Day 19 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

~ pastorkevinschuessler ~ Leave a comment

Bible verse:

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.”  Isaiah 9:6 NLT

The prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah would come as a child, that he would save the world and that he would have God’s kingdom authority behind him.  The angel of God said to Mary, “you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David” (Luke 1:31-32).

Since we couldn’t save ourselves, God sent his only Son, to save us, and to usher God’s Kingdom into our world. Jesus came to show us, in a personal way, what God was like, how he thinks, how he treats people, his character and kingdom values.  By reading the pages of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) we see how this baby became a man and radically changed the world, one person at a time.

What is your citizenship?  Through faith in Jesus, you are first and foremost a citizen of God’s Kingdom.  We are only temporarily citizens of countries of this world.  As you spend more time with Jesus in prayer and reading his Word, you will experience yourself reflecting God’s Kingdom in every aspect of your life.  Will you let him transform you?  

Prayer:  Lord, we can see that this messed up world needs Kingdom-minded people.  Will you change me and work through me to help the people around me?  Through me, would you bring others to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ personally?  In Jesus’ name.

By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

Day 18 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

~ Awake Us Now ~ 1 Comment

Bible Text John 15:13 (KJV)

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

More than 240 years ago the “Stars and Stripes” flag was adopted as our American flag by the Continental Congress. Since then our freedom has been bought by a price by those who sacrificed their lives to defend the freedoms we have today. But even before that, almost 2000 years ago, Jesus sacrificed His life. He went to the cross for our freedom, too. So let’s join in prayer for America. Let’s give thanks for our freedoms and pray for their preservation. Those freedoms secured by the many who gave their lives for America and let’s celebrate and share the freedom secured on the cross by the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Some great ideas:

• Pray for America

• Recite the Pledge of Allegiance and include “One nation, under God.”

• Sing the National Anthem, “Star Spangled Banner”

• Sing-a-long with Pastor Kevin’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic” https://youtu.be/yTrx92wCWao

• Sing or listen to other great patriotic songs like, “My Country ’Tis of Thee”, “God Bless America”, “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless the USA,” “God of Our Fathers,” “Home on the Range,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” “This Land is Your Land,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” They can all be found on Youtube.

• Watch – LIVE FREE by Pastor Dodge – https://youtu.be/4tTe-PKUuks

Prayer: Pray for the veterans and their families. Thank God for the freedoms we have in America. Ask for His protection of those freedoms. Thank Him for the ultimate gift of love we received through Jesus Christ.

By Ann Goehner

Day 17 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible Texts:

Matthew 8:24-26 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

James 3:17-18  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT) A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

So much dissension, arguing and anger it’s like a raging sea. That storm is not just causing ripples, but waves that are divisive and destructive to the core of what America stands for. 

The waves cause some of us to be fearful and afraid, others of us jump right in and join in the storm. However, we are called to trust in God when fear comes and we are called to be peacemakers. So if our reaction to the storm is to be afraid, God commands us, “Fear not!” His promises are true and we can trust that when He says He will strengthen us, help us, and be with us, that is exactly what He means.  We are also called to be peacemakers. This doesn’t mean we water down the truth or don’t speak it. It means we speak Jesus’ truths in love, with a heart filled with kindness and gentleness and with a desire to be part of calming the storm. We sow peace when we act peacefully. 

Prayer: Cry out to the Lord today on behalf of America and her people. Ask the Lord to quiet the storm and the waves. Ask Him to bring peace into our hearts that we might walk fearlessly into our day knowing He is always with us.  Ask Him to give us the strength to be peacemakers when our reaction is to join the storm or make it bigger.   

By Ann Goehner

Day 16 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

~ pastorkevinschuessler ~ Leave a comment

Bible verse:

“Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time (it)…will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”  Isaiah 9:1-2 NLT

What a great promise!  Jesus was, is and will be the fulfillment, and we will witness and experience His glory and light.  The people of Isaiah’s day had messed up and brought on the consequences, of darkness.  Are we any different?  And that’s the very reason for Christ coming, suffering, dying and then rising from the dead.  He took on our punishment, so that we, by repenting and placing our faith in Jesus, could experience his glory and light.  

What is that?  It’s everything we yearn for – his unconditional love and kindness.  It’s joy that’s not circumstance-based.  It’s a hope that looks forward to what God has promised you.  It’s a peace that stills you in the midst of turmoil.  When Jesus’ three disciples witnessed Jesus’ radiance, brilliance and glory on the mountain (Mark 9), they wanted to stay there forever!  That’s what you and I are going to see very soon, when Jesus returns through the clouds.  And FOREVER is His promise to you!

Prayer:  Lord, we stand on your promise that you are bringing your glory and light to this dark world of ours.  And not just for ourselves, but for those around us – our family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors and friends.  Even now, shine your brilliant light into the hearts of all who live in darkness.  And start a movement of Light seekers, Lord, in Jesus’ name.

By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

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

~ chrisawakeusnow ~ 1 Comment

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