a greater way as they learn to depend on Him together. Thank God for believing men and women who He brings together.

Please pray for two young collegian boys, "Ahmad" and "Meshari", who have expressed an openness in hearing the gospel. In acknowledging his default toward sinful thinking, Ahmad admitted it was "all the time!" Pray for their salvation.

Embassies are closing their doors and the staff are leaving. Political and tribal parties will not agree and seek peace. These are hard times for the most populated country in the AP. The middle class is becoming poor. The poor are on the verge of desperation. Pray that God will do a mighty work in the midst of what the world would call hopeless. Pray that people who love the Savior will tell their neighbors about the peace that He puts in their hearts. Pray that God will comfort those who are afraid through visions and dreams. Pray that many will come to Him.