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Judges 17:6. A Nation with a Broken Moral Compass

April 5 Judges 17 6

What happens when a nation throws out its moral compass? Everyone does just as each person wants to do. Without a moral compass, there are no absolutes. No absolute truth that guides and determines this is right and this is wrong. There is no absolute in gender and marriage gets redefined. Instead of One God, there are many gods and all are accepted. You’ve probably seen the popular bumper sticker that says, “Co-exist” and each letter represents a different religion. Certainly, we should love others as Jesus loves them, but that does not mean we accept anything that blatantly contradicts the Bible. America has lost its moral compass and without a spiritual revival our nation is doomed to more and more moral decay. How much decay has to happen before we are humbled enough to fall our knees and cry out for God’s mercy? Does it take 239,279 people infected with COVID-19? Does it take over 5,000 people dying in a matter of weeks from COVID-19?

Israel also spiraled down into moral decay and lost its moral compass. In Judges 17, we find a son who stole from his mother – 1100 silver coins. The mom, angry over the theft pronounces a curse on whoever stole the money, not knowing she was cursing her own son. The son hears about it and decides to return the money – not because he is convicted about the wrong but because he’s afraid of the curse. Then we see the mom do something that is becoming more and more common in parents today – she blesses the son. There is no discipline. No discussion about right or wrong. In fact, she is so happy to get the coins back that she says she’s going to dedicate to God and has it melted down and shaped into an idol.

What begins in the home will eventually spread to the community, the government, and the nation. At the point of Judges 17, we see that the nation lost its moral compass and in verse six we read: “In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did whatever he wanted.” The eventual result is God’s judgement on the nation. And it always happens in the same order: Moral decay at home, then the community and the church, and then the government. Then God brings judgement and the people wonder what’s happening. They panic and buy up all the toilet paper. Well, there is a big mess that needs cleaning up, but all the toilet paper in the world will not clean the mess up. What’s needed is a spiritual clean up. We need for the Holy Spirit to sweep in and clean up the hearts of God people. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says:

2 Chronicles 7 14

So how do we bring back God’s glory to America? Perhaps you’re thinking that you’d love to see that happen – for America to truly be great again. But it won’t come from a president. It won’t come from the House, Congress, the Senate, or the White House. It will only come when God is invited back in to our homes, our government, and our nation. So where do we start? The best place is at the beginning.

Rebuilding our foundation:

As we read the story in Judges 17, the Micah mentioned here is not the prophet. This Micah is about as far away from being a prophet as he can get. He’s nothing more than a spoiled brat, used to getting whatever he wanted, taking whatever he wanted and without any consequence. His home is so messed up and spiritually blind that they had no clue that idolatry was strictly forbidden. In fact, his mother thought she was doing God a favor and honoring Him by making an idol to Him. But this home was steeped in idolatry. Verse five tells us Micah had a whole shrine of idols. What we have in this home is a very crumbled foundation. One that was broken to pieces by coveting, stealing, cursing, dishonoring of parents, and idolatry. And that’s just what this story tells us about this family. Only God knows what else was going on in the home. And yet if you were to confront them, they would probably try to take you to court, sue you for some kind of discrimination charge and claim they are entitled to their own opinion and can live any way they want. This is exactly what is meant in verse seven when the Bible says, “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” 

Doesn’t this sound like America today? Everyone does whatever they feel is right. They have no regard for what God says is right. It’s as if people think they can pass or change laws to make something right, then it will be right and they don’t have to feel guilty. But God’s laws do not change and their guilt is still before the eyes of God.

The same is true about religion. If we don’t like what the Bible says, we choose to “interpret” it differently and start a new religion so we can live exactly the way we want to. We ignore the absolute truth, authority, standards, and morals that God commands in His Word and throw it back in His face in favor of living however we want to live. This attitude runs pervasively throughout the homes of our nation – even in many of the homes that consider themselves Christian.

If we are going to rebuild the crumbling foundation of our nation – it begins at home with parents humbling themselves before God, praying and seeking His face, and repenting of not bringing their children up in nurture and admonition of the Lord. When we as parents get our hearts right with God, we then need to live out the truths of God’s Word as an example for our children – to show them how to live. If you want your children to obey you, then you should be the example by being obedient to the speed limits and other laws. If you want them to be truthful and honest, then you need to be truthful and honest on your taxes. If you want them to speak with kindness, then you need to speak kindly to the person checking you out at the grocery store. If you want them to see church as important, they need to see you eager to go to church. If you want them to read God’s Word, they need to see you in the Word. We as parents need to stop making excuses or sweeping behaviors under the carpet and ignoring them saying, “Its just a phase. They’ll outgrow it.” Let’s call it what it is – SIN – and then be parents. 

If we want to bring God’s glory back to our nation, it begins in your house and in my house – not in the White House. No president can make America great again. Making America great again begins with rebuilding the foundations of our nation and the foundation is the American home that is built upon the Word of God and standing on the Biblical truths God has given us. 

Holy Spirit, convict our hearts of the sin of apostasy that has so befallen our nation. Open our eyes to both the lies of Satan and the truths of God’s Word. Create within us a longing for God to return as Lord of America. Lord, we humble ourselves before you with broken and contrite hearts, acknowledging our sin. Lord, cause us to seek you with all of our heart, mind, and soul for you’ve said in your word that when we seek you with all of our heart we will find you – and oh! how we need to find you! Forgive us, Father, for turning away from you and doing what is right in our own eyes. Forgive the perversity of sin within our land. God, we implore you to hear us from heaven and heal our land. Father, heal our land not only of COVID-19, but of the moral and spiritual decay and bring back your glory. We invite you to once more be God in America. 

 

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#COVID19 #coronavirus #quarantined #brokenmoralcompus #brokennation

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news and events

 

coronavirus prayer guide logo

Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.

The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

Today, pray for Tennessee:

Tenn cases

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #52daysofprayer #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

Exodus 14:13-14

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #faithoverfear #revivalin2020 #WCM

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Luke 9:35. Listen Up!

April 4 Luke 9 35 NKJV

At the transfiguration of Jesus, He took with Him, Peter, John, and James on a mountain to pray. As Jesus prayed, the Bible tells us that the appearance of His face changed, His robe became white and glistening. Additionally, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and spoke to Jesus. While this was going on, the disciples were deeply asleep but woke up to this scene of Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Peter spoke up as Moses and Elijah were leaving and suggested they make three tabernacles. However, doing so would place Moses and Elijah on equal levels with Jesus and not to worship Jesus exclusively. To Peter’s suggestion, a voice comes out of the clouds saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Have you ever had something to say to a child, spouse, sibling, or parent and you keep trying, but they keep going and going in their own conversation and you can’t get in a single word? Perhaps you’ve had some valuable advice to give a friend, but they refuse to take it to heart and then when they are hurt they can’t understand why. Inside we might say, “If only they had listened.”

How often are we hasty in making a suggestion to God, trying to offer Him our way of doing something and all God wants us to do is listen to Him? How often do we ask God to show us His will and we keep asking and keep asking and God just wants us to listen. How often does God give us an answer, but we don’t like and go ahead and do it the way we think it should be done then get upset with God when it all falls apart? How much of our prayer time is spent talking to God rather than listening to what He wants to say to us? How often do we get so caught up in what’s going on in our lives that it drowns out the still small voice of God?

Sometimes God has to do something drastic to get our attention. Kind of like when you’re talking to you child or spouse who is engrossed in a video game or something on TV. Peter, James, and John got the spectacular experience of the transfiguration of Jesus. But God’s attention getters aren’t always grand and spectacular. Sometimes its something like a pandemic. What if COVID-19 is (at least in part) God’s ways of saying to us: “Wake Up! Listen Up! Hear what I have to say!”

For communication to occur, there has to be both a speaker and listener…the kind of listening that deeply considers what is being said and takes it in. It’s not the kind of listening that hears but just keeps on going your own way and doing your own thing.

Today, God still says to us, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” What is it that God has been trying to say to you lately and you’ve not really stopped to listen – or maybe you have but you’re finding all kinds of excuses to not do what He says?

So many of us now find ourselves quarantined and forced to a slower pace in life. What if we spent this time just listening to our heavenly Father and what he wants to say to us?

God, give us ears to hear you and heart to follow after you, seeking you with all our heart, mind, and soul. Help us to be obedient to what you say. Help us to just sit still in your presence and listen.click to tweet daily Bible reading

#COVID19 #coronavirus #quarantined #listenup

April divider

revive renew redeem

news and events

 

coronavirus prayer guide logo

Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.

The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

Today, pray for Colorado:

colorado cases

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #52daysofprayer #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

Exodus 14:13-14

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #faithoverfear #revivalin2020 #WCM

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Luke 9:25. Eternally Bankrupt Is Far Worse than Temporarily Unemployed

April 3 Luke 9 25 NKJV

On April 2, 2020, The Washington Post reported that 10 million unemployment claims have been filed in the US due to COVID-19. Even with a stimulus check on the way, there are going to be many people trying to make ends meet. The stimulus check is helpful but then there are industries such as mortgage companies who will “graciously” allow you to not pay your mortgage while you’re out of work, but then when the crisis is over and everyone returns to work those same mortgage companies will demand all the money you owe from this time at once or they will foreclose on your home. But they won’t report a negative report to the credit bureau…until you’re back at work. Student loans has fared a little better as you can request a 6 month forbearance. Some utility companies are skipping payments. However, read your fine print because they too might count you behind and want you to catch up or they will turn your lights off. Needless to say, there are not too many people throughout the world that will “gain the whole world.” Many may be on the verge of losing their whole world. 

However, for a moment think about what you would do if you suddenly became the richest American? What would change about your lifestyle? How would you manage your new-found wealth? It might be fun to dream about what you’d do with all that money, but if we are honest with ourselves, probably the first thoughts for the majority of us were rather selfish thoughts. We might have gotten around to helping those affected financially by COVID-19 or making a donation to some organization (even if just for the tax break), and oh yes – let’s not forget the tithe to our church. Doesn’t that seem backwards? Our first thought should have been not only the tithe we would be able to give back to God but also an offering that might help our church meet a need. Then maybe see how we could help our community through the wonderful organizations that seek to help others – and not worry about the tax break for doing so. Then finally look to ourselves last. There used to be an popular acronym that taught this principle as the way to have Joy – Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. 

No matter how wealthy a person is while here on earth, money will not get them into heaven. Honors, riches, and the greatest of enjoyments mean absolutely nothing when one faces eternity without Christ. None of these in and of themselves will suffice to gain entrance into Heaven. If all these were gained, but they cause a person “lose himself” through rejecting Christ, then that person has lost everything that holds eternal value. Any person that dies without Christ as their Savior, will be eternally bankrupt.

This in no way implies that a wealthy person cannot be saved. However, money can sometimes be an obstacle to people recognizing their need for a Savior. Jesus taught in Matthew 19:24, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” It becomes very easy for the wealthy to depend on themselves and their money, not unlike the children of Israel with their continual problem of idolatry. Every time they turned to false gods, they forgot the God that brought them out of Egypt. They turned to their own abilities rather than remaining dependent on God. It is too easy for money to become an idol that we obsess over. And the more of it we have, the less we feel the need to depend on God or to even feel like we need God at all in our lives. However, less we have of money, the greater we depend on God. We depend on Him to get us from one paycheck to the next, to keep the lights on, to keep food on the table, and to keep a roof over our head. The more we have that belongs to this world, the more we are tied to it. The less we have of this work, the freer we are to be tied to Christ. In Luke 18, we find the rich young ruler who wanted to know what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. His focus was on how he could earn eternal life. Jesus replied to him: “You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother.” The rich young ruler responded: “All these thing I have kept from my youth.” But Jesus knew the man had more interest in his wealth on earth than any treasures in heaven. So Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” The man became very sad because he was very rich. As a response to the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” The people standing near said, “who then can be saved?’ Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with me are possible with God.” Wealth, whether one has an abundance of it or a great lack of it, holds no merit on eternal life. No one can be saved by their own efforts, but only through the grace of God is one able to obtain salvation.

As for the crisis at hand and the financial burdens many will feel, we pray that God will meet your every need during this time. 

God, may the entrapment of wealth not blind us to a false happiness that leads us away from you. May we keep our eyes on you and your grace that paves the way for us to obtain eternal life with you through the sacrifice of Christ as payment for our sins. Thank you for always meeting our every need and for all the many blessings you give us every day. May we always see You at work in each blessing with a heart of thankful praise. We ask that you provide for those who have lost jobs and that they will see you at work as you meet their every need. 

 


click to tweet daily Bible reading

#COVID19 #coronavirus #faith

April divider

revive renew redeem

news and events

 

coronavirus prayer guide logo

Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.

The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

Today, pray for Texas:

texas cases

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #52daysofprayer #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

Exodus 14:13-14

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #faithoverfear #revivalin2020 #WCM

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Luke 8:25. This is Different

April 2 Luke 8 25 NKJV

Have you ever read stories in the Bible about people who questioned God and who He is and what He can do? The disciples left all they had and followed Jesus. They were with Him night and day, watching Him do miracle after miracle. Yet, while in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and the disciples ran into a fierce windstorm out on the water. Now remember that some of these disciples had been fishermen by trade. They knew the water and they knew how to handle a boat. They had likely been on the water before in a storm. But this storm was different. Luke 8 tells us the winds were so fierce that they were taking on water and “they were in jeopardy.”

We have all been through storms in our life. An unexpected death of a loved one. An unexpected job loss. An unexpected rebellious child. An unexpected divorce. An unexpected betrayal of trust. An unexpected illness. Whatever storm you’ve been through before, I’m sure you can join me in saying that this Coronavirus is different. We’ve never seen our government issue “Safer at Home Act” before. We’ve never been asked to “social distance” before. And our generation has probably not seen and personally experienced a pandemic virus. I mean – this is stuff you read about in history books before there was penicillin. This is stuff were you go through ancient cemeteries and read the tombstones were people died from typhoid and stuff. Can you honestly say that you would ever think that in our day with all the medical knowledge that we have that we would ever see a national outbreak of a virus? This is different. Those of us able to work – work from home (except for essential professions). When you go in public, people wear face masks. And if someone coughs or even clears their throat, everyone moves as far away as they can. This is different. Kids are all doing school online – and the parents are groaning that we have at least another 30 days of “social distancing,” “safer at home” orders, and online school. This is different.  Did you ever think there would be a shortage of toilet paper? This is different. 

In the different, will we be like the disciples in the midst of the storm? They looked around and said – “Where is Jesus?” Remember – they had seen him do all these miracles of healing people, casting out demons, raising the dead. But where was Jesus in their storm? Well – they found Him. He was sleeping. They wake Him up and said, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” They we’re not just informing Him the boat was going down. I can almost hear them saying, “Don’t you care about us? We’re in a pickle here. Why are you just sleeping?” Their tone, almost accusatory. They were scared and their faith went MIA. 

What about us? Are we searching for where Jesus is in the midst of the storm? Do you feel like He’s asleep somewhere and totally unaware of the storm? 

Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and the waves and there was immediate calm. Then He said to the disciples, “Where is your faith?” They were in a boat with the creator of the universe – the one who made the wind and waves – and still they said to each other: “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” They still didn’t get it. If they had gotten it, then they would have known that the safest place to be in the entire universe was right where Jesus was – regardless of the storm raging around them.

Our nation is at a place of crying out to Jesus and saying, “Master, we are perishing.” The more the number of positive cases and deaths we see with COVID-19, the more likely you will either know someone who has the virus or be a victim yourself. Jesus says, “My child, where is your faith?” If we genuinely trust Him, then we do not need to fear when the storms of life crash in on us. God is not taken by surprise by any storm we face. Certainly, if He chose he could rebuke COVID-19 and wipe it off the face of the earth. But when that doesn’t happen and we see friends and family suffering with the virus or even dying, where is our faith? Does it go MIA like the disciple’s faith did? The fiercer the storm, the harder it is to see God, but my friend, we can stand on the promises of God like Deuteronomy 31:6 that says, “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” Or Exodus 15:26 that says, “If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you… For I am Yahweh who heals you.” Here are some other promises from God’s Word:

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

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

Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—  my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

1 Chronicles 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength;  seek his presence continually!

Psalm 32:7-8 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Exodus 33:14 My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Psalm 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

Isaiah 30:15 In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.

Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 145: 18-19 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

We also know that God tell us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” (Isaiah 55:8) We may not understand what is going on or why someone is healed and others are not. And that is where faith comes in. Trusting God when we can’t understand the why. But knowing that loves us with an everlasting love and continues to extend his faithful love to us (Jeremiah 31:3), means we can trust Him even in the storms. 

It can be easy to criticize the disciples for not knowing who Jesus was despite all the miracles and listening to His teaching every single day. But do we not do the same? When the storms come and life gets threatening, all the things that God has done for us in the past races right out of our memory as we become focused only on the storm we are going through right now. But today, Jesus is quietly whispering across our hearts and asking, “Where is your faith?” Stand on the firm foundation of Jesus. Trust in His unfailing, everlasting love and know that He is at work. Look for how He is deepening your faith and trust in Him and know that He only has your very best in mind for everything you face. He loves you and He’s there in the storm with us. Where is your faith?

God, it becomes so easy to forget all the times in the past where you held us in the palm of your hand and brought us through the storms of life. Thank you that you never leave us or forsake us. Thank you that you are always in the midst of life’s storms with us, working out your divine plan for each one us. Help us to stand strong in your faith and fully trust You, even when we don’t understand Your plan.


click to tweet daily Bible reading

#COVID19 #coronavirus #faith

April divider

revive renew redeem

news and events

 

coronavirus prayer guide logo

Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.

The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

Today, pray for Georgia:

Georgia cases

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #52daysofprayer #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

Exodus 14:13-14

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #faithoverfear #revivalin2020 #WCM

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Judges 6:12, 14. Go in the strength you have

Judges 6 12,14

Do you feel that God has called you to an impossible task? Maybe the calling God has given you has been difficult or your not sure of the next step to take. Maybe God has given you a calling, but family and friends don’t believe in the calling or that God would call you to the task. Maybe God has called you to a specific task, but right now you can’t see Him at work. Maybe you’ve given all you got, juggling all the demands on you, and your just plain exhausted. My friend, if this is you, then let me breathe Words of Life into both you and me. God wants you to know that He is with you. All He wants us to do is to keep going in the strength that we have knowing that He will give us exactly what we need for each moment and to keep being obedient to His call. Like He asked of Gideon, so He is asking you today… “Am I not sending you?”

Perhaps you are a medical person on the front lines of caring for people with COVID-19 or you’re in the ministry as a pastor or lay leader and you are caring for and praying with families who have the virus or have lost someone because of the virus. You’re exhausted, overwhelmed by the need and each time you get to sit for just a moment and rest, you’re called to care for the next patient or the next church member. Even as you answer the call you can see no relief, no slowing in the spread of the virus, and no end coming any time soon. How many people will have to tell today that their loved one didn’t make it? How many people, dear pastor, will you pray with today and try to help ease their fears? God says, “Go in the strength that you have.” The glorious thing about it is that’s all God asks of us. And when we reach the end of our strength, He will give us His. You were placed on this earth at this time for such a time as this. He has equipped you and called you. Therefore He will strengthen you as well. 

In Judges 6, we find Israel once again being oppressed because of their continued return to worshiping false Gods. This time its the Midianites. But as Israel calls out to God,  God raises up Gideon to be their next deliver and Gideon is faced with an impossible task. His first task is to tear down the altars of Baal and replace it with an altar to God. Then we find that he is to go and fight the Midianites, but God whittled down the number of Gideon’s army to only 300 men. It’s interesting to me that when the Lord appeared to Gideon, Gideon asked, “O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about.” Maybe you have asked the same question with this virus that is rapidly spreading across our world and with the CDC reporting that possibly there could be more than 200,000 deaths before this virus is under control. Each time Israel is oppressed by another nation its because of their sin. Its because they break the covenant they made with God and they forget Him to turn to worshiping false gods. Is there a sin problem in our world today? And yet we too want to say, “Where is God? Why is this happening? Is God at work?”

Gideon will see God at work when God uses only 300 men to defeat the Midianites. Are we not like Gideon? When we begin to question the call God gave us or we question God about how He is working in this call or in our world, we might say, “God where are you? Where are all the mighty works you did throughout the Bible?” We start looking for a sign or a confirmation. We want proof. 

Another interesting part of the conversation between Gideon and the Lord is that the Lord calls Gideon a “mighty man of valor.” The word “valor” is defined as, “great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.” What we see is an obedient Gideon, but he is obedient in the dark of night and he takes 10 of his father’s men – safety in numbers. He doesn’t go in broad daylight to carry out what God has told him to do. He goes under the cover of darkness…and he has some backup helpers to keep and eye out for being caught. Gideon does in fact tear down the Baal idol, but he does so in secrecy. Yet God saw a bravery in Gideon and the Lord’s greeting was to both encouragement to Gideon for the task God had for him and to help him realize this characteristic about himself. The task God has for you might be scary or hard. It might take every bit of the strength you have plus some from God. It might seem ridiculous or impossible to others and so you work on it “behind the scenes” waiting for God to show up before you make the call public knowledge. My friend, if you did not have the skills and characteristics needed for the call, God wouldn’t have singled you out for the call. The simple fact is that only you were uniquely and wonderfully made with every skill, personality traits, character traits, and gifts needed to do the task God has called you to do. If you don’t step up to the call, then the whole world will miss out.

So mighty man or woman of valor – God is with you. Go in the strength that you have because God has given you all the strength you need for what God has called you to do. Did He not choose you and send you for this task? Keep going. God is with you. And the rest of us need you and your gifts. 

God, thank you for choosing to work through us to accomplish your plans. We acknowledge that you don’t’ need us to accomplish anything, but you lovingly choose to invite to join in where you are at work. Thank you for equipping up, encouraging us, and strengthening us. Thank you for including stories like Gideon in Your Word so that as we relate to his story, we find the encouragement to keep pressing forward. May we be men and women of valor, faithful and loyal to the calling you have given us. 


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Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

Exodus 14:13-14

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 

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