prayer

Day 24 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verse:

“His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”  Isaiah 9:7 (NLT)

Governments are supposed to guard their citizens and protect them.  But they are often flawed and limited.  Jesus is neither.  His government and Kingdom offer complete fairness and justice.  And peace!  King David represented God’s purposes during his lifetime, but God promised “a child is born to you”, who would usher in God’s Kingdom now, and lasting into eternity.  This is so key.  We all long for the fulfillment of this promise in eternity, but Jesus kept saying, “the kingdom of God has arrived among you” (Luke 11:20), referring to himself.  

Jesus, in his final moments before his trial and crucifixion, prays to his Father for you and me, saying, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.  They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.  Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world” (John 17:15-18).

You and I, through faith in Jesus Christ, are already citizens of God’s Kingdom.  For a short time now, we have a role to play, first to step into God’s way of thinking and God’s way of loving others.  And to continue expanding his Kingdom by the way we conduct our lives for him.  He promises that “the passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” God has placed his full resources behind you and WILL accomplish this!  Will you align yourself with the Lord Jesus and let him work through you to bring others into his Kingdom?  If so, just watch him do just that!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for adopting me and claiming me as a citizen of your Kingdom.  I give you my will, to accomplish this in my circle of people as well.  May I live your truth and share your Truth (the Lord Jesus) with the people I love and interact with today.  In Jesus’ name.

By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

Day 23 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verse:

“And he will be called: Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

Have you noticed there is a difference between physical peace (absence of bodily harm) and internal peace?  Have you noticed that we can have physical peace and not have inner peace?  Of course we want both.  What does Jesus promise us?  In John 14:27, he says, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid.”  And in John 16:33 he says it even stronger.  “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

He promises that whatever you experience externally in our world today, that he will give you a GIFT of peace, a shalom for your heart and mind!  And that no matter the trials and sorrows we face, that we can actually take heart, or be encouraged, because he has overcome the world,  through the cross and empty tomb.  Incredible.

Will you shift your focus from the chaos, confusion, division, strife and warring of society, to the Lord Jesus?  Will you receive this gift he earned for you on the cross, and step into this lifestyle of peace?  Notice that even when Jesus was tortured and undergoing incredible pain prior to and on the cross, he never lacked peace.  That’s what he offers freely to you now.  

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I receive your peace now.  Even if I can’t fully understand it, I know you are the Prince of Peace, so I trust you.  Help me to shift from the world’s flawed version of peace, and into your bulletproof shalom.  Guard my heart and mind from the evil one, and help me to enjoy you in full confidence and peace.  May the Prince of Peace in me cause others around me to experience your peace as well!  In Jesus’ name.

By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

Day 22 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verse:

“And he will be called: Everlasting Father.”  Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

Do you find it interesting that Jesus (“for a child is born to us…”) is also named “everlasting Father”?  Is this because the Father and his Son, Jesus, are one?  In John 14:9-10, Jesus says to his disciples, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…the words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.  Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me”.  If we want to see who the Father is, how he feels about you and me, and how he treats us, we can look at Jesus in the narratives of Scripture!  And notice how “fatherly” Jesus is with his disciples.  He calls them “children”, and loves them as a good father would love his children.  He doesn’t blast them or expel them, but lovingly calls them upward, as though he believes they will eventually get it!  This is how he treats you and me, lovingly calling us upward, to believe and trust in him more and more.  

In a country undergoing a “crisis of fatherlessness,” we long for good fathers, fathers who will stand for truth, who are wise, who self-sacrificially protect and care for their children.  No matter how old you are, will you let the Lord Jesus, father you today?  Will you allow him to love you, protect you, speak words of wisdom and direction into you and care for you?  Will you let your guard down, and let him speak life into the dead places in your heart?  I believe he so longs to do this, even more than we crave it ourselves.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, father us, as you fathered your disciples and followers of your day.  Help us overcome our distrust, reluctance and even rebellious tendencies.  And then, allow us to serve your people around us, that we may carry on Jesus’ ministry of fathering in your winsome, kind way.  And one by one, may we see a revival of people changed from the inside out, and full to overflowing with your love!  In Jesus’ name.

By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

Day 21 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verse:

“And he will be called: Mighty God.”  Isaiah 9:6

We all know powerful people – in business, government, military, even in entertainment, etc.  But often we fear those people and what they might do, because we have seen how power often corrupts.  We crave Someone strong and powerful who will protect us from the bullies.  Humans let us down, but God never does.

The people in Jesus’ day recognized him as a “prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people” (Luke 24:19).  And the only ones who feared Jesus were those who opposed him.  He used his power to save the lost, heal the sick, raise the dead, forgive the sinner, defend the weak, etc.  He is completely trustworthy and faithful.  He will do what he did then for you today.  As you place your life in his hands, you will experience his might in the most wonderful ways.  His power to overcome your biggest bully, the evil one, will change your life.  Will you let him?  

And someday soon, when Jesus returns through the clouds, with a “loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), all the world will see his might with our own eyes.  Will you acknowledge Christ Jesus today as your mighty God?

Prayer:  I acknowledge you, Jesus, as my mighty God.  I come under your authority, and give you permission to lead me.  I pray for the people of our nation, that more and more people would place their allegiance in You alone. Work through me to help accomplish this!  In Jesus’ name.

By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

Day 20 of 40 Days of Prayer for America

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Bible verse:

“And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor.”  Isaiah 9:6

Each society has people considered to be experts, people who are smart and gifted.  Yet we discover how their wisdom often falls short, and that they too are flawed people.  We need a Counselor, someone who is all wise, who knows us best, who understands our situation and gives us brilliant counsel.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).  Paul points to Jesus Christ as the “wisdom of God” (:30)

We can get angry at our governmental leaders, or the experts in their respective fields.  But really what we need is to acknowledge Jesus as our “wonderful Counselor”, and to take direction from him.  In confessing him as your Lord and Savior, you are doing just that.  His wisdom doesn’t play by our world’s rules, but brings heaven’s brilliance to your problems and issues.  Will you listen to him?  Will you heed his advice?  Will you step out in faith and do what he suggests?  I promise the more you do, the more you’ll recognize how wonderful a counselor he actually is!

Prayer:  Lord God, you are brilliant, I acknowledge that.  Help me trust you and take one small step at a time as you direct.  I pray for a nation full of people who acknowledge Jesus as their Wonderful Counselor and walk in his ways.  May your infectious wisdom in me draw others to you, Lord!  In Jesus’ name.

By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

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

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