Month: October 2022

Day 15 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verse:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:7-9

Peter tells us to cast all our anxieties on the Lord Jesus Christ and rely upon Him, These are trying times and anxiety and worry and fear can take hold, but Peter says to cast ALL anxiety on Jesus because He cares for us. Cast – is literally saying to throw them over to Jesus and then rely on Him, His love, His comfort, His strength and His power to carry our every burden.

Peter follows that with, “Be alert and of sober mind.” Be alert, the Greek word is gregoreo. It means to be awake. Be awake to what God is doing. Be awake to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. The fact is, we are in the midst of a battle and our struggles are not against flesh and blood, they are instead struggles against principalities and powers of darkness in the heavenly realms. Peter says, “[Be awake] Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The enemy is not the little cartoon figure who sits on the shoulder and whispers in the ear while the little angel sits on the other shoulder. He is an evil enemy, and the only way you and I can resist and withstand him is in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ who has given to His children both the right and the privilege to call upon Him.

Peter then says, “Resist him [the enemy], standing firm in the faith.” We will depend not upon our own ability or our own strength, but upon Jesus’ strength to resist the enemy and to stand firm in our faith. We will cast – throw – our burdens and our cares, our worries and our anxieties over to Him. We will call upon Him, upon His strong name to give us everything that we need even in the most difficult of situations.

Prayer: Call upon Jesus to take your worries, struggles, burdens, anxious thoughts. List them each individually and tell Him you are letting go of them and casting – throwing – them over to Him. Pray for the Lord to show His power and strength to those who are feeling discouraged. Pray for Him to comfort those who are hurting. Pray for Him to bring peace to those who are angry. Pray for a mighty move of God through the power of the Holy Spirit to sweep across America.

By Pastor Chris Dodge

Day 14 of 40 Days of Prayer

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Bible verses:

“They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” 2 Corinthians 3:12

It is very important for us to realize there’s a war going on. We are living in the midst of spiritual warfare, a battle that has been going on since the garden of Eden and is going to continue until the day our Lord Jesus returns. But we also know how it’s going to turn out. This is what we read in the book of Revelation 17:14. It is a powerful word. It says, speaking of those who do not believe in the living God and who are under the control of the evil one, He says, “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”  He wins, and because He wins so do we.

So let’s return to Jesus’ Authority for one more devotion. When we go through difficult times, like the current turmoil in our country, one of the things that we need to understand, not in our heads, but rather internalized with our hearts, is that all authority has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ! He is our Savior. He is our Lord. He is King of kings, Lord of lords and He is the Lord of our lives. And HE WINS! And because He wins, so do we! Therefore, we will turn everything over to Him. Rather than becoming fearful, discouraged, and overwhelmed, we will instead hang on to the authority of the Lord Jesus and in His name renounce those things that destroy, that burden, that breakdown, that cause no end of sorrow or anxiety or worry. Not because we are strong, but because He is!

He has all authority. We are in the middle of an ugly spiritual war and we need to rely upon Jesus’ authority as never before. And then we can be bold in sharing the hope and confidence we have in Jesus’ authority.

Prayer:  Thank God for the authority He has given to Jesus and thank Jesus for His obedience to the Father in accepting that authority and being our Victor! Take time claiming the victory of Christ over areas of your life that you need to place under Jesus’ authority.

By Pastor Chris Dodge

Day 13 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verses:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14

We will continue with yesterday’s thoughts….

Why has all authority in heaven and on earth been given to Jesus? Well, that comes in the next verse which says to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them.. and teaching them everything Jesus has commanded. In other words, Jesus has received all authority so that He can bring all of His lost children back to Himself. Our God is in the process of calling all people to Himself. He is in the work of restoring things just the way they were originally intended.

Today, He is leading people to a knowledge of Himself in numbers that we have never seen in the history of the planet. We in the Western world in general and in America in particular have often lamented what has happened as our culture has moved further and further away from the living God, and that is true. But something else is true. In America, it can be just as it is around the world. Around the world, in Asia, in Africa, in Central and South America, in some of the remotest regions in the planet, people are coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in numbers that we have not seen since the first Pentecost. Our God is awesome and He transforms and renews those who come to Him.  And that can happen here in America!

So let us be encouraged to:

• share our faith in Jesus

• teach others to obey what He has commanded

• fervently pray for America to return to God

• pray for revival

Prayer: Take time to fervently pray for America to return to God. Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to share your story of faith. Ask the Lord to give you His words to share and encourage others. Ask Him to prepare you to teach and show others the ways to obey God. Pray for a mighty move of God across America.

By Pastor Chris Dodge

Day 12 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verses:

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”  Daniel 7:13-14

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:15-20

Throughout His life and ministry, Jesus demonstrated His authority over nature, His authority over storms, his authority to feed 5000 men not counting women and children with five little loaves of bread and two tiny fish, a small boy’s lunch. He demonstrated authority over sickness, over blindness, over disease, and even over death. And now following His resurrection as He gathers His disciples with Him up in Galilee, He says to them these important words, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  That means that He is the supreme power in the universe. It means something else. He is the supreme power in your life and in mine! He is powerful.

All power. Not some power, not a good deal of power, not a measure of great power, ALL power. All power has been given to Christ Jesus. All authority is His.

Please look very carefully at the words. They do not say will be given, about to be given, will someday be given, or may come about eventually. No, it says, “has been given.” Do you realize what that means? It means He has it now, for your life and for my life. It means we can depend upon Him completely, and implicitly. It means in these difficult days He has authority! Over us, over what’s going on, over America, all authority is His. It means that when we are wondering, “God, why are these things happening?” we can go to the One who has all authority. He will speak into our hearts and into our lives.

Jesus’ authority is not just a general authority over all, everything, everyone. His authority is over us. That is good, and that is gracious, and that is an incredible blessing, especially when times are difficult, challenging, chaotic, and unsettling. Jesus HAS ALL authority! 

Prayer:  Pray for the Authority of Christ to be seen. Read Philippians2:9-11 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Pray for revival to breakout across our land, pray that every knee would bow and tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Pray for America to bow before God in humility and confession. Pray for God’s glory to be revealed. Thank Jesus for the incredible blessing of being under His authority.

By Pastor Chris Dodge

Day 11 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verses:

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:2

Jesus says we are to be humble. Humble, first of all, before God. That is the way Jesus began His ministry. He began by teaching humility. Take a look in the Gospels, the first thing that Jesus preaches is this, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  Jesus says, “Repent. Turn back to God. Be humble before God.” He is not being mean, nor is He simply beating an old drum. He is speaking divine truth. All people are called to return to Him, to come back to God, to be humble before God. But also to be humble before one another, to understand that none of us can stand before a holy God and brag about what we have accomplished. Instead all of us are invited to yield our lives to Him and receive what He has to offer to us. 

He calls us into a relationship with Himself. Isn’t that precious that the Living God considers you and me so important that He wants to spend time with us? Do you realize what an honor that is that God desires to be in that kind of relationship with you and with me? That’s what Jesus offers and that’s what He is calling us to. That kind of life is no longer self-centered. It’s God centered. It is a good way to live, to realize that God is in the details of my life, that God is more than just the one I’m going to meet at the end of days. God is the one who is with me in every moment of my life, and He is the One who has loved me so much that He was willing to offer up His only Son as the payment for my rebellion so that I might receive the daily joy of living in a relationship with Him and getting to know Him better.

What God desires is people who live in a relationship with Him and who are used by Him to impact others and to change the world.  He calls us to “let our light so shine,” as He puts it, that others may see our behavior and our actions and give glory to God. That kind of behavior is not stuck up religion, that kind of behavior is gracious, Christ-centered living. That kind of behavior leaves a lasting legacy.

Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you work diligently at leaving a lasting legacy, one that reflects gracious, Christ-centered living. Pray for a renewed relationship with Jesus and share your desire with Him to continue to grow in knowing Him better. Pray for family members, friends, neighbors and others that they might also experience a renewed relationship with Jesus. Ask Him to make you a shining Light that others may come to know Him also. Pray for a renewed yearning in America to return to God, that America would once again become a Shining Light for Jesus, and a Beacon in the darkness.

By Pastor Chris Dodge

Day 10 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible text:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

The Scriptures say we are not to be judgmental but they do call us to judge the difference between right and wrong, between truth and a lie, between evil and good, between falsehood and what is genuine and pure and holy.

In our culture today, here in America, we have set aside 2000 years of biblical values in an instant of time. We have basically said God no longer sets those guidelines. “How dare He try to tell me about my sex life? How dare He try to establish marriage and say it’s got to be one way. How dare He say that we’ve got to do this, and be kind and forgiving? We ought to be able to vent our spleen whenever we want.” And the result is pride. Pride because we become the measure of what is “right.”

If the standard of judgment is human behavior than any one of us can look at any other human being and find areas where we can say, “Oh, I’m better than so-and-so.” But the Bible makes it very clear the standard of judgment is not human attitudes. The standard of judgment is God’s holiness, and on that standard every one of us have fallen. There is not a single one of us here or anywhere in the world who can look at ourselves and say, “What a good person I am. It’s no wonder God loves me.” What does the Bible tell us? It says, “While we were still sinners. He loved us and sent His Son to die for us.” There is no pride in that. It reminds us it is only by God’s grace and mercy that we are brought into a living relationship with the living God, and that grace and mercy is available to ALL.

Jesus warns us to be careful because it is easy to let go of the commands of God and get caught up with the world’s view of things. Instead He encourages us to take Him and His Word seriously, and allow Him, His Word, and His Spirit to transform and renew our lives. And today, right now, He yearns to restore and renew, to give hope and life to all who seek His truth.

Prayer: Spend time praying humbly for God to forgive the sins of America. Ask Him to bring His Light and Truth to those lost in darkness, to those believing lies.  Ask God to transform and renew our lives making us bold witnesses who stand up lovingly and kindly for His truth. Pray for restoration of faith for the wayward and awakening for those who are believing the views of the world. Pray for God to show them the way to Him through Jesus, His Son.

By Pastor Chris Dodge

Day 9 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verse:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12 (NIV)

Today in America we are facing a spiritual crisis because a growing number of people in the younger generations have not heard the message of Jesus. Because of so many of the abuses of the Christian world many of them are turned off totally to the things of God. They have never been able to see the incredible power of God to change an individual’s life through the faith in Christ Jesus that the Holy Spirit brings.

If ever there were a time when the people of God needed to boldly proclaim the truth, this is the time.

If ever there were a time when we needed supernatural help, this is the time.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You see the spiritual crisis we are in. Break into the hearts of those who do not know You. Make those of us who do know You, strong and bold.  Make us willing to show and to speak the Light of Jesus into situations, and to everyone we meet. Amen.

By Pastor Chris Dodge

Day 8 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verses:

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.’ I John 5:13

“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” I Thessalonians 5:8

We are going through some tough times right now. It’s easy to feel rather hopeless with all the uncertainty about what lies ahead, but God gives us hope. And that hope is eternal life through Jesus, His Son. That is no phony promise. When you and I understand that we have a certain future that is sealed by the resurrection of Jesus, that gives us a blessed assurance and it gives us strength to face each day.

Hope is like a helmet on our heads, the helmet of salvation. It protects our minds because the enemy just loves to go after our minds, and he loves to say lies to discourage us. The hope of salvation not only gives protection from the attacks of the enemy, but it encourages us to live for God. Because we know that our future is sure, and that this life, as short as it may be, is not all there is and that encourages and strengthens us. Hope gives us the desire to live for God and to share the magnitude of His love with others and bring the message of Hope to the hopeless.

Prayer: Pray for those feeling hopeless. Pray for opportunities to share the Message of Hope found in Jesus. Pray that in our nation, believers would rise up to bring hope and light into the hopelessness and darkness.

By Pastor Chris Dodge