Nov 30 - John 11:40

Jesus said to Martha,

“Did I not tell you that if you believed,

you would see the glory of God?”

John 11:40

I watched the first “Christmas Experience” video the other night. It was powerful.

C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was quoted. During the rule of the White Witch, Narnia was described as if were always winter and yet never Christmas. Pastor Kyle helped us think about how many of us are caught in that state. It’s cold. We’re waiting. And God’s presence (Christmas or hope) never seems to come.

•       Martha wondered if God’s help would ever arrive, and now she was losing hope because her brother’s illness had turned into death.
•  
•       The Israelites wondered if God would ever show up. He’d been promised for a hundred years and they were losing hope too.
•  
•       How about you? Are you waiting … waiting for the biopsy results to come in … waiting for a child to come home … waiting for a new job? Are you waiting, crying, “How long?” Is it winter? Are you losing hope?

Christmas is the ultimate assurance that God rewards those who wait. The Messiah did come. God is real. “Martha, did I not tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who doesn’t want

to be called “Martha”

Nov 29 - Philippians 4:6

Do not worry about anything,

but in everything by prayer

and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made

known to God.

Philippians 4:6

Have you ever tried to tell someone not to worry?

How well does it work?

Telling a person not to worry tries to engage their head rather than their heart. And indeed, sometimes a person can reason through the unlikelihood of the sky falling. Yes, sometimes a person can logically arrive at a place of lesser anxiety. But … if we’re honest … most times the head and the heart don’t talk. Am I right? If a fear is real in the heart, it’s hard to talk it away.

• That’s why, when trying to conquer our fears, Paul aims at a different part of our bodies to conquer our runaway minds: Our knees. He says essentially, “Do not worry about anything, rather … pray!”
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•      Then he mentions “supplication.” Supplication is prayer too. It is humble prayer, on-your-knees-prayer. It is pleading – and trusting – that there is one more powerful than you that can solve the problems you can’t solve.
•  
•      “Thanksgiving,” then, is prayer too. Directed toward God, thanksgiving is a form of praise. But thanksgiving also has a powerful effect directed at us. Thankfulness repeatedly retrains our heart. Instead of a heart that quakes with uncertainty, gratitude trains us to have a heart of wonder, hope, confidence, peace, and awe.
•  
•      “Let your requests be made known to God” is yet one more form of prayer. It is a form of trust. It is letting go of our sense of control – which is all an illusion anyway – and it is placing our hearts, our lives, our families, our jobs, our nation, our reputation in God’s hands. Trust, too, is a powerful antidote to worry.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants a

multiplication of supplication

Nov 28 - Ephesians 5:19

Sing psalms and hymns  and

spiritual songs among yourselves,

singing and making melody

to the Lord in your hearts.

Ephesians 5:19

Are you like me … with a tune or lyric occasionally running through your mind? What song are you singing in your heart today?

At our house we have a rule of sorts: No Christmas music until the Friday after Thanksgiving. It’s after the day after! So normally I’d think that Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire or Herald Angels Singing would be in my head this week. They’re not. At the moment (for no reason other than a history of praise) the song running through my heart is All Creatures of Our God and King.

Do you remember the second verse of this old hymn. “Lift up your voice and let us sing.” This hymn was written well after the age of the Apostles, but the Apostle Paul’s heart clearly sung hymns like this regularly. Why? Because that’s his prescription to the people of Ephesus today.

In a scriptural book that’s known for its warnings about spiritual attacks and the warfare of the devil (see Ephesians 6), Paul is prescribing a powerful antidote to life’s trials: Sing psalms and hymns  and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who sings more frequently

during this Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Nov 27 - Colossians 2:13-14

God forgave us all our trespasses,

erasing the record that stood against us

with its legal demands.

He set this aside,

nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13-14

What was nailed to the cross? Two things:

1.       Our Savior’s hand, and …
2.       Our handiwork.

Unfortunately, what we work is not very handy. As it says in Colossians 2, our record that’s nailed to the cross is only and utterly a criminal record.

Santa may make a list and check it twice, and our record, according to North Pole lore, will be an evaluation of both naughty and nice. In heaven, however, this record is only naughtiness and criminal complaint. Sin.

But what happens to it?!!

1.      When we put our trust in Christ (present tense) …
2.      our sins will have been nailed to the cross (present and past tense) …
3.      and we will be set free eternally (present and future tense).  

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who’d rather be

On Jesus’ permanent list

Than Santa’s ever-changing list

  

Nov 26 - Jeremiah 10:6

There is none like you, O Lord;

you are great, and your name

is great in might.

Jeremiah 10:6

We are starting a season of greatness.

With Thanksgiving, at least according to its roots, our country set aside a day to give thanks to God for his abundant blessings.

Then for the next four weeks, at least in theory, we will be pointing to the manger and to the incredible love of our Savior. The Apostle Paul records the love at the nativity like this,  “though he was in the form of God, [Jesus] did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8).

If we put those two pillars – God’s love and our thanks – at the corners of this year’s holiday season, it will indeed be a season of greatness. “O Lord, there is none like you!”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who doesn’t want busyness

to be a pillar for this season

Nov 24,25 - John 6:68-69

Simon Peter answered him,

“Lord, to whom can we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe and know

that you are the Holy One of God.”

John 6:68-69

•      In John 6, Jesus taught some things that were “hard” – true, but hard.
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•      As a result, many of his closest followers turned away from him.
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•      As a result, Jesus was, of course, deeply saddened. Why? It’s important to note that his ego wasn’t bruised! Jesus wasn’t prideful, saddened by a sense of personal rejection. Rather, the Savior was grieving because when the people he loved rejected him, they were really rejecting his Father, the kingdom, and the keys to eternal life.
• 
  
•      Therefore, with a heavy heart, Jesus turned to the twelve, asking if they’d turn away too.
• 
  
•      Peter answered, “Lord, who else could we turn to? You only have the words of eternal life.” (I love that wisdom and faith … even in the midst of things a human couldn’t understand!)
• 
  
•      Today, Jesus asks you and me the same question? Day by day are you turning away … or are you turning up the heat on your faith, claiming moment-by-moment and however imperfectly, that you “believe and know that [Jesus] is the Holy One of God.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s come to believe

Nov 23 - 1 Samuel 16:7

Mortals look on the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Israel wanted a king. Who was their first? Saul, literally the tallest, handsomest man in the land.

When Samuel – at God’s beckoning -- was sent to anoint the next king, he went to the tallest (and oldest) of Jesse’s sons. It wasn’t the tallest and oldest. The next tallest and next oldest? It wasn’t him either. It was the little guy … David … the youngest brother … the ruddy shepherd-kid who’d just come in from fields.

Samuel was surprised. But God taught him – and us – an important principal: Mortals look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Today – the day after Thanksgiving – if God looked on my outward appearance, he’d have more of me to love (about four-and-a-half pounds more). Thankfully, that’s not how he judges my worth. Other than super-models, most of us are glad that God looks upon the heart.

Yesterday, we took a moment to stop and give thanks. When those moments of thanksgiving are ever-more-present in our hearts, we’ll be more beautiful in God’s eyes … because we’ve learned to see him more beautiful through our eyes.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s hunting Christmas trees,

making Chex Party Mix

and watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” today

(I’m thankful for that!!!)

Nov 22,23 - Daniel 4:2 ... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

It is my pleasure to tell you about

the miraculous signs and wonders

that the Most High God

has performed for me.

Daniel 4:2

What are you thankful for?

When we gather for Thanksgiving each year with Mary Louise’s family, we go around the room and say a few things we’re thankful for.

Daniel 4:2 is a Thanksgiving verse. And I don’t think Daniel reserved his praise and witness for one day a year.

Today, tell others what you are thankful for – and be sure, of course, to tell of God’s goodness. But don’t just save your witness for a Thursday in November. Make it an ever-more-urgent goal to proclaim it every day!

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s considering

wearing pants with

an elastic waistband today

Nov 22 - Daniel 4:2 ... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

It is my pleasure to tell you about

the miraculous signs and wonders

that the Most High God

has performed for me.

Daniel 4:2

What are you thankful for?

When we gather for Thanksgiving each year with Mary Louise’s family, we go around the room and say a few things we’re thankful for.

Daniel 4:2 is a Thanksgiving verse. And I don’t think Daniel reserved his praise and witness for one day a year.

Today, tell others what you are thankful for – and be sure, of course, to tell of God’s goodness. But don’t just save your witness for a Thursday in November. Make it an ever-more-urgent goal to proclaim it every day!

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s considering

wearing pants with

an elastic waistband today

Nov 21 - 1 Samuel 10:7

Do as the occasion demands;

for God is with you.

1 Samuel 10:7

Wow … that could be a very scary verse out of context! How many of us have ever been at the wrong place at the wrong time and done what the wrong occasion apparently demanded?!

This verse definitely needs a little context!

First it’s not even a whole verse! (Imagine me scolding my source like I’d scold my dog: “Bad source for verses! Bad source!”) The whole verse – see it at the bottom – includes these words: “when these signs come to you.”

When these signs come to you … that makes a huge difference, doesn’t it?! When you see God initiating … respond! Do, indeed, as his occasion demands, trusting that he is definitely with you!  

Second, God was initiating a whole lot of stuff in 1 Samuel 10. Here’s my translation (the full and actual text is below):

•      Samuel took a flask of oil and as he anointed Saul said, “The Lord has initiated. He has anointed you.”
•      Now, when you depart from me,” said Samuel, “God will initiate again. Hear this prophecy: The Lord will place two men along the road near Rachel’s tomb, and they’ll start talking about your wandering donkeys and your worrying dad.”
•      “Then God will initiate again. Hear another prophecy: As you go on from there, you will meet three men carrying goats, bread, and wine. They’ll give you a specified amount.”
•      “Then God will initiate again. Hear yet another prophecy, this one involving prophets: The prophesying prophets will be playing musical instruments.”
•      “And do you want one more initiation from God? Then the Holy Spirit will come upon you!
•      “Now, when you see all these signs, do as the occasion demands. And in case you ever doubted, all of this proves that the Lord is with you.”

When God initiates, respond as his holy occasions demand!

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s looking forward

God’s next initiation

1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance? 2 When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?" ' 3 Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. 5 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.

Nov 20 - Psalm 35:28

My tongue shall tell of your righteousness

and of your praise all day long.

Psalm 35:28

What will your tongue talk about today?

•      Work?
•      Family and kids?
•      Sports?
•      Favorite books and movies?
•      Politics?
•      Gossip?
•      Trials and challenges?

What percentage of the time do you talk to others about your faith? What percentage of your time are you praying? … praising? … confessing? … interceding? This verse is another good reminder of our accidental priorities. It is indeed a good reminder to stop and praise!

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who’s taking

a moment to praise

Nov 19 - 1 Cor 13:2

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9

Now I know only in part;

then I will know fully,

even as I have been fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

I couldn’t resist these verses in tandem.

Who knows fully? The one who is higher than the earth. So why do we on earth claim to be so wise? Why do we try to do things our own way? Pride. Based on our own limited perspective, we think we know what’s best … and we definitely know what we want. That’s a lethal combination.

The good news in this is that God knows fully … and still loves us.

If we’re honest, there are times when we don’t want him to look!!! He sees anyway … and still loves us.

If you want to discover a new blessing … it’s time to submit to God’s wisdom rather than your own logic  … it’s time to accept his timeless Word and eternal commands, rather than the selfish thoughts and false values and fickle priorities of our ever-changing world … it’s time to accept that God sees all, and to try to love him (including loving his laws) as much as he loves you.

In Christ’s Love,

a wise guy

(except what always happens to wise guys?

they’re always getting in trouble.

I want to be faithful guy rather than a wise guy)

Nov 17,18 - 1 Samuel 7:12

Thus far the Lord has helped us.

1 Samuel 7:12

When we review the story of God's people, it is clear that often the hand of God's protection was protecting Israel. When we review the story of God’s people, it is also clear that sometimes it was removed from Israel.

Does that mean God is fickle? No. A closer examination shows that sometimes the hearts in Israel were inclined toward God ... and sometimes their hearts were very far from the Lord. God's response to Israel, therefore, was based on Israel's response to him.

God cares desperately about our human circumstances. (He wouldn't have sent his Son in human form if he didn't!) Nevertheless, he cares more about our eternal circumstances! Therefore, when we're busy running away from God, God generally isn't busy blessing our wayward human circumstances. (Like a wise and loving parent, we doesn’t reward bad behavior.)

In 1 Samuel 7, Israel is battling the Philistines. Samuel's evaluation of the battle: "12 Thus far the Lord has helped us."

Does he view that as a permanent guarantee of success? No. Therefore, Samuel reminds Israel -- and each of us -- that we must "8 not cease to cry out to the Lord our God."

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's crying out

because it's clear

that too many in our world

are turning away

Nov 16 - Mark 7:34-35

Jesus said to the deaf man,

“Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

And immediately his ears were opened,

his tongue was released,

and he spoke plainly.

Mark 7:34-35

Being deaf presents two major challenges.

<![if !supportLists]>·         <![endif]>The first is a problem in receiving information. It prevents a person from hearing.

<![if !supportLists]>·         <![endif]>The second is in transmitting information. Indeed, how can one speak clearly what they've never heard?

Therefore, two major miracles occurred in today’s lesson -- hearing and speaking.

Isn’t that just how God is?! No half-measures will do!

On earth, healing on earth is temporary at best. (We will all eventually die.) Therefore, the point of healing isn’t earthly … it’s eternal! God wants those of us on earth to catch a glimpse of his kingdom in heaven.

That’s what Jesus revealed to man who was deaf and to all who witnessed his power: When God – ephphatha – opens the kingdom, all that is broken will be restored! Eternally!

In Christ's Love,

a guy who can't wait

until heaven is ephphathaed

Nov 15 - Jeremiah 17:3

All who forsake you

shall be put to shame;

for they have forsaken the fountain

of living water, the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:13

To "forsake" means to abandon, leave, desert, or renounce. When we renounce the Lord (the first part of the verse), what are we renouncing? The second part of the verse gives the answer. Renouncing the Lord means departing from the water of life.

Thus, the prohet is telling us that without God, we will thirst. He is telling us, indeed, that we will inevitably die. He's also saying that we will be put to shame.

Death, of course, is the worst and final result of forsaking the Lord. But before the final defeat, the prophet is telling us that we will encounter shame -- that painful, sudden awareness that we have done something dishonorable. That's a painful earthly consequence of forsaking the Lord.

At some point, human arrogance will catch up with us. It will be revealed in those moments when we are most desparate and thirsty.

Have you ever known anyone in dire circumstances who needs the Lord ... but is so far away that he can't even see the light? Human pride has a cost.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to stay thirsty

… for living water

Nov 14 - Psalm 31:5

Into your hand

I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me,

O Lord, God of truth.

Psalm 31:5

The first words of this verse -- "Into (someone's) hand" -- is a common Biblical phrase. It's generally a military metaphor. When a people are conquered, they fall "into the hands" of an enemy.

But "falling into the hands of another" can a conscious choice rather than an accidental fate. Spiritually, we can choose to “fall into the hands of God." We can submit ourselves. We can commit our spirits.

That's precisely what Jesus did upon the cross. In spite of impending death, Jesus declared victory, committing his spirit into the hand of his ever-victorious Father.

In your life -- and in mine -- we can declare victory when we allow the "God of truth" to "redeem" us, to buy us back from the lies of the world.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's

declaring victory

URGENT: Pray!

Another presidential election has come and gone. If Spirit of Joy’s election patterns mirror those of Union County, 35% of you are happy today, and 65% are probably somewhat discouraged. But both sides have something powerful to celebrate!

Before I share with you my reflections, I want to start with some pieces of wisdom forwarded to me this morning. Apparently they come from a sermon preached last weekend by Pastor Mike Ross. He inspires these perspectives …

1.   Don’t allow this election to rob you of your peace in Christ. The President and his administration cannot fix things. Only God can do that.

2.    Don’t be too hard on the men and women in government. They face an overwhelming task of managing the affairs of fallen humanity, keeping evil at bay, and ruling in spite of their own blind-spots and sins.

3.    Remember, this election will not “take America back for God.” If God wants America for his own, he’ll take it back by means of the Holy Spirit and a great moral reformation and spiritual revival.

4.    Even if and when God “takes America back” it will only be for a time. No earthly country is now or ever will be the Kingdom of God!

That’s a good start. Now …

Here’s my reflections … my reasons to celebrate …

If you are among the thirty-five-satisfied-percent …

Congratulations.

I trust you were emboldened by your Christian conviction of compassion. Since I know good people of faith on both sides of the aisle, I know that the convictions of both sides are motivated by compassion (though via very different methodologies). Nevertheless, the Democrats always seem to do a better job of talking about compassion.

So if this – and other convictions – inspired you, congratulations! Today, therefore, you have national and corporate reasons to celebrate! We all pray that your leadership produces a harvest blessing for our world!

The other 65% of you …

… have, I believe, very different reasons to celebrate … personal reasons to celebrate.

Yes, you are probably discouraged nationally. Your values and political convictions were not upheld. Nevertheless, I pray this election reminds us of a more important Biblical principal …

The human condition is to think that human efforts produce godly results. No! Human efforts produce human results – some better, some worse, but at best, only human.  

Too many (even among good Christians) look to humans (say, a President) to fix what ails our world. In 1 Samuel 8, for example, the people of Israel demanded a king.

God said, “Very well, but here’s the results you will get …

1.    If you choose (and pin your hopes on) a human king, you are rejecting me as your king.

2.    This king will heap unbearable burdens upon you, taxing you at the ungodly rate of ten percent (indeed, the king’s government will ask for first ten percent that really belongs to God).

3.    “18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

To the discouraged 65%, here’s your reason for celebration: The Day After is our ever-necessary reminder to quit depending on human leaders and human solutions … and even on ourselves. Trust God. Turn off the media. Turn to God in prayer. Open the Bible rather than the newspaper. Humble yourselves personally. And if you want to change the world, change your own heart!

In fact, here’s the celebratory irony: If your candidate would have won, you might have tried – for four more years – to wait for human results. Count your lack of control as a blessing! Turn to God completely today!

That was Isaiah’s point many generations ago. Anticipating a time of battle and adversity, Isaiah reminded God’s people to quit trusting worldly results, saying, “31:1 Alas for those … who rely on horses [and] trust in chariots because they are many and … are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!”

In other words, don’t let any president be your horse or any government be your chariot. Submit yourself. Let God be God. And whether you’re a 35-percenter or a 65-percenter remember that this is a greater victory than any arrived at by any electoral college.

To close … I want to say, pray.

Each time I sit down to pray through my prayer list, in addition to praying for you, I pray for our president. I have for years … whether any given leader is my favorite candidate or not. So pray! Daily! For our president. For our nation.

… and by the way … by praying, you’re beginning to accomplish the principals I was just talking about! It’s God – not you nor any human leader – who changes things. Therefore, spend your energies connecting more impassionedly with the true ruler of the universe, and discover that he wants to connect more impassionedly with you!

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who wants

to be a 100-percenter

… all in for God!!!

URGENT: Vote!

During one of the many 20^th Century wars, a village was bombed and the statue of Jesus in the middle of town was damaged. The stone hands of Jesus were blown off.

As the village recovered after the battles, the people began to raise money to repair the statue … but they never completed it. Why? The people changed their mind after a mysterious sign appeared one night. It read, “Jesus has no hands but yours.”

That’s a good reminder for us as voting day approaches. As a congregation and as individual Christians, we call on God to bless our world. But tomorrow he will rely on our hands to pull the levers and vote his priorities for our world.

Tomorrow the lines may be long. Please don’t let that discourage you. Jesus is counting on your hands. And if you have to wait in line, remember to use that wait as holy time, folding your hands in prayer to the Lord of life!

Below are prayers we used for Saturday’s prayer service. Consider printing them out and bring them with you (along with a Bible) as you wait.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord   Psalm 33:12

Billy Graham’s Prayer for the Nation

    Our Father and Our God, we praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace. We pray today for our nation’s leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. This we pray in Your holy name, Amen.

Praying For The Government

1Tim 2:1            Heavenly Father, I give thanks for our government.

1 Tim 2:2          I pray for all men and women having authority over

                         us in any way.

Prov. 1:23         Pour out Your Spirit upon them and make Your Word

                        known to them.

Ps 25:21           Cause them to be men and women of integrity,

                        obedient concerning us,

1 Tim 2:2           that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all

                        godliness and honesty.

Prov. 2:10         Let wisdom enter their hearts, and let knowledge be

                        pleasant to them.

Prov. 2:11         Let discretion preserve them and understanding keep

                        them,

Prov. 2:12         to deliver them from the way of evil and from evil

                        men.

Psalm 1:1         Make their hearts and ears attentive to godly counsel,

2Chr 20:32        doing what is right in your sight.

Prov. 2:21         Let the upright dwell in our government.

Heb 12:27         Cause there to be a shaking in all areas.

Prov. 2:21         Let those complete and blameless before You stay.

Prov. 2:22         and cut off the wicked. Let the unfaithful be rooted

                        out.

1Cor 4:5            Bring to light what is hidden in darkness,

1Cor 4:5           and expose the secret aims of the hearts.

Rev 2:5             Let this nation remember from where they have fallen,

Rev 2:5             repenting, and returning to doing their first works,

1Chr 22:19        setting their hearts and their souls to seek the Lord,

2Chr 7:14          humbling themselves, praying, and turning from

                        their wicked ways.

2Chr 7:14          Then hear them, O Lord, and forgive their sins and heal

                        our land.

Acts 26:18        Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to

                        light.

Heb 3:13           Soften the hearts that are hardened through the

                        deceitfulness of sin.

Ps 107:20         Deliver them from their destructions.

2Pet 3:9            Father, You have been longsuffering toward us,

2Pet 3:9            not willing that any should perish,

2Pet 3:9            but that all should come to repentance.

Isa 49:22           Raise up a standard in this nation.

Zech 10:1          Cause the rains of Your Spirit to flood this land

Hab 3:2             and revive Your work in the midst of us.

Isa 59:16           Raise up intercessors for this nation

2Cor 10:4          to pull down strongholds over this land.

Isa 40:5             And let the glory of the Lord be revealed!

Scriptures for Elections

    II Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, will heal their land.

     Acts 17:30 – Pray for repentance for yourself and for our nation.

     Psalm 32:6-7 – Pray that Christians will be motivated to pray faithfully for this election and that the Lord would deliver us from the wrong leaders.

     Proverbs 16:13 – Pray that our nation will listen to the truth and not be led astray.

     Psalm 125 – Pray that those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

     Psalm 86:14-17 – Pray that the Lord would defeat those who have no regard for Him in this election.

     II Kings 13:16 – Pray that the Lord would put His hands on the man of His choice for president (and his team) and guide them in this election.

     Luke 12:54-57 – Pray that God’s man and our nation will be discerning and do what is right.

     Psalm 16:7-8 – Pray that the Lord would give wise counsel and guidance to His choice for president in this campaign.

     Proverbs 1:5-6 – Pray that God’s man will listen with discernment, add to his knowledge, and receive wise counsel in this campaign.

     John 16:33 – Pray that the man of God’s choice would be given wisdom and ability from the Lord to overcome any obstacle or difficulty during this campaign.

     Philippians 4:13 – Pray that the Lord’s choice for President will have special strength and unusual ability from God.

     Psalm 18:32-36 – Pray that the Lord would arm the man of His choice with strength; would guide him in battle (this election); and would sustain him and give him victory.

     Hebrews 11:32-34 – Pray that God’s man could, through faith, persevere and maintain his courage throughout this election.

     2 Corinthians 12:9 – Pray that the Lord would empower and enable his man in any area of weakness.

     Habakkuk 1:5 and 3:2 – Pray that the Lord would do something that would utterly amaze us.