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A Day to Rededicate America to God On Thursday, February 5th, President Trump told those gathered that his administration would hold an event on May 17, 2026, on the Washington Mall/Lincoln Memorial to rededicate America as “one nation, under God.” I certainly would not have to convince GH15 listeners/readers of this event’s significance. It is monumental. I (and others) have been interceding and decreeing for more than 40 years that this would occur - not the gathering itself, as important as that will be, but what it represents. America began turning from and rebelling against God and His Son, Jesus Christ, decades ago, at least as early as the 1960’s. In 1962, the Supreme Court struck down school prayer; Time magazine published an article in 1965 reporting on the “God Is Dead” theology and movement. In 1973, the infamous Supreme Court decision making the right to an abortion the law of the land was delivered. That season began not merely a decline in morality, decency, and greatness in America; it marked the beginning of a cataclysmic collapse. For the last few years, America has been inching its way to healing. Like the prodigal in Scripture crawling through the mud and slop of pigs back to “his senses” (Luke 15:17), America is returning to our Heavenly Father - to our roots. A rededication of our nation to God by our President and other leaders is astronomical toward this process. Christian leaders have done this; I have participated in it. But it will take on added significance when our government does so. The heavens will shake in the spiritual realm. What Does This Dedication Mean? The concept of dedicating people, places, buildings, and other resources to God is very biblical and significant. There are four words in Scripture translated “dedicate” or “dedication.” Examining them alongside references in which they’re used will provide insight into the principle. Chanak(1) is one of the words. It is used to describe Solomon and all of Israel “dedicating” the Temple in 1 Kings 8:63. Interestingly, it is also translated “train up” a child in the way he should go in Proverbs 22:6. It is easy to see that the word conveys more than a simple token prayer or statement of dedication. It implies a serious, ongoing commitment to a process, person, or cause. And it ushered the glory of God into the temple! Another word translated “dedicate” in Scripture is qadash, and its derivative qodesh.(2) These two highly significant words mean to be holy or to be set apart to God. People were, of course, qadash’ed or separated to Him, but items (such as utensils in the Temple), and even days on the calendar were, as well. Items in the Temple were never to be used for anything else after being dedicated to the Lord. Days on the calendar that were qadash’ed to God were treated as holy days. Joshua told the entire nation of Israel to qadash themselves to the Lord in Joshua 3:5, in preparation for crossing into the promised land. Joel was told to sanctify or consecrate (qadash) the nation of Israel in Joel 2:15-16 in order to allow God’s restoration to occur. It is clear that the concept presented by these words is incredibly powerful. It tells us how seriously Yahweh takes our dedication to Him, declaring us holy and as belonging to Him when we do so. A third word translated as dedicate is cherem or charam.(3) This word carries such a strong meaning of being dedicated or devoted to someone that it became the word for a king’s harem. The word implies being set apart to a person or purpose in a very strict way. The spoils of Jericho, for example, were set apart (charem) for God’s use only (Joshua 6:18). When Achan stole some of those spoils, it brought a curse on the entire nation until his sin was dealt with (Joshua 7:11-13)! America was “dedicated” to God from her beginning, set apart for His purposes. We abandoned the Lord and His purposes for us, rebelling from His ways and our dedication to Him. The cost has been immeasurable. The New Testament Greek word for dedicate is egkainizo.(4) Egkainizo means to “inaugurate, dedicate, and/or consecrate something new;” it can also mean to rededicate it. The word is used in Hebrews 9:18 to describe the inauguration, dedication, and consecration of the Old Covenant through the blood of animals. In the next chapter, 10:20, it describes the inauguration and dedication of the new and better covenant through the blood of Jesus. This word is also used in the phrase “Feast of Dedication” in John 10:22. Today, this festival is called Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. “The history of the Feast of Dedication goes back to the intertestamental period and the Maccabean Revolt. After a Syrian king profaned the Jewish temple and forced the Jews to abandon their sacrifices and adopt pagan rituals, a group of Jewish freedom fighters rose up, defied the oppressive pagan regime, and overthrew the Syrians. The temple in Jerusalem was “re-dedicated” to God; ever since then, the Feast of Dedication has been celebrated to commemorate this meaningful event in Jewish history.”(5) America should take the rededication of our nation to God as seriously as the Jews did the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees. I can assure you God will take it seriously. We should celebrate the overthrow of defilement and the return of our nation to alignment with the Lord. This won’t mean the work of restoration is finished, but it will certainly mean it can be finished. Pray with me: Father, thank You for raising up this nation to be a light, a city on a hill, trumpeting the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Though we have strayed from our purpose and destiny, You have not altered it. You intend to resurrect this destiny and allow us to participate in the great billion-soul harvest. As we pray for America today, we ask You to more fully reveal to us our great need for You. We repent over our sin and rebellion, the aborted babies, sex trafficking, and the mutilation of children, confused about their identities. Cleanse our hearts of our self-sufficiency, pride, arrogance, and rebellion toward You. Break and cleanse the hearts of the church over our lukewarm condition and compromise. Father, we thank You for the great turning that has begun; turning from our way to Your way; turning from sin to righteousness; turning from death to life; turning from selfishness to selflessness and love. As we approach this rededication, we pray for our government leaders. Give us legislators and judges who truly acknowledge a reliance upon You and Your statutes. Only through You will we see America’s destiny fulfilled. Heal America’s breaches. Repair our political, generational, and racial wounds. Deliver us from wicked leaders who use them to divide us. Remove them from positions of authority. Expose their hypocrisy and evil agendas. We boldly ask You to bless our nation and bring a sweeping revival - an awakening that will touch every soul and set us apart to You once again. Come, Holy Spirit, sweep across our states and cities. We ask for these things in Christ’s name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we, the people of America, place our trust in Almighty God and honor His will and ways. We rededicate this nation to You! Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 2596. Ibid., ref. no. 6944. Ibid., ref. no. 2764. Ibid., ref. no. 1457. https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Dedication.html

Celebrating the National Day of Prayer 2026 America’s National Day of Prayer is a national treasure. Our nation has known from its foundations that we must call on the Name of the Lord to remain secure in His protection and blessing. “When George Washington was leaving home to begin what would become a lifelong service for his country, he recorded the parting words of his mother, Mrs. Mary Washington: ‘Remember that God is our only sure trust. To Him, I commend you…My son, neglect not the duty of secret prayer.’”(1) When challenged as to the Christian roots of America, many believers like to quote President John Adams, who boldly stated, “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no king but Jesus!”(2) America’s history reveals that this presidential acknowledgment of God did not end as we entered the modern age. President John F. Kennedy sought the Lord’s blessing for our nation at the National Day of Prayer in 1962. He asked the Lord to bless “our homes, that this integral unit of society may nurture our youth and give to them the needed faith in God, in our Nation, and in their future; our citizens, that they may increase in the desire to promote mercy and justice, peace and freedom, good will and brotherhood; our Nation, that each new achievement may add to our heritage of faith.”(3) In 1983, at the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C., President Ronald Reagan reminded the nation of its need for and reliance on God. He proclaimed, “From General Washington’s struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future.”(4) In 2020, while the nation struggled with covid, President Donald J. Trump reminded our country of God’s faithfulness and commitment to us. He declared, “In every part of our country, we’ve seen the grace of God through the love and devotion of our fellow citizens. As scripture assures us, ‘The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.’”(5) (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV). On April 21 of this year, during “America Reads Through the Bible,” Trump read aloud 2 Chronicles 7-11-22 over our nation, which includes the great “If My People” verse. So today, we celebrate another National Day of Prayer. We turn to the Lord, humble ourselves, repent of our personal and national sin, and pray together in unity, asking Him to heal our land, just as we have since America’s beginning (see 2 Chronicles 7:14). “The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of ‘humiliation, fasting, and prayer’ in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Typically, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories, along with thousands of mayors, city councils, and other local government leaders!”(6) The National Day of Prayer Task Force President Kathy Branzell comments on this year’s theme: “Every year we pray and seek the Lord for the National Day of Prayer theme that will guide our year and unite the tens of thousands of prayer gatherings we host from coast to coast. This year, on May 7, 2026, we will unite and pray as our new 2026 theme calls us to, ‘Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations.’” “Last year, our theme was inspired by a prayer that the apostle Paul prayed over the believers in Rome. “In 2026, our theme is inspired by a passionate prayer of Thanksgiving, prayed by King David in 1 Chronicles 16 after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.”(7) This chapter records David and Israel celebrating the return of the Ark after it had been separated from them for 20 years. It had been captured from Shiloh by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4:11. The Philistines returned it after seven months due to judgments from God (1 Samuel 5-6). It remained in the house of Abinadab in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years before David returned it to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 16). The Ark was more than a box for carrying holy items; it represented the presence and glory of God. I can’t help but feel that the choosing of this year’s NDP theme is prophetic. The glory of the Lord is returning to America. Take the time to pray for America today. You may still have time to find a prayer gathering in your area where you can gather with other believers to intercede for the nation. Click here to see what’s near you. If you prefer, there are many prayer calls you can participate in. You can find the official National Day of Prayer call-in information here. Let’s make this year’s National Day of Prayer a defining moment in America. Pray with me: Lord, we are humbled and blessed at the grace and love You have shown the United States of America. Though our sins have been great, there has been much repentance for this nation. We have repented for abortion, for slavery, and for breaking covenant with the Native Americans many times. There have been other national sins, but as we repent, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. Forgive us and restore us completely to Your plan and purpose. We are thankful that You are awakening Your church in America. The Ekklesia will be everything You said we would be. We will function in power, might, glory, love, great faith, and uncompromising boldness. Today, we honor our covenant with You; On May 17, we will do so in a formal rededication time to You. We recommit to making You known in America and the nations - let the full manifestation of Your Kingdom be seen. We worship You over our nation. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. Our decree: America is a nation whose God is the Lord, and His glory is returning to our land. Click on the link below to watch the full video. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations (William Federer, America’s God and Country, FAME Publishing Inc., 1994), p. 635-636. https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/christian-presidential-quotes-22-awesome-sayings/ https://www.christianpost.com/news/12-national-day-of-prayer-quotes-american-presidents.html Ibid. https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-mike-pence-melania-trump-national-prayer-day-speech-transcript https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/about https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2026_theme

Make It Serve You I have shared posts on the subject of forgiveness for the past two days [May 4 and May 5]. Today’s post reveals, to some extent, God’s sense of humor. A couple of years after insisting that I forgive a man I blamed for so much pain in my family, and giving me the grace to do so (read about it here), the Lord led me to Christ For the Nations Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas. Shortly after arriving, to my complete surprise, I ran into this man’s son, who was also there as a student. Tom (not his real name) happened to be among the 15 or 20 students who became my inner circle. He was a few years younger than me and had no idea of the hatred I once held for his dad. I’m sure he was completely unaware of what had even taken place a few years prior to this. Tom had gotten into drugs and alcohol while in high school and became horribly addicted. He had come to Christ and was attending the Bible institute to help firm up his walk with the Lord. I found it very encouraging that I could relate to him with no feelings of awkwardness or resentment. About six months into my time there, Tom had a bit of a relapse and used some recreational drugs, which was obviously against the strict policy of the Bible College. The school was not a rehabilitation center equipped to deal with drug addiction and rehabilitation, so they were very firm in their stance. Violating the policy meant dismissal, along with suggestions for finding a place better suited to helping them. Of course, if Holy Spirit led otherwise, they made exceptions. The Dean of Men, who would be making this decision and doling out the consequences, called me to his office. I knew him somewhat from some on-campus prayer meetings I had attended. He was quite strict regarding the school’s policies. He was also very prophetic. He prayed regarding situations of this nature, asking Holy Spirit to give him wisdom and guidance. I had no idea why he was summoning me to his office. He explained what happened with Tom and spelled out the normal consequences for the offense. “I feel I am to give him another chance, however,” he stated. “I believe his heart is pure and repentant. He is a friend of yours, isn’t he?” he asked. “Yes,” I said, “he is a friend.” I felt truly spiritual being able to say that. Not that I was proud, you understand. My assumption was that the Dean was about to ask me if I thought it was a good idea to give Tom another chance. NOT! “I’ve seen you spending time in the prayer room,” he began. I was, indeed, attempting to become an intercessor. I certainly wasn’t an expert, but I was passionate. “I am willing to give Tom a second chance,” he said, “if you are willing to take him on as a personal assignment. You must accompany him to the prayer room every day and pray with him, teaching him to pray, and helping him get free from his addictions.” Did I mention that this Dean was very prophetic?! He knew nothing about my past with this young man’s father. Nothing! But had he ever heard from God! I said yes, and left the room dumbfounded. I’m not sure what my exact words to the Lord were when I left the dean’s office, but they were something like this: “Well, God, You sure do have a sense of humor.” “I do,” He answered. “But I’m doing more than being humorous. I’m finishing the job. Drive the nail into the coffin of your past. Make satan pay. Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). You are free in your heart; now seal it with your actions.” I was able to do this assignment. I led this young man to the prayer room every day - actually, he had no choice - and prayed over him, as well as making him pray, for an hour or so. Surprise, surprise! It worked…for both of us. We chased off his demons and buried my past pain. Only God. Tom became free and, as far as I know, was able to remain free. The word “overcome” in the verse above (Romans 12:21) is the Greek word nikao.(1) It means “to conquer, prevail, overcome; even legally - to win in a court of law.” It’s a wonderful word describing our God-infused ability to be overcomers in life. There is one place, however, where Holy Spirit evidently decided this word was not strong enough to describe the overcoming nature He has given us. Romans 8:37 tells us: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us,” (NASB). The KJV says we are more than conquerors. As this revelation was breathed into Paul by Holy Spirit, so he could pass it on to us, Paul was overcome by the strength of what he was seeing. As he searched his mind for the correct word, he came up empty and finally had to combine two words into one: hupernikao, translated above as “overwhelmingly conquer.” This Greek word is used nowhere else in the New Testament. The prefix huper means “overwhelmingly, over, beyond, exceedingly, excessively, more than.” Our English word, hyper, comes from this Greek word. Paul, overwhelmed with emotion and excitement, shouts with his pen, “We are hyperconquerors! We overwhelmingly conquer! Our ability to conquer is excessive, over the top!” Holy Spirit wants us to overwhelmingly conquer our past and anything else satan throws our way. “Through Him who loved us,” Paul goes on to say (Romans 8:37b). Everything God does is motivated by His heart of love. He’s a Giver, a Blesser, a Healer, a Destiny-provider. When He asks us to release, let go of past offenses, He is actually saying, “Here’s how I can get rid of your pain. Let me have it.” Forgiveness, releasing the person who hurt you, is one of the ways God erases the negative side of the ledger. He moves your pain into the asset column, working it for your good, making it serve you! You can do this. Let it go! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your determination to heal, equip, and strengthen us for success. You have a plan for each of us, and You are determined to accomplish it. We pray the prayer of the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). (“Hurtful way” could be translated as “way of pain.”) Reveal any pain in us that could hinder our destiny. We want clean hands and pure hearts. We pray now for our brothers and sisters who struggle with the pain of past experiences. Help them let go. Pour Your grace into them, enabling them to release it all to You. You are such a good Father, and You will release and heal them completely. And we pray that in the coming revival, we will be healing agents. We ask You that through our wholeness, we will produce wholeness. We can be the generation that heals our land of racism, division, and strife. Start in us, Your people, then anoint us to release Your healing. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in the wholeness of Christ and minister His wholeness to those in need. Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Strong’s Hebrew: 3528. (nikaó) -- To conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to gain victory.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/3528.htm. May 12, 2025.

The Power of Forgiveness Yesterday, I spoke with you about offenses and forgiveness. The New Testament word translated as “offense” actually came from animal traps. This word was the stick upon which a piece of raw meat was placed. When an animal reached for the meat, the trap was sprung, and they were captured. It is very revealing that the word for “offense” basically means to “take the bait.” This is also why it is called “picking up” an offense. Regarding forgiveness, in yesterday’s post, we mentioned that the New Testament word means “to release.” A good translation of Luke 6:37 would be “Release, and you will be released.” When we release the person who has offended or wounded us, we can then be released from the bruises and pain they caused us. Releasing them releases us. We also said yesterday that forgiveness is a choice - a decision - not a feeling. My Testimony When I was 17 years old, my family went through a very difficult time. The Board of Directors of the church my father had planted removed him and took the home where we were living. The house had been given to our family, but for tax purposes, it was put in the church’s name. We were left penniless and homeless. I didn’t know at the time that they had removed my father because of immorality. Shortly thereafter, he divorced my mother and married the other woman. Our family was devastated once again. Circumstances had gone from bad to catastrophic. I became bitter at Dad for his role in this, and at the church that abandoned my family, especially the chairman of the church board. I focused much of my anger upon him, an anger that soon became a bitter hatred. After all, he kicked us to the street. I said on several occasions that I could not kill this man, but I would rejoice if someone else did. Though it was irrational, I also became bitter at the church, in general. I associated my pain and my family’s disintegration with religion, and swore I would never darken the door of another church. Becoming very rebellious, I ran from God and turned to drugs and alcohol. God was incredibly patient. He protected me and, for two years, waited patiently for me to come to a point where I could respond to Him again. I returned to Him and have enjoyed a wonderful walk with God since that time. Around six months into my renewed walk with the Lord, He began dealing with me about my hatred for the man I had blamed for many of our problems. I heard Holy Spirit very clearly telling me I needed to forgive him. I did not angrily resist the Lord, but I did not believe I could ever truly do so. The bitterness I had against this man was so strong, I had no confidence whatsoever that I would be able to forgive him; I told the Lord this. Holy Spirit was gentle with me, not condemning. His promptings always came as a gentle nudge deep in my heart. He was, however, insistent and persistent: “You will have to do this if you want My best for you and to truly be free from all of the pain this caused.” When my heart softened to the point that I was willing to try, Holy Spirit began teaching me how to do it. Some of what He taught me I shared in yesterday’s post. He revealed to me that I could have emotional feelings of anger, hurt, etc., and still choose to forgive from my heart, overruling my emotions. As an example, He said, “You don’t like to get up early some days and go to work, but you do it anyway because it’s the right thing to do; it’s your responsibility. You don’t like to exercise, but you do it anyway because you know that you need to.” Then came the final blow, “Jesus did not want to go to the Cross, but He did so anyway, for the joy He knew it would produce later” (Hebrews 12:2). “Choose to do this because it’s right, even though you don’t want to. Don’t allow your feelings to rule you. If you will make this choice and maintain the decision daily, I’ll be able to release you from all the pain, resentment, and hatred. Your responsibility is to let go; it’s My responsibility to heal your emotions and release you from every effect of this. Choose life!” Somehow, the dots connected in my thinking. I realized I could overrule my “feelings.” I didn’t have to “feel” like it, and I didn’t need any positive feelings toward this man. I simply needed to “release” him to God, trusting Him to do what was right. I did so daily, saying something along these lines (it’s important to say it), “I choose to release David [not his real name] from all he did to hurt my family.” Every time he came to mind, and unpleasant feelings began rising up inside of me, I would say it again, “I choose to release David from all he did to hurt my family.” Some days I had to do this multiple times. After a couple of weeks, he was rarely coming to my mind, and when he did, I felt less emotion. I continued this process. A week or two after that, he came to mind again, and I realized that I felt no pain or anger whatsoever. I was shocked! I knew God had released me from all the effects of what had occurred two years earlier. The Proof However, Holy Spirit wanted to show me that I was truly healed. One Sunday night, my mom and I were returning home from a church service and stopped at a local restaurant to grab a bite to eat. There were no tables available, and we were waiting for one when I noticed this particular man and his wife seated across the room. He noticed us at the same time. I also saw that he and his wife were seated at a table for four people, and two of the chairs were empty. He jumped to his feet and headed in our direction. Well, I thought to myself, he wants to say hello. I’m about to find out if this is real. He wanted to do more than just say hello. “Would the two of you like to join us at our table?” he asked. “Sure,” said my mother, “that’s very kind of you.” I kept waiting for that angry, bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach that used to surface when I thought of him. I expected at least a few negative emotions. But there were none. I was not having to feign being nice to him while burying my anger and hatred. It was actually easy - it felt normal to treat him with kindness. I felt no pain whatsoever. I thanked the Lord for delivering me from my chains of bitterness. No, this man did not become my friend, but he was no longer my enemy. Friends, regardless of the level of your pain, who hurt you, or when it occurred, God can and will do this for you. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, it is impossible to go through life and not have many opportunities to forgive. You said offenses will come. You did not tell us to forgive only if we felt like it; You simply said to do so. You never ask us to do anything You will not enable us to do. So we choose this day to honor Your word and obey it from our hearts, our spirits, regardless of how our emotions feel. As we obey what You have said, our emotions and feelings must come into alignment with the Word-based decision we make. They must…and they will. As we release, we will be released. Father, we ask for tremendous grace to everyone praying this prayer with us now. Give them the grace to forgive and release. Let a process of healing begin for those who have been abandoned, abused, rejected, betrayed, and wronged in any way. Release a strong revelation that forgiveness is a choice we can all make. May today mark a new beginning for them, and all the negative results of what they have suffered be reversed. Let this begin today. We ask that You heal bodies through this. Mend hurting hearts and minds. Tear down the walls we’ve built to protect our emotions. Cause victims to be victimized no longer. Let the abused go free. Release captives, mend broken hearts, and restore hope. We ask that today truly be a new beginning. And we ask it all in the name of the great healer, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in forgiveness to all. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

It’s a Trap In Luke 17:1, Jesus tells us that offenses are inevitable; they WILL come. The Greek word for “offense” is skandalon. It is also translated as a “stumbling block,” a word or event that causes an individual to stumble or fall, figuratively speaking. This word is very fascinating. Skandalon literally means “a trap-stick.”(1) It was the trigger of a trap (usually made of wood) on which bait was placed; when the bait was taken by an animal, the trap was sprung. Skandalon is also the Greek word from which we get our English word, scandal. When we, like an unsuspecting animal, take certain types of bait, we are trapped and often find ourselves in a scandalous situation. It also became the word for an “offense” since an offense results from “taking the bait” when wronged. Thus, the phrase, “pick up an offense.” When we have been wronged or mistreated, the key to remaining free from bitterness and lasting pain is to not pick up the offense - don’t take the bait. Jesus told us very clearly that we WILL be baited - offenses WILL come. We must not pick them up - they are traps! The bait used in an animal trap is food the creature finds appealing, something it desires to eat. How else could the trap actually be successful? Likewise, we pick up offenses because it is desirable; it feels good to pick it up. When treated poorly or unfairly, stolen from, spoken to harshly, abused, or mistreated, it is appealing to take the bait. We “deserve” to be angry, to feel resentful, to take up an offense. After all, they wronged us. But it’s a trap! Years ago, in a certain part of Africa, monkeys were trapped by placing a banana in a jar that was tied to a tree or stake. The opening of the jar was just large enough for the monkey’s hand to fit through when open. However, when the hand was closed into a fist, it was too big to remove it. The monkey wanted the banana so badly that it would not let go of it, and consequently could not remove its hand. It was now trapped by its desire. If you have picked up an offense, if you have taken the bait, let go of it. It’s the only way to be free. If you hold on to it, you will become a captive to the effects of the wound, and to satan. Forgiveness - The Key to Freedom This brings us to the subject of forgiveness. Jesus told us in Luke 6:37 to forgive, and we would be forgiven. In the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus again instructed us to forgive our debtors, or “those who trespass against us.” The word forgive also means to release. “Release and you will be released,” Luke 6:37 says. The key to being freed from the effects of being wronged - pain, fear, emotional walls, and more - is to release the person who hurt us. Let go of the banana. It may feel good to resent or hate the offending party, but it’s a trap. Here are three truths that will help you “let go.” Firstly, one of the biggest hindrances for those needing to forgive is a misconception of forgiveness itself. Most people tie it to their feelings. But forgiveness doesn’t come from our feelings or emotions. It is a decision we make based on truth, not how we feel. God did not intend for our feelings to lead or control us. They should not define us. Being angry at someone we love doesn’t mean we no longer love them. We may not “feel” the love at the moment - in our emotions we feel anger - but we still love the person. In the same way, forgiveness isn’t a feeling. We can make a genuine decision to forgive/release, while still feeling anger, hurt, pain, etc. We do so as an action of our will, based on truth - God said to do it. And if we maintain our decision, it allows God to work the process of releasing and healing us from the pain and hurt. Another hindrance to forgiveness is failing to realize that when doing so, we are not saying that the offending person did nothing wrong, or that they deserve to be forgiven. We are simply releasing them to God - He reserves the right to judge individuals. We are trusting Him to do what is right. Still another hindrance to forgiving is the belief that if we have truly done so, we will have only positive thoughts or feelings toward the offender. This is simply not true. There are people I have forgiven who I still do not trust or like as a person. Some are mean, unkind, and unrighteous. But I have chosen to forgive them, releasing them to God, though they will never be my friends. Roots of Bitterness When we pick up an offense, it will become a root of bitterness if not released. The fruit this bitter root produces is destructive: sickness, emotional disorders, anger, loss of joy, and a breach between us and God. It also spreads to others. Hebrews tells us that a root of bitterness in us defiles many. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15; KJV). The Greek word for “defiled” is also the word for a stain on clothing. When we become bitter, we stain others with our bitterness. We’ve all seen entire families separated through bitterness. How tragic. In tomorrow’s post, I will share the story of my hatred toward an individual, and God’s healing of my hardened heart. I truly hated this man and would have loved to see him destroyed. God, however, showed me I could release him, and would have to, to be released from my own chains. He will grace you to do the same. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for modeling love and forgiveness. While we were still sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us. Jesus, You forgave those who crucified You. We want Your forgiving nature to control us. We want to walk in love. We ask for grace now to do so. As You taught us to do, we choose to forgive those who have hurt us. We release them. As we do so, we believe it will release a healing process in us. Wounds will heal, sickness will leave, and emotions will no longer control us. We desire to forgive and release so You can forgive us (Mark 11:25). And Lord, we know healed people heal people. Make us healers. Help us to spread healing love, not stain-causing bitterness. Heal our land of racial wounds, political division, and cultural divides. We want to see the accuser cast down in our nation. We bind spirits of division and strife, declaring their hold broken. We desire to be ambassadors and examples of Your love and forgiveness toward others. Help us represent You well. We pray these things in Christ’s powerful name. Our decree: We decree that we will love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven by God. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1984; revised edition, 1990) p. 2274.

Christians and Government, Part 2 Today I am continuing my discussion of the church’s relationship with government. When God said to me, “I am going to teach you about government, because I AM government,” it was quite a shock. Like many people, I had a great distaste for politics and government. He then quoted Isaiah 33:22 to me, “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.” Notice, the verse Holy Spirit quoted to me - Isaiah 33:22 - does not say God “endorses” the concept of legislators, judges, and kings (i.e., government); it says He IS these things. Since God is our Lawgiver, Judge, and King, these things, in and of themselves, cannot be bad. And most people are surprised to find that America’s three branches of government are based on this verse in Isaiah: The Legislative Branch (Congress), the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court), and the Executive Branch (Presidency). Our government is patterned after heaven’s! When truly thought through, it isn’t the concept of government that many of us dislike. We have “government” in our homes, businesses, churches - almost everywhere. The noun, government, is defined as “direction; control; management; rule.” The verb form govern means “to rule over by right of authority; to exercise a directing or restraining influence over; to guide; to have predominating influence.” As these definitions show, the concept of government is essential and created by God. To be without it is to have anarchy and, ultimately, untethered rebellion. What most of us dislike about government is actually the defilement and perversion of the function by people and systems. This dislike is certainly understandable. They also dislike a political spirit. Although God is governmental, He is NOT political. It was a political spirit that led the efforts to crucify Jesus! A political spirit seeks to gain control of people and promote its own agenda through fear, manipulation, deception, corruption, violence, craftiness, and unscrupulous activities. God opposes these things, and so should we. If we could get all Christians to differentiate between government (the function), politics (the process of attaining governmental power), and a political spirit (the perversion of the process for gain and control), it would change their perspective. The body of Christ would have no qualms about becoming involved in government and no hesitation in discussing it in our gatherings and circles. We would understand that we can promote righteous government without promoting political parties. God certainly is not a Republican or Democrat, and we should never blindly support a candidate or cause just because of party affiliation. He does, however, care greatly about who rules. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn,” (Proverbs 29:2, KJV). The Passion Translation of this verse says, “Everyone rejoices when the lovers of God flourish, but the people groan when the wicked rise to power.” To avoid government simply because some in it are bad, is as foolish as not governing our homes simply because some parents abuse their children. Since God does care who rules, as His Word clearly states, how can it possibly be wrong for believers to influence the process? How can it possibly be inappropriate for the body of Christ to try to promote righteous individuals for positions of authority? How could it possibly be wrong to encourage church members to support righteous leaders and causes? How can we truly be salt and light without doing this? And how could it possibly be inappropriate to pray about these things when we gather as the church? To neglect doing so is to fall prey to one of the greatest deceptions satan has ever visited on the church. Kermit Bridges of Southwestern A.G. University says: “In commanding us to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in the world, Jesus is encouraging us to influence our culture rather than isolate ourselves from our culture. Some well-intentioned believers feel that any efforts to exert pressure on the behavior of non-Christians are wrong. “Anything beyond evangelism is off-limits. As a result, Christians should definitely not engage in politics. This thinking is characterized by the false assumption: ‘I personally believe in such and such, but I can’t impose my morality on others.’ “Every time a legislature enacts legislation, it is an imposition of morality. “Laws against thievery impose the morality of the honest over the dishonest. Laws against prostitution impose a sexual morality. Declaring anything legal or illegal is a statement of morality. Legislation is built upon morality, and morality is built upon religion. “Founding Father, John Adams, our second president, declared: “‘[Our government is not] ‘capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion…Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’ “Even our most irreligious Founding Fathers, Franklin and Jefferson, championed the need for a virtuous and moral people influenced by faith.”(1) Listen to the counsel of the late Chuck Colson: “The popular notion that 'you can’t legislate morality’ is a myth. Morality is legislated every day from the vantage point of one value system being chosen over another. The question is not whether we will legislate morality, but whose morality gets legislated.”(2) It doesn’t require a degree in political science to see that the withdrawal from and/or silence of the church regarding government gives control of America to unbelievers. When that occurs, our only hope for righteous and morally sound laws is for God to sovereignly overrule those who disagree with Him. How’s that been workin’ out? He works on earth through His people, not independently of them. Yahweh gave Adam and Eve two mandates in the VERY FIRST chapter of the Bible: “Be fruitful and multiply,” or in other words, Give me more kids, and manage/govern the earth. If we, the church, are to become the ambassadorial representatives God intends us to be, we must shift our paradigms regarding government. We must see it as a God-created function–good, not evil–and accept our God-given calling to extend His influence through it. Pray with me: Father, Your Word tells us that when we are ignorant of the way satan thinks and operates, it enables him to take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:11). He is a master deceiver. Enlighten and awaken us to our responsibilities from You, and as citizens of a free nation. Break off the church, the hesitancy to involve herself in government activities and influence. We ask You to remove ungodly and anti-Christian leaders from positions of government in our nation. Give us honest legislators who will honor You and Your Word. Give us judges who honor our Constitution, and who fear and honor You more than all else. We ask You to continue shaking unrighteous strongholds in our nation until the strongholds of humanism, secularism, and socialism are broken off of us. We ask You for revival to increase and multiply in our schools, with millions of young people coming to You. America needs reformation; please give us this transformative aspect of revival, and please do so quickly. We ask You for all of these things in the mighty name of Jesus, our great and merciful Savior. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the church, the Ekklesia, will arise and become the preserving salt and guiding light we are called to be. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.sagu.edu/thoughthub/should-christians-participate-in-politics/ Ibid.

Christians and Government Years ago, I was disheartened when I heard Holy Spirit say He was going to teach me about government. This was a time in my life when I had a distaste for government and knew very little about it. I could not have cared less about its function and processes. My first thought when hearing Him was, “How boring! What have I done to deserve this?” Of course, He was referring to His plan for government; I was envisioning my high school Civics course! God’s next sentence set me on my heels, “Because I AM government.” He then quoted Isaiah 33:22 to me, “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.” I was so glad I hadn’t told God what I was thinking - in my mind I had just called Him boring!!! God IS government, He DELEGATES a portion of His government, and satan wants to USURP His government! Let’s unpack this statement. Notice that the verse Holy Spirit quoted to me (Isaiah 33:22) does not simply say God endorses the concept of laws, judges, and kings (i.e., government); it says He embodies them. The Bible uses the word “Lord” 7946 times, most of them referring to Yahweh. My dictionary said “Lord” means “a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.” In other words, government. This means that the Bible refers to God as our governmental Head almost 8,000 times! The entirety of Scripture is about government! Think about it: one of the primary themes of the Bible is, “Who will rule the earth?” In the first chapter, God gets right to the point: “I want family, and My family will ‘rule’ the earth (their home) for Me (Genesis 1:26-28). They will be the extension and expression of My Kingdom’s government there. This is how I will release My influence, My righteous Kingdom ideals and ways, into the earth.” That is true, inarguable, and profound. The Hebrew words for “dominion” and “rule” in this Genesis passage make clear that the Creator was delegating this responsibility to Adam and Eve. But satan wanted this dominion. He had attempted a coup in Heaven and failed. Banished to earth, his thinking now was, If I can’t rule over God’s entire Kingdom, I’ll at least govern the earth and His family there. And by chapter 3, he had succeeded in deceiving Adam and Eve, who rebelled from God’s authority and government. Satan took their authority. Yahweh lost His family, and they lost their governmental authority over the earth. Satan now had it. Christ was sent to earth as the second Adam to reclaim both the family AND their governing authority. The story of the Bible is the clash of two kingdoms! From cover to cover, God’s Word is about family…and government! If I were satan, one of my most important strategies would be to alienate God’s family–His representatives and ambassadors–from government. I’d tell them it’s bad, evil, unspiritual. Let ‘em love God, be His “sheep,” even His family. But 1) don’t let them know they’re His representatives here on earth (Christ’s Ekklesia); 2) keep them from involving themselves in any and all government. If I could succeed in this, God’s conduit for releasing His authority on the earth would be rendered ineffective. Throughout the Scriptures, we can see God’s plan of ruling the earth through people. Consider Abraham, of whom it was said: “Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Genesis 18:18-19). God determined to bless the entire earth through Abraham. To do so, however, He needed Abraham to command and teach His ways, releasing His justice and judgments into the earth. God also released His authority, His government, through Moses, Joshua, then through prophets, judges, and kings. Yahweh’s determined plan to release His authority on earth through humans was so literal and consequential that many times, entire nations have been cursed or blessed based on the actions of their government leaders. Think about that: entire populations were cursed or blessed based on the actions of a government leader! More suffering on earth has taken place because of the actions of government leaders than from any other cause. Millions of people have been killed and persecuted because of government leaders. Poverty has overtaken nations because of government leaders. Cultures and people groups have actually been eradicated because of the actions of government leaders. Sixty-seven million babies in America have been murdered since 1973 because of the actions of government leaders. Children are allowed to be mutilated and neutered through government decisions. And yet…many in the church embrace a belief that we who represent God’s will and plans on earth should stay out of this arena! When we gather as the church, we shouldn’t talk about it. Many believe that, as a corporate entity, the church should say and do nothing to place those who know and honor God in positions of authority. This is insane, and the ramifications are horrific. The thief, who came to steal, kill, and destroy, is given control. We in America have been blessed with one of the greatest privileges in the history of nations: choosing our own government. Yet, with this comes incredible responsibility. To forfeit this blessing is more than a waste; it is shirking our God-given responsibility of governing the earth for Him. When the right people are leading our nation, America becomes the greatest force for justice, peace, safety, and provision in all the world! We were instrumental in saving the earth during two world wars. We have preserved the world from the control of communism. We have become the leading force in health and medicine. God and the world need a strong America. In order for there to be a strong America, however, there must be a strong and righteous government. The church must be freed from the deception that causes her to withdraw from this process and become involved at every level of government. We must. This is not theocracy or Christian Nationalism; it is common sense, it is biblical, and it is LOVE. In tomorrow’s post, we will talk about politics and the political spirit, part of what satan uses to keep many in the church aloof from government. We will see that God is governmental, but He is not political. Pray with me: Father, our prayer today is that You teach us Your ways. We must understand Your plans and intentions for us, and for the earth. Ignorance causes us to forfeit so much. May the spirit of wisdom and revelation be taken to a higher level in the church. Teach us how to truly function as Christ’s Ekklesia. Teach us how to better steward the incredible privilege of choosing our own government. Forgive us for relinquishing this right and thereby allowing evil to rule over us. Continue to help us see our government transformed into a God-honoring, life-honoring, Bible-honoring government once again. Though we have allowed evil into our government, in Your mercy, give us a rapid turnaround. Thank You for the godly leaders we have in our government; please increase this. Please use the Rededication of Our Nation to You on May 17th as an entry point for Your glory into our land. Forgive, cleanse, and heal us on that day. And thank You for the revival that has begun in our nation. Cause it to increase in scope and strength. We ask these things in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare the words of Isaiah 33:22: “God is our Judge, our Lawgiver, and our King; He will save us!” Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Today Is the Anniversary Today is the anniversary of the planting of the cross and dedication of our land to the Lord at Cape Henry. My friend, Steven Springer, informed me and others of a prayer assignment Holy Spirit has given him related to this event. I know it is very significant and am passing it on to you for agreement. Steven said: “Since last summer, following a significant dream I had, I have felt the prompting of the Lord multiple times to go to Cape Henry, Virginia, the very place where Rev. Robert Hunt and a small group of devoted lovers of Jesus first landed on April 26, 1607. Just days later, on April 29th, they planted a cross on that shore and made a profound proclamation over this land before it was ever known as the United States of America. “Now, 419 years later, in the 250th year of our nation’s independence, I sense strongly that this proclamation must be declared again this year, April 29, 2026. This is a moment to remind the land and the spiritual atmosphere over this nation that the word of the Lord does not return void, but is fulfilled with power. There is a sense of a double-portion promise, as the Lord God Almighty is ready to perform His Word. “We invite you to stand with us in agreement on this assignment. “Here is the decree we will make again! [From the original prayer and declaration by Hunt and those with him.] “‘We do hereby dedicate this land, and ourselves, to reach the people within these shores with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains, and may this land, along with England, be evangelists to the world. May all who see this cross remember what we have done here, and may those who come here to inhabit join us in this Covenant and this most noble work, that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores the gospel shall go forth, not only to this new world, but the entire world.’ (Then Steven declares the Scriptures below, quoted by Hunt and his team. We won’t read them now, but will in today’s prayer.) “The United States of America will be saved, fulfilling Psalm 33:12 (AMP): ‘Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.’ “Psalm 22:27–28 (TPT): ‘From the four corners of the earth, the peoples of the world will remember and return to Yahweh. Every nation will come and worship Him. For Yahweh is King of all, who takes charge of all the nations.’ “Psalm 22:27–28 (MSG) declares: ‘From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before Him. God has taken charge; from now on He has the last word.’” Before we make this declaration with Steven - and Robert Hunt - I want to re-share a dream, also regarding Cape Henry, God gave my friend Clay Nash in 2020: “On the morning of September 9, 2020, I dreamed that Dutch issued a call for eight people to rally near Cape Henry. The team would fast, pray, and re-dedicate/consecrate themselves to the Lord, after which they would go to Cape Henry. As the team obeyed and sought God, dreams were received, revealing a wave of awakening being released, sweeping across the nation. “Dutch then said we were ready to set foot on the land, at the cross, and see the ‘Well of Oaths’ opened and freed, to flow across America. “Once we arrived at Cape Henry, some from the Cloud of Witnesses appeared, and Rees Howells stepped forth to pray over us. His prayer said, ‘Let those assigned to break up the fallow ground plow deep, in order that the soil of this nation be prepared for the seeds of righteousness to be sown. This will result in an abundant harvest.’ “Howells then took off his coat and placed it on Dutch’s shoulders, saying, ‘This is the coat I wore during World War II, and must be worn by the Ekklesia in order to see the Kingdom harvest at hand.’ “Rees then hugged Dutch - like a father would a son - and said, ‘The training is finished, it’s time to go to war...and you will see the turning of the war.’” End of dream. My Thoughts Cape Henry, more than any other place in America, represents God’s Kingdom purpose for her. When Robert Hunt and company stepped ashore and planted the cross on that beach, he prayed and prophesied the words Stephen shared above. There is no doubt that these settlers were entering into a covenant with God. And there is no doubt that God placed the desire in their hearts to do so. This was and is God’s plan and destiny for America, and it is being restored. There were eight of us in the dream; eight is the number for “new beginning” in Scripture. The phrase “well of oaths” actually means “well of covenant.” Oath and covenant are used interchangeably in Scripture. This phrase is the literal meaning of the name Beersheba, where Abraham dug a well and planted a tamarisk evergreen tree, which symbolizes covenant, and called on the Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33). After Abraham’s death, in an attempt to harm Isaac, various wells Abraham had dug were filled in by Philistines, including Beersheba, “the well of oaths/covenant” (Genesis 26:18). Isaac redug his father’s “well of oaths/covenant” connecting with yesterday, and unlocking what he needed for today and the future. In this dream, God was saying to us what Isaac demonstrated: “You must tap into your past, the covenant your fathers made with Me. In this ‘well of oaths/covenant’ you will find the life, revival, spiritual harvest, and restoration you need. Rees Howells represents prayer. He was a powerful intercessor and founder of the Bible College of Wales. He and his students shouldered a great intercessory burden during World War II of supporting the Allied Forces and warring spiritually against the Nazis. Rees and his intercessors prayed for hours every day, no doubt helping save the world from Hitler’s demonic plans. Rees’ presence in the dream shows us that only the power released through prayer can reopen this well–America’s covenant with God. Howells wrapped his mantle around me - I represented the Ekklesia - and said it was what he wore during WWII, and that we must wear it now in order to win the spiritual war and produce the GREAT harvest God is bringing. Rees ends his words by saying: “The training is finished, it’s time to go to war.” We have done so, and I believe that the war for the reopening of this covenantal well has turned in favor of God’s Kingdom. Pray with me: Father, let the power of this well now flow to the nation, bringing revival, awakening, and reformation. And we pray and declare with Steven–and Robert Hunt: “We do hereby dedicate this land, and ourselves, to reach the people within these shores with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains, and may this land, along with England, be evangelists to the world. May all who see this cross remember what we have done here, and may those who come here to inhabit join us in this covenant and this most noble work, that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores the gospel shall go forth, not only to this new world, but the entire world.” The United States of America will be saved, fulfilling Psalm 33:12 (AMP): “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalm 22:27–28 (TPT): “From the four corners of the earth, the peoples of the world will remember and return to Yahweh. Every nation will come and worship Him. For Yahweh is King of all, who takes charge of all the nations.” Psalm 22:27–28 (MSG) declares: “From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before Him. God has taken charge; from now on, He has the last word.” Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction I felt that the following word from my brother, Tim Sheets, needed to be shared concurrently with Gina Gholston’s word in yesterday’s GH15. They are in sync, each confirming the other, and I am sharing them with you back-to-back. Tim’s title is: No More Dismay, No More Delay There are moments in history when God’s glory moves in such a way that it shifts entire seasons. We are in one of those moments now. To understand this, Holy Spirit has been emphasizing a simple but powerful instruction: Look to the precedents. Throughout Scripture, when God’s glory increased in the earth, it followed recognizable patterns. These weren’t isolated events; they were divine templates that reveal what happens when His presence intensifies among His people. We are moving, as the Apostle Paul described, from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). But this transition is not incremental as we often imagine. It is accelerating and compounding. It is the convergence of past glory eras merging into a present moment that will exceed them all. What God has done before, He is now doing again, but at a far greater level. One of the clearest precedents is that when glory increases, promises are fulfilled. In every major move of God, there has been a mass activation of what was previously spoken. We saw this in the Exodus. After generations of waiting, promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob suddenly moved from prophecy to fulfillment. We saw it again in Acts 2. Prophetic words were no longer distant hopes; they became living realities. As the Holy Spirit hovered over the 120 in the upper room, the church was birthed. This is how the Spirit works. At creation, He hovered, brooding over what was formless, bringing life where there was none. He incubates what God has spoken until the moment it should be born. And the timing is not random, but divinely appointed. Changing the Times In Revelation 10, the Apostle John records a striking declaration. A mighty angel stands and swears an oath before Heaven that there will be “no more delay” (Revelation 10:6 TPT). This is not symbolic language. It is a legal decree from the Godhead. The word used for “delay” is the Greek word ‘chronos’ and refers to measured, sequential time.(1) The angel is announcing the end of a chronos season and the arrival of a ‘kairos,’ God’s appointed moment.(2) The “now” time. The due season. This is when what has been promised can become what is manifested. There are seasons when God allows delay. During this time, growth is happening beneath the surface, as faith is being formed and endurance is being strengthened. But the moment comes when heaven intervenes and says, “Enough.” No more waiting. No more postponement. No more interruption. No more delay. Satan’s Strategy If satan cannot stop a promise, he will attempt to delay it (Daniel 7:25). And if he can delay it long enough, he hopes to produce something even more dangerous than opposition: Dismay. Delay, repeated over time, wears on the soul. It weakens courage, erodes discipline, and dissolves resolve. Prolonged pressure without a visible breakthrough becomes exhausting. This is how demoralization works. It is subtle. It rarely arrives in dramatic moments, but accumulates through unanswered prayers. Another postponed breakthrough. Another season of “almost.” Over time, expectations begin to fade. Faith becomes quieter, and hope becomes cautious. Eventually, the question emerges to why even try? This is not a failure of devotion. It is the result of sustained spiritual warfare. Many in the body of Christ have endured this in recent years. Cultural pressure has increased. Opposition has intensified. Compromise has muddied clarity. Even within the church, criticism and division have added to the weight. The result is people who still believe, but are tired; who still hope, but are battling dismay. Heaven is responding to break this cycle. Holy Spirit is not ignoring the condition; He is addressing it. His instruction is clear: Do not become demoralized. This is encouragement and also correction. It is a call to realignment. At the very moment when many feel the most weary, Heaven is declaring a shift to “no more dismay and no more delay.” When God declares the end of delay, He also releases the grace to overcome its effects. Strength returns, vision sharpens, and expectation rises again. This must occur in order for us to step into a kairos moment. It requires action. When the delay ends, passivity must not remain. Holy Spirit is calling His people into something immediate and active. He is saying ‘Now’ to the body of Christ. Now hope. Now expectation. Now faith. Now declaration. Faith is not something reserved for someday. It must be present, engaged, and vocal. It aligns with what Heaven is saying and echoes it into the earth. This is how transitions happen. Not just because God decrees them, but because His people agree with them. To decree “no more delay” is to come into agreement and alignment with the Godhead. Remember, every season has a purpose. There are times for sowing, times for cultivating, and times for waiting. But there is also a time for harvest. And one of the clearest indicators that a season has shifted is when our efforts begin to bear fruit. The Lord is signaling that the season is changing. What has been plowed and sown is now ready to be reaped. What has been prayed is now ready to manifest. What has been promised is now ready to be fulfilled. This is why the call to align now is urgent. Not eventually, but now. Dismay cannot survive in the presence of renewed glory. As the weight of God’s presence increases, it breaks the internal effects of prolonged delay. Courage is restored, discipline is rekindled, and resolve is strengthened. The church is not meant to remain in a state of exhaustion. It is meant to rise in strength. Demoralized people are becoming energized people. From hesitation to boldness. From passivity to action. From survival to advancement. The promise is not uncertain. The Church will finish well, not barely and weakly, but in strength, clarity, and power. The decrees have been made. No more delay in revival. No more delay in harvest. No more delay in fulfilled promises. This is the moment to activate faith again–fully, boldly, without reservation. This is the moment to speak what Heaven is saying. This is the moment to expect what has long been hoped for. Promises will not remain dormant. They will accelerate and come to fullness. The Spirit is still brooding in our day, still hovering and still birthing life. So the declaration stands, “no more dismay and no more delay.” Now is the time. If we will activate our faith according to the Word of the Lord, delay will now be dealt with, and an acceleration will come to birth promises, prophetic words, visions, and prayers in this greater glory season. Pray with me: Father, we come into agreement with what You have decreed. You are the One who changes times and seasons, and we are discerning that a divine shift has been ordained by Heaven. In response, we lay down all dismay. Every place in our hearts where delay has weakened our courage, where waiting has worn down our hope, where discouragement has settled into our hearts, we give to You. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh strength into the church. And Father, thank You for protecting President Trump, his team, and the attendees of the Correspondents’ Dinner this past Saturday night. You continue to foil the enemy’s plans to destroy this man, and we are grateful. A segment of our nation is now dominated and controlled by he who seeks to devour, steal, kill, and destroy (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10). Remind intercessors daily that human efforts–our Secret Service and law enforcement agencies alone–CANNOT protect this man and our government leaders. We must have YOUR protection. Keep the watchmen engaged and focused. And do what no person can do: transform and heal our land. In Yeshua’s name we pray these things. Amen. Our decree: We declare the prophetic promise of Holy Spirit: no more dismay, no more delay. It is time for fulfillment. Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim here. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 5550. Ibid., ref. no. 2540.

Introduction Our friend, Gina Gholston, was the recipient of the “America Shall Be Saved” dream in 2018. Recently, the Lord has been reminding her of this dream. Today’s post is from her, and her title is: It’s Time to Tip the Scale ​​I recently watched the movie, “A Great Awakening.”(1) I enjoy learning about history, especially revival history, and for that reason, found this film to be deeply compelling. However, as I sat in the theatre, I became convinced that this was not just a movie about history; it is a prophetic wake-up call for the Church. The Lord is awakening His Ekklesia to recognize and reclaim the spiritual inheritance we have received as His heirs and representatives. The movie depicts a critical moment in history, when the future of America was literally hanging in the balance. It was the impact of an unstoppable spiritual revolution that became the vital pivot point, launching this nation toward its prophetic destiny. That spiritual awakening resulted from the obedience of men and women who devoted themselves to the Lord. Their lives became vessels through which He released His power and the undeniable reality of Jesus, doing so with such evidence that it shifted the course of history. This is a timely reminder for us today. For once again, the future of this nation is hanging in the balance; just as it was in those formative years, so it is now. The scales could tilt in either direction. The Ekklesia’s response to God’s calling will determine the direction of the tilt; we are the conduits through which His power and glory can be revealed in this critical hour. This is an urgent moment when destiny and timing are meeting. Purpose, resources, wisdom, revelation, and divine encounters are being unlocked, having come into their right time. We must now take hold of and run with all that God has made available to us. For the past several weeks, the Lord has been reminding me of the “America Shall be Saved” dream He gave me a few years back. The dream pictured our times of prayer, our appeals to heaven for His intervention. He assured us in the dream that He has heard our prayers. His verdict has been rendered, His intervention has been granted. But at the end of the dream, after the verdict was revealed, the glory of the Lord came to usher in the fulfillment of that verdict! I believe God was showing us through this dream that the salvation He has determined for America would come through His manifested glory. And I believe this is now beginning. At the beginning of this year, I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, “Here comes the glory!” This is the time! Everything is now aligned for another spiritual revolution, and Jesus is calling His Church off the sidelines and onto the frontlines to advance as carriers of His transforming glory. This will fulfill His determined verdict. Acts 4:27-30 gives a great illustration of this. The Church had experienced a life-changing encounter with God in the Upper Room. Now filled with His Spirit, He launched them with His power, to release His glory. There was a great opportunity for advancement; there was also great resistance, but they were not deterred by the adversity. They realized it was a critical point on the timeline of God’s plan, and that Yahweh had placed them in that specific time to make Jesus known. Their response was NOT, “God hide us from the resistance.” It was, “Lord, grant to us boldness to speak Your Word by stretching forth Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders be done through the name of Your Son, Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). And through their devoted lives, Holy Spirit worked mightily, turning the world upside down with the demonstration of the glory of God! This same determined conviction must be embraced by the church today. Our faith in God must be more than just a “talked-about belief”; it has to be resilient and unshakable. We must be fully persuaded that Jesus is the answer to everything. Like the faith-filled men and women who have gone before us, we must be so devoted to God that His light in us shines with the evidence of His power, wisdom, and love. We must dispel the darkness that has covered people throughout the earth. This is our calling. This is our time. Yahweh reminded me of a word He once spoke to me that is relevant to this moment. He said: “Watch, and do not resist Me. You have never lived in a time like this. I see beyond what you see. I think beyond what you can think or imagine. I know the way! I have the plan! Align with Me. Hear and co-operate with My Spirit as He leads you. “I will show My strength and demonstrate My power in and through those whose hearts are fully dependent and focused on Me! Through you, the world will see and know that I Am God. This is the time of the breaking forth of a new day. It will be produced by the light of My glory radiating through those who are completely Mine!” In this pivotal moment, the church must awaken and boldly engage as Christ’s ambassadors. We must speak and move, not from the perspective and influence of our own emotions and limited understanding, but by the impartation of wisdom that comes by Holy Spirit revelation. As His governing Body, we must speak His Word boldly and confidently, with the authority of Yeshua. It’s time to tip the scale in God’s direction, fulfilling His plan and purpose for our day. When our time here is finished, and history records our story, may it be said of us, “They carried the mantle of revival, devoting themselves to Christ, and their lives became fuel for the flames of Yahweh! He turned the world upside down through them, demonstrating and revealing His undeniable power and glory.” Pray with me: Father, what an honor to have been chosen by You to live in such a time as this! May we embrace the call to be reflections of Your glory, shining the Light of Jesus to the world around us. Continue to work through us to dispel the darkness now shrouding our world. We trust and know that You are still mighty to save and to deliver. As You work to fulfill Your verdict for America, we offer ourselves as Your vessels. Through our surrendered lives, we ask that You work in and through us, revealing Your power and glory. Tilt the scales of history, bringing America and the nations into alignment with Your plan and intentions. We believe this has been occurring, and that the upcoming gathering in Washington, D.C., on May 17 is part of the process. As we rededicate our nation to You, do as You did when Solomon dedicated the Temple: send Your glory! Do as You did at Sinai when the people of Israel dedicated themselves to You: send Your glory and shake the mountain of government. Shake out evil and corruption, return America to You and Your ways. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: As we fulfill our calling and speak God’s Word with boldness, He will tilt the scales of history, fulfilling His determined verdict to save America and bring revival among the nations. You can learn more about Gina at GinaGholston.com Click on the link below to watch the full video. A Great Awakening (2026), directed by Joshua Enck and released by Sight & Sound Films. Written by Joshua Enck, Jeff Bender, and Jonathan Blair.

A Timely Lesson As the book of Ezra opens, Cyrus, King of Persia, has allowed a remnant of Israelites to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding their Temple. Seventy years prior, because of their apostasy, God had allowed Israel to be taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. Later, toward the end of the 70-year exile, they came under Cyrus’s rule when he conquered Babylon. God then moved upon the heart of Cyrus, a pagan and idolatrous king, to permit this return. He even stirred the king’s heart to help them raise the needed funds for the rebuild (see Ezra 1:1-4). Also, King Cyrus returned to them all the vessels and utensils that Nebuchadnezzar had plundered from Israel’s Temple and placed in the temple of his gods. These articles totaled 5400 gold and silver pieces. That’s a chunk of change. Here in Ezra, a remnant returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel’s leadership and began work on the Temple. Ezra tells us: “When the workers laid the foundation of The Temple of God, the priests in their robes stood up with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise God in the tradition of David…All the people boomed out hurrahs, praising God as the foundation of The Temple of God was laid. As many were noisily shouting with joy, many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first Temple, when they saw the foundations of this Temple laid, wept loudly… People couldn’t distinguish the shouting from the weeping. The sound of their voices reverberated for miles around.” (Ezra 3:10-13, MSG) It has always intrigued me that many Israelites–the young ones–shouted for joy so loudly that it could be heard for miles, while some of the older ones wept. We are left to wonder why the older folks wept. I suppose it could have been joyful weeping because the restoration was beginning. Or perhaps they were remembering the pain of the Babylonian captivity with its tragic losses. They could have been reflecting on the Temple’s former glory and mourning the present state of Ichabod (“the glory has departed”). Or were they, with their wiser perspective that comes from age, considering the reality of just how far away they were from the Temple’s full restoration? I also think it’s possible they were lamenting the apostasy that created the former Temple’s destruction. We are never told the reason. Personally, I believe a good guess would be all of the above, a mix of emotions. One thing is certain: their perspective was different. There is one more thing that is certain about the celebration that took place that day: it was a bit premature. Satan also had plans for the project. Daniel 7:25 tells us he attempts to alter “times and laws.” This is a major tactic of the “prince of Persia” (Daniel 10:13), who is one of his principalities. Persia, of course, is present-day Iran. The Hebrew word used for time in this verse means an appointed time; the word for laws can mean, among other things, the decree of a king. Daniel 2:21 says God changes times and seasons. He also decrees His good plans and purposes for us, both in His written Word and through prophetic words. However, the verse in Daniel 7:25 tells us satan tries to alter those times and decrees. Let that sink in: God’s preferred timing and plans can at times be altered. Satan obviously can’t do so by overpowering or outwitting God; instead, he does this by attacking God’s instruments–us. Satan, through the “prince of Persia,” succeeded in delaying God’s answer to Daniel for 21 days. He didn’t physically attack Daniel, and probably not the angels he “withstood” in the spirit realm (Daniel 10:13). The Hebrew here is a word used not only in a military sense but also in a legal one. The word was often used to describe someone “standing” before a judge, or an adversary in court, bringing an accusation against another. This suggests the possibility that the prince of Persia wasn’t using physical force but rather legal claims–spiritual authority, if you will–to contest the angel’s right to operate in territory he controlled. In the past, I have taught how our sins can give legal right for satan to control a person or territory (see Ephesians 4:27). Daniel persisted in prayer, and Michael was sent with heaven’s verdict. Daniel 7:25 reveals that one of the methods satan uses to alter times and decrees is by “wearing down” the saints. The Hebrew word this is taken from is never used in Scripture to describe physical fatigue, only mental and emotional weariness. Satan attempts to wear us down, causing us to grow weary (literally: “lose heart”) in our minds and emotions (Galatians 6:9). Fear, discouragement, hope deferred, and other emotional responses attack our faith and can cause us to lose heart. This then can alter our God-appointed times. It did so for this remnant of Israelites in Ezra’s day, just as it did in the Exodus. Moses’ generation made it out of Egypt, but not into Canaan. In Ezra, we’re told that satan began working to alter God’s time through other people in the region–I believe overseen by the prince of Persia: “So these people started beating down the morale of the people of Judah, harassing them as they built. They even hired propagandists to sap their resolve. They kept this up for about fifteen years, throughout the lifetime of Cyrus, king of Persia, and on into the reign of Darius, king of Persia” (Ezra 4:4-5, MSG). These propagandists, or “counselors” as other translations refer to them, would be the equivalent of liberal media and politicians of our day. They released accusations and misinformation to try to hinder the plans of the Israelites. The propaganda campaign worked. Rather than remaining strong and trusting God to help them overcome this, the Israelites yielded to fear and discouragement. The result? The rebuilding of the Temple stopped for 16 YEARS! All they had was a foundation. During this delay, the Israelites began building their own homes and businesses, while abandoning God’s house. They justified this by saying it must not be God’s appointed time for the Temple to be rebuilt. Opposition, however, should never signal to us what is or isn’t God’s will. Nor is it the determining factor as to His appointed time for something. Haggai and Zechariah were raised up to correct this and get Israel back on track. We believers in America today must not make the same mistake. We must not grow weary in our prayers for revival and the turning around of our nation. Evil lobbyists, media opposition, inappropriate laws, intimidating government agencies, elections that don’t go our way–satan wants to use these and more to try and wear us down. Resist this. Regarding Iran, the prince of Persia is trying to alter the timeline of history, changing the appointed time for his overthrow. We must pray that our President is not influenced by lying media and politicians, and the influence of this “prince” ends, just as it did with Haman in the book of Esther. It is time for America’s turnaround, and it is time for revival in the Middle East, including Iran. Pray with me: Father, thank You for alerting us to satan’s goal of changing times and decrees. In our humanness, all of us have the potential of growing weary in our efforts. You told us to FIGHT the good FIGHT of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). Since Jesus won the spiritual battle for our redemption, and promised that we can always triumph in Him (2 Corinthians 2:14), the only way we lose is by default. We will not do so.  Give strength to the intercessors as they war for the soul of America. Keep the watchmen on their posts. Do not allow setbacks, delays in the past, disillusionment from corruption, evil that succeeded in trenching itself in our land, or any other occurrence to cause us to grow weary and lose heart. Do not allow our leaders, who are fighting a good fight of faith in our nation’s government, to lose heart. It is very difficult for them to sacrifice their time, careers elsewhere, family time, and more for our nation, as it takes so long to turn it around. Encourage them by letting them know they are making a difference. Do not allow the prince of Persia in the Middle East to change the time and season, thereby enabling himself to remain in power. We join our faith as Your Ekklesia and bind his attempts to withstand the prayers of the church. Give President Trump and our leaders the perseverance and the strategies they need. Break the hold of this spirit, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we will not grow weary in our good works and allow satan to steal our “right time.” Click on the link below to watch the full video.

America: Finding Our Way Back I believe President Trump is a very misunderstood man. He is often judged negatively for his brash, even brazen, comments and posts; at times, he is perceived as stubborn, opinionated, and egotistical. My purpose in today’s post is not to defend his personality–I, too, at times find myself wishing he would say things differently - but simply to offer some perspective.  Forerunner First of all, President Trump was obviously fashioned by God to be an agent of change, a forerunner of sorts. He has been tasked with leading the governmental aspect of America finding its way back to greatness. Jeremiah told Israel to “stand at the crossroads, and ask for directions to the old road, the tried-and-true road. Then take it” (Jeremiah 6:16, The Message). Forerunners are pathfinders, waymakers, and pioneers. They are a different breed of leader, willing to take risks and move into uncharted regions and endeavors. And they are tough. Like mountain men in times past, they must be more stubborn than the terrain, the climate, the assignment, the desert or mountain range they’re being challenged by. Like the scouts for America’s settlers and wagon trains of old, present day forerunners find the way through treacherous seasons and over societies’ mountains of adversity; then they lead others on the right path. Sometimes these guides know the way from past journeys; sometimes they must find, or even make one.  The path they find isn’t always easy to travel. Their assignment is not to make everyone comfortable, but to lead them safely through, whether it was yesterday’s mountain pass or today’s season of change. Their concern is for the future, not people’s feelings; the entire group, not an individual.  When the forerunner John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, his message of change was often unsettling. He was brazen and confrontational. Making a road in a wilderness–lifting valleys, lowering mountains, making rough ground smooth (Isaiah 40:3-4)–calls for a bulldozer anointing! It’s messy and difficult. John’s way of cutting through the “jungle” of religion was not a machete, but a two-edged sword - his words. Pioneer John’s “buffalo robe” was camel hair, his “steaks” were locusts, and his “long rifle” was a message: “Repent! Because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-4). The word repent literally means to change one’s thinking, resulting in a change of direction. “Change!” John commanded. He actually called some of his listeners “vipers” (Matthew 3:7)! Sounds like something one might read on Truth Social. Well, Trump’s middle name is John, after all. Perhaps God had a hand in that. Forerunners aren’t known for eloquent speech, fancy language, and nice words. Change agent General George Patton, like Trump, offended some with his language and actions. He was known to drop f-bombs, use other four-letter words, and even slap soldiers while calling them cowards. He wasn’t woke or gentle, but he did help save the world. Sometimes we need Rambos, not wordsmiths.  A Man Possessed While I’m certain that President Trump has had a forerunning, pioneering spirit all his life–one is born with this nature–I saw a change take place in him from 2021 to 2024. I’m sure some of the change was caused by the incredibly unfair, unjust, and vicious treatment of him and his family. One can only wonder at the level of hatred and vitriol toward President Trump by leftists and progressives. The cause of their poisonous venom is twofold: 1) he interrupted their takeover of America; but 2) it is also, without doubt, demonic at its core.  However, in my opinion, Trump’s determination to thwart his enemies is not the only reason for the changes I’ve seen. I believe the motivation is spiritual. President Trump had a respect for God in his past, though he wouldn’t have called himself religious. But he changed after the assassination attempt and God’s supernatural intervention. I believe he became aware of–and was deeply moved by–a revelation that God has called him to help restore America and make the world a safer and better place. It is a strength that comes from a sense of destiny. I also believe he realizes how far America has fallen, and that business as usual–even from good, well-intentioned people–cannot save America. “Getting along” with the other side certainly will not work. The American boat must now be rocked; the status quo must be challenged. And I believe Trump was made for this.  I also feel that President Trump knew America had very little time before reaching the point of no return. And he knows he has a very limited time as President, and perhaps in his life, to be the change agent he needs to be. Therefore, I don’t believe he cares any longer what ANYONE thinks about him or his decisions, as long as he is convinced they’re right. He is a man possessed, as it were, to save our nation and make the world better before his time is up.  In summary, I believe our President knows he was created, equipped, and called to the task of leading America back to “the old road,” and is on a mission to do so. And I don’t believe he cares what anyone thinks about this. As with all strengths, they come with weaknesses. President Trump has his, as do you and I. Pray that his strengths supercede his weaknesses, and that he humbly relies on the Lord for his ideas, strategies, and plans. No man is wise enough to do what he needs to do. As Solomon so wisely said, “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9, NAS) Pray with me: Father, I pray that the same mindset be in President Trump that was in Solomon: “I don’t have enough wisdom to do what is needed, Lord. I need Your help.” Keep him reminded that humility before You is his greatest strength. Cause the natural strength You gave him to be tempered by this revelation.  Give the American people an understanding of President Trump’s heart and desires. I am confident he wants to do what is right for America and the world, cause this to be seen and understood. Silence the agenda of the leftists, those who also oppose You and Your ways. Continue to expose them for who they really are.  Thank You for putting a desire in the President’s heart to call for the day of rededication to You. Do a work in the hearts of Americans between now and then, causing there to be a sincere humility before You on that day. As we qadash ourselves to You, may our appeals be pleasing, rising as a sweet incense. May it be a day that forever changes America. All of these things we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.  Our decree:  We declare grace over Donald John Trump, grace that causes his heart to be conformed more and more to God’s will for America.  To find out more about May 17, 2026, a day set aside to rededicate America back to God, go to this website. Click on the link below to watch the full video.