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One of my friends, retired Major William Ostan, gives us today’s post, adapted from his incredible book, The Patriot’s Field Manual: A Citizen’s Guide to Saving America at the Local Level. The title of today’s post is: Getting Back on Course Will shares: I’ll never forget being lost in the middle of the night in the Fort Benning, Georgia, swamps with only a military-issued lensatic hand-held compass (no GPS!) and a paper 8-digit grid map to guide me. I was a middle-aged soldier attempting to pass the legendary land navigation test in the Army’s Pre-Ranger course so I could prove worthy of my Commander approving orders to Ranger School, despite my advanced age. Getting a shot at the elite Ranger school had been a distant dream of mine for years. That dream was in danger of being dashed as the heavens opened, pouring out an unwelcome deluge of hard rain that completely soaked me, my map, and the ground. I was knee-deep in the muck that was trying to suck my boots off with every step, surrounded by thick darkness, accompanied by strange animal sounds and suddenly starting to worry that I wouldn’t find all the navigation points in the required time before sunrise. Discouragement was beginning to cloud my mind. I could feel my heart racing, induced by the creeping, encroaching thoughts of possible failure. Then I remembered a sound piece of advice I received from a land navigation instructor shortly after I joined the Army, “First Lieutenant Ostan, when you get lost, don’t panic. Just find the biggest fixed landmark and shoot an azimuth from there. Too easy.”(1) So that’s what I did. I clicked on my red-lens flashlight, trudged out of the swamp to the most obvious fixed landmark on the map, and re-shot a new azimuth to the next closest point. Over the ensuing exhausting hours, I found enough points to pass the land nav course and successfully completed Pre-Ranger school. You might be asking yourself - What in the world is an azimuth, and why is it so important? Honestly, explaining how to do land navigation might be harder than actually doing it. So, in the simplest terms possible - shooting an azimuth essentially means climbing to a height where the horizon is visible, sighting an object on that horizon in the direction you are traveling, and adjusting your compass heading to make sure you are still moving in the right direction. You must have an accurate azimuth to reach your desired destination. If you are off in your measurements, even the tiniest variance can result in missing your targeted location by miles. In the military, being in the right place at the prescribed time is vital to mission success. So yes, azimuths are pretty important! Believe it or not–this is similar to what the Founding generation did for us in 1776. They realized that the King and Parliament in Great Britain had become lost and were no longer honoring the principles of freedom enumerated in the azimuth known as the Magna Carta.(2) So, they dedicated their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to re-shoot an azimuth for humanity that has resounded through the ages and changed the course of history. It can be found in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers, etc. Benjamin Franklin stated the international reach of America’s quest: “It is a common observation here (Paris) that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”(3) Sadly, this cause has been set back. Today, our generation has reached a critical mass point where we need to, once again, re-shoot an azimuth. For several decades now, America has slowly but steadily abandoned her unique founding principles. Founder Thomas Jefferson warned of this: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. …If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”(4) Trusted historian Stephen McDowell stated the results of our ignorance and lack of diligence: “America’s founding principles made her unique, free, and powerful, but there are many today who would have her abandon those principles. Many leaders in education and the media have promoted a different ideology, and many government leaders have implemented policies contrary to our founding principles, which have diminished our greatness.”(5) It’s obvious that we have veered off course and desperately need to find a fixed landmark. The indifference and complacency born of these lies are leading to the collapse of our country. In combat parlance, we would say that the enemy is “danger- close.” Dr. Os Guinness’s most recent book title succinctly sums up our current situation by stating we have entered “Zero Hour America.”(6) The azimuth America currently needs is a combination of America’s God-given founding purpose - a light to the nations powered by the gospel of Jesus Christ - and the principles elaborated in her founding documents. America is not perfect and never will be, but she is still the greatest country in the history of mankind. And she has the unique God-given position of being a “City on a Hill” to the nations of the world. When America is free, she remains one of the most powerful conduits for the gospel to spread across the globe. Lincoln had it right when he described our nation as the world’s “last, best hope.”(7) Let us be reminded, as we celebrate our 250th Independence Day, that we, the Ekklesia, have been given a mission. We must re-shoot an azimuth for humanity. We are in the right place at the right time to see this nation turn back to God, and the gospel flow to the ends of the earth. Pray with me: Father, You inspired our ancestors to re-shoot an azimuth for humanity hundreds of years ago, and we ask You to guide us to do so again in this strategic hour. Please continue to strengthen the hearts of Your Ekklesia with the same “never-give-up” commitment we saw in America’s Founders. We are partnering with You to bring this nation to the right place at the right time according to Your purposes in heaven, in order to once again be a City on Hill - a light and a glory for the nations of the earth to know Jesus and live in true freedom. Benjamin Franklin was more correct than he knew: “Our cause is the cause of all mankind.”(8) This week, as we celebrate what You have done for this nation, remind us of Jefferson’s poignant words: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”(9)This same vigilance is required in our prayers. “Be on the alert,” You told us in Scripture (1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Peter 5:8). Let every celebration of every believer this week be accompanied by an “appeal to heaven” for revival and reformation. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the Ekklesia is bringing a course correction to America–our nation will be in the right place at the right time to fulfill her God-given purposes! Today’s post was adapted from Major (Retired) William Ostan’s book, The Patriot’s Field Manual: A Citizen’s Guide to Saving America at the Local Level. It is available at WillOstan.com, along with more of his story. I encourage you to get this book; it’s excellent. Click on the link below to watch the video. John, Vickery P. “The Lost Art of Dismounted Land Navigation.” Fort Benning, https://www.moore.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2015/OCT-DEC/pdf/4)%20Vickery%20-%20Land%20Nav_txt.pdf. Accessed 22 March 2023. “The Avalon Project: Magna Carta.” Avalon Project, https://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/magframe.asp. Accessed 22 March 2023. Benjamin Franklin in a letter to Samuel Cooper, 1777. Major William T. Coffey, Jr., Patriot Hearts (Colorado Springs, CO: Purple Mountain Publishing), p. 290. Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Colonel Charles Yancy, January 6, 1816. Ibid Patriot Hearts, p. 289. Stephen, McDowell. “American Exceptionalism.” Providence Foundation, 14 October 2022, https://providencefoundation.com/american-exceptionalism/. Accessed 22 March 2023. Guinness, Os. Zero Hour America: History’s Ultimatum Over Freedom and the Answer We Must Give. InterVarsity Press, 2022. Lincoln, Abraham. “President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862.” National Archives, 25 July 2019, https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/sotu/lincoln.html. Accessed 22 March 2023. https://quotefancy.com/quote/772035/Benjamin-Franklin-Tis-a-common-observation-here-that-our-cause-is-the-cause-of-all https://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2026/01/eternal-vigilance-is-the-price-of-liberty/

Church in the Rotunda? As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday this week, it is good to be reminded that God created America for His purposes. It is clear that the motivation of the early settlers, long before we became a nation, included furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ. John Winthrop, an English lawyer and leading figure in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630 and served as governor for twelve of the colony’s first 20 years. On the voyage to America aboard the Arbella, Winthrop composed a lay sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity,” in which he pictured the Massachusetts colonists in covenant with God and each other, divinely ordained to build “a city upon a hill” in New England. He took this phrase from Christ’s message in Matthew 5:14.(1) “On May 19, 1643, Winthrop organized the New England Confederation among the Colonists of New Plymouth, New Haven, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. They covenanted together under the Constitution of the New England Confederation. Here is a portion of the covenant: “‘Whereas we all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel thereof with purities and peace, and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the gospel.’”(2) Just over 130 years later, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a committee was appointed to design a seal for the newly formed United States to express the spirit of the nation. Thomas Jefferson, who penned the Declaration, suggested that it be “the children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.”(3) Wouldn’t that have given today’s Marxists, leftists, and secularists indigestion?! Facts such as these infuriate the progressives and revisionists on the left, who want to distort America’s heritage and destiny. But the facts clearly reveal that our Founders knew the birth of America was orchestrated by God – not just for their benefit, but for His as well. No, they did not want to establish a national religion or favor one religious group over another. But did they know God was involved in our founding, and did they want His involvement to continue? Absolutely. Satan certainly doesn’t want this, which is why he motivates individuals to try to transform us into a godless, secularist nation. One of his most successful campaigns to remove God’s influence from our government and our education system is the oft-repeated doctrine concerning “the separation of church and state.” This phrase is not in the Constitution, of course, but instead, in a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to assure one concerned religious group that there would never be a national religion, as there was in Britain.(4) The First Amendment prevents the government from establishing an official religion or interfering with the free exercise of religion. It was NOT about keeping God’s–or the Bible’s–influence out of government. Just two days after writing this letter, Jefferson actually attended a church service in the rotunda of the Capitol! In fact, there was a church service in the Capitol rotunda every Sunday for the first 100 years of our nation!!!(5) Can you imagine?! We have certainly defiled God’s plan for America at times throughout our history, polluting the nation with unrighteousness, selfish ambition, and greed. That, however, has not changed His plan. It simply means we must be revived in heart and mind, reconstituted in purpose, and restored to this destiny. This is occurring and is why the Rededication of our nation to God on May 17 of this year was so strategic and powerful. (You may have noticed that no liberals or leftists showed up at the Rededication events. They DO NOT want God’s influence in our nation.) Thankfully, the praying church and God-honoring patriots are rising to the occasion in this season, just as Esther, Deborah, David, Joshua, Caleb, Nehemiah, Haggai, and many others did in Israel’s history. These people served God’s purpose in their generation (Acts 13:36). Now, it is our turn…and we WILL serve His purposes, as did our Founders, the spiritual warriors of the First and Second Great Awakenings, Lincoln and his generation, and the selfless heroes of two World Wars! We are appealing to heaven for our help, just as the early patriots did, and we will persevere in doing so. Yes, these are trying times, but we are not “summer soldiers” or “sunshine patriots,” as Thomas Paine wrote in his book Common Sense in 1776, those who shrink from duty in times of crisis.(6) We are sons and daughters of the Most High God, constrained by His heart and committed to His cause here and around the world. We have knelt with Hunt at Cape Henry’s cross, embracing the covenant he declared and committing our lives to its fulfillment. In our hearts, we have signed the Declaration and pledged our allegiance. Because we are partnering with the Supreme Owner and Ruler of the earth, who is the strength of this operation, we will not fail. America shall be saved. The harvest of the ages will be reaped because the Father promised it to His Son, and His Son has raised up a church over which the gates of hell cannot prevail. This is all guaranteed through the victory of the Cross, the covenant established through the shedding of Christ’s blood, and His overseeing of it (Hebrews 7:22). We, the church, are now spiritual enforcers of this victory, and we will continue to do so. We will not be intimidated by any shaking, nor any uprising of demonic forces here and around the world. We can endure course corrections because we, like Christ, are looking at the joy set before us (Hebrews 12:2). We will not be intimidated by unprincipled and corrupt politicians, judges, dictators, or armies. We are more than conquerors and know that we cannot be separated from the love of Christ (Romans 8:37-39). We do not fear any evil, including death (Psalm 23:4). Fly the flag this week. Keep your patriotism aligned with the cause of Christ, and make no apologies for it. Grab the baton from our Founders and press on. Continue daily in passionate prayer for America’s restoration, and align with others who do so. Pray with me: Father, we are so thankful for this great nation You raised up. We are jealous for Your Kingdom purposes here and around the world–we’re all in. Make this nation once again the trumpet You intended her to be, blasting the Jubilee message of the gospel to all the world. Change all that is needed to fully restore this destiny, then take it to the next level. Awaken and reform. We pray for President Trump–keep him strong. Encourage him–do not let evil wear him down. We pray for our leaders in Congress as they legislate and as they investigate and uncover corruption. Lead them, give them wisdom, and protect them, their families, and staff. Give them boldness and tenacity, meekness and humility. May they have the anointing of Jeremiah to “root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build and plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). And we continue to pray for a spiritual harvest of millions in the Middle East. We ask You to continue the process of dethroning “the prince of Persia” (Daniel 10) and all of his allies, ending violence, destruction, and spiritual blindness. Turn the tables on them and end their terror. End the plans of other evil leaders around the world to steal, kill, destroy, rule unrighteously, and hinder Your great harvest. Show Yourself strong against them! We commit to standing for these things, asking for and believing for them in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: Just as the patriots of old, we appeal to heaven for God’s help and wisdom. He will give us victory. Click on the link below to watch the the video. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Winthrop Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Fathers (Phoenix, AZ: NAME Publishers), p. 33. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country (Coppell, TX: FAME Publishing, Inc.) p. 322. https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html https://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/c-01.htm

Poignant Words from Ronald Reagan In yesterday’s post, we saluted Old Glory. Heavy doses of patriotism will continue throughout this week. Two hundred fifty years ago, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Resolution for Independence, declaring the freedom of America’s 13 colonies from Great Britain. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, which officially announced and explained the case for independence, was approved. Throughout the week, we will celebrate this monumental day. George Washington, when addressing his troops regarding the War of Independence, stated with sobriety: “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die.”(1) Washington, it seems, was prophetic when he said, “The fate of unborn millions…will depend on the courage of this army.” Fast-forward 168 years to Normandy, France, and the decisive battle of WWII, known as D-Day. This bloody and horrific battle turned the tide against Hitler’s evil plans. Pvt. Charles Neighbor said of that day, “As our boat touched sand and the ramp went down, I became a visitor to Hell.”(2) Pointe Du Hoc Pointe du Hoc is a prominent cliff on the coast of Normandy. It was a strategic point heavily fortified by the Germans. The United States Army Ranger Assault Group scaled the cliffs under intense enemy fire to capture and secure the location. At the 40th Anniversary of the D-Day Ceremony Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France, on June 6, 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave a powerful speech entitled “The Boys of Pointe du Hoc.” Here is a portion: “We’re here to mark that day in history when the Allied peoples joined in battle to reclaim this continent for liberty. For four long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, and millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved, and the world prayed for its rescue. Here in Normandy, the rescue began. Here, the Allies stood and fought against tyranny in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history. “We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but forty years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke, and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. “Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here, and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance. “The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers - at the edge of the cliffs, shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After two days of fighting only ninety could still bear arms. “Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there. “These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war. “Gentlemen, I look at you, and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your ‘lives fought for life...and left the vivid air signed with your honor…’ “Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet you risked everything here; why? Why did you do it? What compelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow, we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love… “You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you. “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us that we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.”(3) On her 250th birthday, America faces another war for her freedom. This war is ideological, but no less consequential. Liberty and the salvation of millions depend on the courage of the spiritual army called the church, the Ekklesia. With God as our help, as surely as we celebrate liberty on July 4 and victory over tyranny on June 6, we will one day celebrate victory over this attempt to destroy America and delay God’s great harvest. Pray with me: Father, You had great plans for America, and still do. We have sown much toward the spreading of the gospel and given much to humanitarian causes around the world. Yet, we lost our way and, like the prodigal, squandered our inheritance and forsook our destiny. Thank You for the fresh start You have promised. Continue to orchestrate this turnaround and a new beginning. We know that the fate of untold millions still hangs in the balance. We will not relent in our prayers and efforts until we see complete victory. Refresh and refire Your intercessors. And Father, You told us to pray for those in authority; we do so again today. We ask that divine wisdom be given to President Trump, leaders in Congress, and Supreme Court Justices. Our President is so hated. We ask that You protect him, his family members, and staff. Expose EVERY plan to harm them and bring the plan/s to nothing. Keep the watchmen engaged. Please guide and direct our leaders in the conflict with Iran, and end the influence of the evil regime that has ruled there. Bring forth Your solution. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that the ideological war for the soul of America will be won by Yahweh through the prayers of the body of Christ. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Major William T. Coffey, Patriot Hearts, (Purple Mountain Publishing: Colorado Springs, CO), p. 118. Ibid, p. 16. https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/ronald-reagan-normandy-speech-point-du-hoc/

Old Glory Ceci and I will be flying our American flag proudly this week, as usual, augmented by several USA pleated fan flags hanging on our fence, with a 250 Year Celebration fan flag hanging on the gate. No one will question our patriotism. Many on the Left no longer love our nation. Referring to this lack of patriotism, Speaker Mike Johnson said a few days back, “Sadly, many of these Democrat candidates and their voters just don’t have the same zeal and affection for America. They don’t appreciate the freedom that we have in this country. They’re not even going to celebrate on July 4. There’s a new NBC poll that came out. Did you see that only 29% of Democrat voters that they polled said they’re proud to be an American? What happened to the Democrat Party?”(1) A leading New York Democratic congressional candidate, Darializa Avila Chevalier, once spoke of her dishonor for the flag, posting, “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.”(2) Yea, you know, the flag they drape over the caskets of deceased American soldiers, then carefully fold and present to their next-of-kin. That flag. Seven states said they would not be participating in the Great American State Fair: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington. They feel it is too political. Obviously, not everyone in those states would feel this way, but those in charge do. Their hatred of Trump is greater thank their love of America. Today, for those of you who still revere this emblem of freedom and liberty, I thought I would share how our flag received the nickname, Old Glory. It began with Captain William Driver, a 19th-century American sea captain. Driver went to sea when he was just 13 years old, and in 1824, at 21 years of age, became a master mariner. Shortly thereafter, he took command of his own ship, the Charles Doggett. To celebrate, his mother and a circle of local women sewed him a massive, 17-by-10-foot American flag. Driver was very moved by the gift, and as it unfurled in the ocean breeze, he named the flag, Old Glory. The flag became his constant companion, flying from his mast for years, traveling around the world with him. Driver viewed it as a symbol of freedom, unity, and his homeland. In 1837, Driver retired from his sailing career and moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee, bringing his beloved, weathered flag with him. He was known for stringing a rope from his attic window to a tree across the street to proudly fly Old Glory on every civic holiday. However, trouble came when the Civil War broke out in 1861, and Tennessee seceded from the Union. Though Driver was a staunch Unionist, he found himself surrounded by Confederates. He refused to back down, in spite of the risks, and continued displaying Old Glory! His defiant display of the flag quickly made him a target, and local Confederate soldiers came to his house demanding he hand it over. Driver, then nearly 60 years old, stood on his porch and allegedly told them they would have to walk over his dead body to take it. Knowing the Confederates would return with a search warrant, Driver realized he had to hide his prized possession. He took Old Glory to a neighboring family of Union sympathizers. Together, they folded the massive flag, placed it between layers of fabric, and sewed it inside a heavy quilt. For several months, Confederate soldiers repeatedly searched Driver’s home, turning it upside down looking for the famous flag, never suspecting that the old blanket sitting on his bed held Old Glory. In February of 1862, Nashville became the first Confederate capital to fall to Union forces. When the 6th Ohio Regiment marched into the city and raised a small Union flag over the state capitol, Driver knew it was time. He walked up to the Union commanders carrying the old calico quilt over his arm. After confirming he was speaking to Union officers, he pulled out his pocket knife and began ripping open the seams of the quilt. To the absolute amazement of the soldiers, he pulled out the giant, 24-star “Old Glory.” Despite his age, Captain Driver personally climbed to the roof of the Tennessee State Capitol, took down the small flag, and hoisted his huge flag over the city. The soldiers broke into cheers, and the 6th Ohio Regiment even adopted “Old Glory” as their official motto. Captain Driver took his flag down shortly - it was too worn and tattered at this point to survive long in the strong winds - and preserved it for the rest of his life. In 1922, his descendants presented the original Old Glory to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is still preserved today at the National Museum of American History. There, it stands as a testimony to one man’s fierce and defiant patriotism.(3) Fly “Old Glory” this week, and proudly demonstrate your patriotism. Salute it, say the pledge, and pray for God’s blessing on our nation. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your great love for the entire world. Red, yellow, black and white - You love us all. This week, as we celebrate our homeland, we are mindful that You love all people equally the same. And we pray for all people throughout the world today, that they would experience Your blessing and a powerful outpouring of Your Spirit. Your Word tells us, however, that there is significance to where we were born and placed by You. Acts 17:26 says You chose our time in which to live and the place of our habitation. We accept the responsibility that comes with this. We pray for America, as others now pray for their nation, asking for healing and the recovery of purpose and strength. And we here in America do not take for granted the incredible prosperity we partake of and the freedoms we enjoy. We are humbled by the abundance we experience. May we ever be mindful of the price others have paid to win this freedom - the blood, sweat and tears. May we also ever remember and be grateful for the favor that came from You, because of our allegiance to You. We have enjoyed Your providential care and blessing. We thank You, and pledge, by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, to turn our nation back to You. Amen. Our decree: We decree that America is one nation under God, and that she will remain under His authority and care. Click on the link below to watch the video. https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2902 https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chevalier-american-flag-tweet/ Adapted from https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/william-driver/, https://salempl.org/wiki/index.php?title=Driver,_Capt._William, and Google, Gemini.

The River is Flowing As I considered what to release in today’s post, Holy Spirit reminded me of 2 dreams He gave Gina Gholston a few years back. I have shared the dreams before on Give Him 15, but felt strongly impressed to do so again. Dreams of this nature are not to be read and forgotten. They are to become a seed of promise we nurture and call forth until they are fulfilled. In the dreams, the Lord was merging the fruits of several historical revivals, including the Welsh revival. The setting of the first dream (in 2020) was the Red River Meeting House near Russellville, Kentucky, which Gina mentioned once again in a recent post. A mighty revival occurred there in 1800. In the dream, she saw a geyser burst forth, releasing waters of revival, and the Lord said, “It’s time!” God was revealing that past wells of revival would be reopened in our day. She then saw 100 bald eagles being sent out from the Red River Meeting House, drenched in the waters of that reopened well; each eagle was carrying three arrows and a rolled-up piece of paper in their talons. In the same dream, Gina also saw lines being drawn on a map of the United States. Those lines connected the Red River Meeting House, Cane Ridge (the 1801 revival), and Azusa Street (the 1906 revival), forming what appeared to be a spearhead. Then another line came from the nation of Wales (the revival of 1903-1904), forming what looked like the shaft of the spear. Each of these is a location that experienced major moves of God in past years, bringing spiritual transformation. As she saw this formation in the dream, the Lord said to Gina, “I am going to spearhead another greater move of My Spirit in your time, and it’s time.” The Second Dream Then, in 2021, Gina had another dream in which she was standing with someone on a deck-like structure in the heavens. From this place, they were looking down, observing the United States of America. Gina did not know who the man standing next to her was, but she could feel a strong anointing emanating from him, and his presence was giving her an indescribable hope for America! As they looked down, they saw what first appeared to be warplanes flying over the U.S. The man next to her nonchalantly said, “Oh my, I wonder what is happening in America? And what do all of these warplanes mean?” He said this, not with concern, but almost as though he wanted Gina to see something that wasn’t obvious. He looked at her as if she should know the right answer to his questions. Gina said to him, “Those are not warplanes. Those are eagles! I have seen them before in a dream. There are one hundred of them, and they are carrying water from a well of revival that has been unlocked and is now gushing forth into the nation.” Though it had been a year since the first dream, she noticed that each eagle was still drenched with water from the opened revival well of Red River Meeting House, and in their talons were the 300 arrows and the rolled-up piece of paper. As the eagles flew across America, they suddenly began to dive simultaneously toward the land. It appeared that they would hit the ground, but they leveled off and began dropping their 300 arrows. [Many intercessors participated in a prophetic act regarding this in 2023, burying 300 arrowheads throughout the nation.] When each arrow hit the ground, it ignited as though it had hit a gas pocket. Up from that spot would come a spiraling column of fire. Then the water - yes, the water - the eagles were releasing began to be ignited by the fire until it seemed that all of America was ablaze. In the dream, Gina fell to her knees, becoming acutely aware of God’s power and presence! The gentleman next to her then began to speak under a heavy anointing. He said: “You have seen correctly! This is how America will be saved! Do not doubt it! A sweeping move of the Spirit of God is coming, igniting the land with the fire of His presence, bringing a swift and undeniable awakening. What appears to be one thing is about to be revealed as another thing. Some are in fear because of how things appear, but others SEE with holy awe and expectation! The eagles are on assignment. They carry ‘Fire Power.’ They carry glory, and at the precise moment, their arrows will be released, and they will hit their targets, and the move of God will ignite and spread very quickly!” He then said again, “DO NOT DOUBT IT!” Gina then instinctively knew in the dream, that this man was Duncan Campbell. That was the end of the dream. Duncan Campbell was a leader in another major move of God that took place in the Hebrides Islands from 1949 to 1952. The revival fires that burned in those islands were so powerful and transforming that multitudes were born again as the glory of God filled the land. It is of great significance that God put this man in the dream. It declares to us that the same transforming power of God that saved the Hebrides Islands will manifest in our time to save our nation! And I don’t believe it is a coincidence that President Trump has a strong connection to the Hebrides revival. His mother was from the Hebrides and was deeply impacted by the revival. She gave him a Bible that had been given to her during the revival, and President Trump was sworn into office on this Bible. Our President, who recently called for America’s rededication to God, has roots in the revival referenced in this dream! No way is this a coincidence! I believe we are entering another phase in this dream’s fulfillment. The dropping of the fiery arrows in the dream, and symbolized by the prophetic acts of planting 300 arrowheads in 2023, pictures what is beginning. The fires of awakening in America and around the world have been lit. Strategic pockets of revival in history are being opened, merging with prophetic promises for our day. This has begun. Though it may have seemed that America was destined for imminent destruction, God is saying, “Look again! See things from My perspective.” Our great God, who loves to redeem, has a plan! And He has declared His verdict: “America shall be saved!” That salvation will come by way of another great move of His Spirit! This is a prophetic promise that has been “set to the rhythm of heaven’s time clock,” and God is saying, “It’s time!” God has chosen the location of the fire pockets. Fires of revival will now spring up! Watch for this. Stay focused and filled with expectation. The fire may seem small at first, but a spark can quickly become a blazing fire, demonstrating the reality of our all-powerful, all-consuming God. As Duncan Campbell said in the dream, “Do not doubt it!” Pray with me: Father, saturate us with the waters of Your Word, and of the river of Your Spirit (John 7:37-39). You have said we will witness an undeniable move of Your Spirit, ignited by the release of the arrows of Your glory! Cause the church to change her perspective, Lord, no longer judging things by what we see through the lens of our natural understanding. Cause us to look with holy awe and expectation, as this dream shows us. You are at work, and we will now witness a supernatural awakening as You spearhead another “greater” move of Your Spirit. And Father, we refuse to grow weary in our faith and efforts. We have supernatural strength and endurance!! We have power from heaven coursing through us! We are well able to take the land! Spiritual giants will fall at the name of Jesus, releasing territories from their evil hold! Revival will blaze, governments will shift, nations will transform! The mighty river of Holy Spirit is flowing and will surge to flood levels. Your agenda will prevail, in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Our decree: We decree that the arrows of God’s glory are hitting their targets, and the fire of Holy Spirit is igniting our land with awakening. Today’s post was adapted from dreams given to our friend Gina Gholston. You can find out more about her at GinaGholston.com. Click on the link below to watch the video.

Back from the Brink Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned this week, which means the United Kingdom is now on its 7th prime minister in 10 years. During this span, England has been in a free fall of almost unprecedented proportions. The economy is in shambles, migrants are taking over cities, crime is rampant, and freedoms are eroding frighteningly fast. Globalism, woke-ism, and progressive leaders are destroying this once “Great” nation. “Before Brexit [Britain’s exit from the European Union, which occurred in 2020], 58% of migrants came from the European Union. In 2024, 90% came from outside the EU, while total immigration has nearly doubled in just five years. This is the opposite of what British people wanted. “In the year ending December, 2025, police in England and Wales recorded 74,174 rape offenses. That is approximately 200/day. “For decades, grooming gangs [a heinous practice of enticing vulnerable young children into “friendships” through food or money, then eventually forcing them into sexual exploitation, even slavery] operated freely across 149 towns and cities in the UK. Police knew. Local councils knew. The government knew. They let thousands of little girls be abused because they were afraid of being called racist. “The UK now arrests more people for what they say online than any other country in Europe. Police made 12,183 arrests in 2023 under offensive communications laws. That is around 33 people arrested every day for what they said or posted. “The health system collapsed. In September, 2024, over 7 million people were waiting for treatment. A hundred thousand of them waited for more than a year. In the emergency room, 4 out of 10 won’t be seen within 4 hours. “The UK now spends more on welfare than it raises from income tax. (£333 billion paid out, £329 billion collected from workers.) “In May alone, the UK borrowed £23.3 billion. The second highest figure ever recorded for a single month. Government debt is now at 95% of GDP. Debt interest payments cost £11.7 billion in May alone, £4 billion more than a year ago. The country is ungovernable and bankrupt. “It is widely reported that in 2025, the UK lost more millionaires than any other country on earth. They took around £66 billion in liquid wealth with them. “It is not just the rich leaving. In 2025, 246,000 British nationals left the UK. A quarter of a million Brits decided life was better somewhere else.”(1) Unfortunately, this isn’t likely to change anytime soon. The next Prime Minister will probably be Andy Burnham, who many say is further left than Starmer. A similar downfall to Britain’s–and other European nations, by the way–had also been occurring in America for several years. And it is what God is using President Trump and others to stop. We were on the edge of the cliff and teetering. Thank God, this is changing. The weakening and deterioration of Western nations has been by design. There are different philosophies/groups that want to control the world: an elite group of globalists want control; Marxists/communists want control; and radical Islamists want to rule the world. Although their motives differ, their goals are the same: world domination. The free, Western world stands in their way. Thus, the great, prolonged attack on Western values, ideals, and strengths. Trump is not our savior, but God uses people, and He is using this man. The President wants a strong, free, prosperous, and great America. Whatever human motives or ambitions may influence him, I am confident he is also motivated by God and a true love for America. As I have stated before, something changed in Trump after Butler, PA. The saving of his life was too extraordinary not to have been miraculous, and he knows it. He walked away from the experience knowing God spared his life for a reason, a purpose, a divine destiny. And he is determined to accomplish that purpose, regardless of the opposition, the challenges, and even the grueling pace. President Trump is certainly not a perfect man; he has his weaknesses, as does everyone. We are all fallible humans, needing God’s grace, strength, wisdom, and guidance. But like Queen Esther, he was “born for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Pray for our President and his entire team. Especially pray that they walk in humility before God. The beatitude in Matthew 5:3 says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The New Living Translation states, “God blesses those who…realize their need for him.” Pray that Trump and all those in his administration realize just how much they need God’s guidance and help. And pray for Britain. The world is better with a strong Great Britain, and, of course, a strong Europe. Pray that the entire continent experiences a great revival and reformation. Europe gave us Martin Luther, John and Charles Wesley, Rees Howells, Evan Roberts, Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, George Whitefield, and much of our spiritual heritage. Pray that they recover and experience a sweeping revival. And never stop praying for America. We are inextricably connected with God’s plans on earth. He needs a strong, free, and righteous America. This is not arrogance or pride–HE raised up this nation for HIS purposes. We exist for Him and His glory. Stay focused in Your prayers for the emerging revival and reformation–He is saving us. His Kingdom is coming, His will is being done in America. Ignore the naysayers and critics. Never back up, never back down, and never quit. Pray with me: Father, blessed are those who know their desperate need of You. You said this dependency opens the door of access to Your Kingdom benefits. We are quick to say we need Your assistance; we’re totally incapable of accomplishing eternal good in our own human strength. It is through You, the Greater One within us (1 John 4:4), that we can overcome and accomplish great things. We pray that Your Spirit in President Trump would keep him reminded of his great need for You. You gave him great gifts and talents. But sometimes we humans forget where our abilities come from, especially after experiencing success. This leads us to rely on ourselves rather than on You. At times, pride enters, causing us to fall. Remind President Trump daily of how much he and his team need Your grace, wisdom, and guidance. We pray for America. Save, revive, restore, renew, and reform her. We pray also for our friends in Great Britain. Make them great again. Cause revival to sweep throughout that land and all of Europe. Save many millions and use them once again as beacons of light. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that God is able to make all grace abound toward us; that we, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). Click on the link below to watch the video. Data taken from these sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ4mqWojrNI/?img_index=7 https://cy.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingdecember2025 https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFS9PvkxQN/ https://www.facebook.com/1garethwynjones/posts/for-info-the-most-widely-cited-figure-is-12183-arrests-in-2023-by-police-forces-/1565291191879912/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/04/labour-welfare-bill-income-tax-revenue/ https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/uk-government-borrowing-jumps-interest-071131399.html https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uk-lose-millionaires-wealth-tax-nom-doms-050044002.html https://x.com/ONS/status/2057385697460322732

Introduction Today’s post is from Gina Gholston, and is an important word on adjusting our vision or perspective in order to see what God is doing NOW. Today’s title is: Seeing from a New Perspective Dutch recently shared that he feels the Lord is transitioning us from the forerunning stage into the fruit-bearing and harvesting stage. When I heard him say this, I was immediately reminded of the time I was on a prayer assignment at the Red River Meeting House with a fellow intercessor. At one point during that assignment, as we walked those wooden floors praying in the Spirit, I felt the Lord direct me to sit on a bench and face the back doors. As I sat there, my attention was instantly drawn to a field visible through one of the open doors. There I saw a farmer on his tractor, plowing. It was a hot, dry day, and the dust billowed behind him as he prepared the soil. Watching the tractor circle the field, my thoughts began to gravitate toward the intense labor, dedication, cost, and faith that goes into farming. Then, suddenly, the Lord interrupted my thoughts as He instructed me to turn my head to the right and look out the window. As I looked out the window, I got a glimpse of another field, which had tall corn stalks that were almost ready for harvest. There was still work to be done in this field, but it required a different approach. I stood to my feet and moved closer to the window. The closer I got to the window, the broader the view of the field became. I realized that what I saw was determined by where I stood, and I heard the Lord say, “I’m repositioning My people to see things from a different perspective.” Though no wind had been stirring at all that day, suddenly a huge, intense gust came, and the door that I had previously been looking through was instantly slammed shut. The other door beside it and all of the window shutters remained open. Only that one door closed. The timing of the gust and the fact that no other wind gusts came led me to realize this wasn’t just something happening in the natural; it was a spiritual lesson! I immediately heard the Lord say, “Don’t look that way again! The door is closed, and the window is open, revealing opportunities and purpose that lie ahead. I am changing your focus!” This was a powerful illustration giving me instruction for transitional moments, such as the ones we find ourselves in now. I remember another word the Lord once said to me concerning times of transition. He said, “This is the moment to go beyond. The glory on the path ahead is ready to be reaped. Past obedience has cast seeds ahead that have now blossomed into a harvest of supply, enabling you to advance with My purposes.” As forerunning intercessors, we have faithfully partnered with the Lord as He leads us in intercession, prophetic prayer assignments, and decreeing His prophetic promises. Laboring in the previous seasons was not a waste of time; it was an investment of time, in which we sowed seeds that have now yielded a harvest that must be reaped. This moment launches us into the next part of God’s plan; we must accurately discern this new season to make necessary adjustments, rather than simply continuing to operate in what has become familiar. As we worked together with Him, the Lord worked through us to prepare the way for His glory and plan to be released. Now, He is declaring, “The glory is here.” This is the transition, and we must recognize it and continue to follow Holy Spirit as He guides us forward. The fruit of our past obedience is now being revealed, and we rejoice for this! It’s what we’ve longed for. But though much has been done, there is still more to do. The journey continues. The wind is blowing, and the Lord is calling His church to attention. He has opened the window, and is repositioning many of us. We must re-adjust our gaze to see and respond to Him based on what He is showing us now. If we try to advance with an old perspective, our old season will become our new season. We will find ourselves expending resources, energy, time, and attention doing things out of habit, rather than obedience to the current leading of Holy Spirit. The season has shifted, and though our overall mission remains the same—to make Christ known and to see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord cover the earth (Habakkuk 2:14)—the harvest season requires new perspective and right alignment with Yahweh’s current strategies and guidance. Holy Spirit searches the deep thoughts of God and reveals His wisdom to us (1 Corinthians 2). If we receive and align with that wisdom, we will know how to cooperate with the Lord, which will enable us to discover that which He has prepared for us now. We’ve been in a season of sowing prophetic seeds of purpose. The sowing of seeds in one season yields fruit for the next. God transitions us into times of reaping a harvest this has prepared. We are in such a time, and the Ekklesia must recognize the shift. God is repositioning us to see things from a different perspective so we can work effectively with Him. The window of opportunity is open; it is a time to go beyond where we’ve been. It is a time to reap the harvest Yahweh has purposed. Pray with me: Father, thank You for guiding and working through us in the past season, and thank You for bringing us into this season to reap that which has been prepared. We know that our labor in You has not been in vain. Our past obedience of sowing seeds is now bearing the fruit of Your purposes. Help us discern this moment so that we can align effectively with You. We ask for a fresh “now” perspective—Your perspective. Give us grace and wisdom as we make this transition from preparation to harvest. Wind of God, we ask that You shut the doors that keep us preoccupied with focusing on the past seasons. We turn to You and submit to Your leading; help us to see and go beyond. We ask that You fulfill Your purpose and leave nothing undone. We ask that Your Spirit continue to move in the earth. Lord, we ask that You guide our governmental leaders with wisdom from on high. Strengthen their fortitude and encourage them to do what is right before You. Protect them with divine protection–send Your angel armies to protect what is Your will and plan for America. We continue to agree with You for Your will to be accomplished for our great nation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen! Our decree: We will rise with renewed focus to accomplish God’s desires and purpose. You can find out more about Gina and her ministry at GinaGholston.com. Click on the link below to watch the the video.

The Chess Game with Iran For the past two weeks, my schedule has been very intense. I was on the road for five of those days and therefore had to prepare a week’s worth of GH15 posts in advance. All that to say, this is why I haven’t commented on what is currently occurring regarding Iran–the previous week of posts were written and recorded over a week ago. There are mixed feelings among Americans on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Trump signed with the Iranians, which serves as a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the military conflict and establishing a roadmap for a permanent peace deal. The agreement: Reopens the critical Strait of Hormuz global shipping route, toll-free, for at least 60 days. (Trump wants a weakened Iran, but not a global recession.) It mandates the immediate termination of military operations between the U.S. and Iran, and an end to hostilities in southern Lebanon. It eases certain financial restrictions, unfreezes restricted Iranian assets, and establishes an external $300 billion reconstruction fund backed by regional partners. It triggers a 60-day window for the U.S. and Iran to hold talks to resolve core issues, such as the end of Iran's nuclear enrichment and the disposal of its stockpiles. President Trump emphasized that all aspects of the Memorandum are contingent on Iran “behaving,” and that he reserves the right to return to military action immediately if they don’t. Our military forces remain in place, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. He also asked Israel to suspend its operations in Lebanon during this time, something that they did not want to do. As stated above, there are mixed feelings by Americans regarding Trump’s actions. Some wanted America to fight as long as it took to finish off the evil Iranian regime. Others want peace and low gas prices, whatever this takes. Others believe it was necessary to make decisions based on lowering gas prices to help Trump and conservatives in the midterms; then, if necessary, we can finish the job, whatever it takes. Others are upset that he is telling Israel to stop fighting at this time. And I’m sure there are many other thoughts regarding what should or shouldn’t be done. My Thoughts I do not presume to know what President Trump should be doing at this point, nor do I pretend to know what he IS doing. He is a master strategist and negotiator, and like a good Chess player, is always several moves ahead in his thinking, “setting up” his opponent. Obviously, this being the case, he often feints, bluffs, hides his intentions, etc. Trump is no doubt doing so now. Also, the President obviously has much intel that we and other government officials don’t have. Wise decisions are based on good information, which he and his team have immeasurably more of than all other Americans regarding Iran. And some of what we, the public, do get is distorted by Iran, the media, and politicians who hate Trump more than they love America! We must keep this in mind as we process and pray. I am confident our President is intent on doing what will prove best for America and the world, and is willing to make difficult decisions to do so–decisions others have been unwilling to make. These decisions are sometimes unsettling to Americans, and to other nations, but are necessary. In doing so, he is taking on globalists, secularists, woke idealists, Marxists, and those with anti-American sentiments, both here and abroad. He needs great wisdom from above. Regarding Iran, many want regime change, myself included. Their government is a radical, Islamist regime that is incredibly evil. But with some extreme ideologies, radical Islam being one of them, individuals would rather die than give up their power. In fact, to many radical Islamists, dying for the cause comes with great eternal benefits from Allah. For this reason, attempting to displace them often means years of boots-on-the-ground military action with the loss of many lives, and frequently with failed political results. How did this work out in Iraq and Afghanistan? Not so well. I am absolutely for weakening the Iranian regime militarily, as we have. I am for weakening them financially, as we have. I am in favor of stopping them from their terrorism and neutralizing them from controlling the region, regardless of the short-term economic costs, which we have. And if there is any way to see the regime removed from power without a ground war, I am in favor of this. However, I agree with most Americans, including our President, and would not be in favor of a full-scale, boots-on-the-ground war with Iran. The Spiritual Implications I am also confident that the Lord is intent on a major harvest in the Muslim world, especially the Middle East, and that the war in Iran is linked to this. I feel strongly that Iran will continue to be a part of this fruit. Revival is coming to the descendants of Ishmael! Related to this, I am confident that the principalities controlling the Middle East region, one of whom is referred to in Scripture as “the prince of Persia,” are losing their hold and influence. This means we must continue to pray for the weakening and overthrow of these and other demonic strongholds in that part of the world, while calling forth revival and harvest. We must pray that our President and his team make wise, sound, Spirit-led decisions. Don’t listen to the deception of those who desire to separate God from governmental decisions; Holy Spirit wants to lead our government–their decisions will impact billions of people around the world! Pray that they will continually humble themselves and ask God for His help. Pray that only wise decisions are made in the negotiations that take place. Pray for the end of this evil regime in Iran. Pray for the people of Iran, that their suffering and oppression will end. Pray for a complete rearranging of the political and spiritual map of the Middle East. And on a different note, pray for the safety of President Trump and his team. Never has there been a time in our history when a leader has been as hated as Trump with the possible exception of Lincoln. He is opposing the Leftists, the Deep State, the Globalists, the Marxists, those who hate the church, and other evils. He has taken on all of them, for they all want America, as we have known it, destroyed. AND THEY HATE HIM FOR IT! I have no doubt that many people in our nation would love to see our President assassinated. Please pray for him, his family, and his team. Also pray for righteous leaders in other phases of our government, including House Speaker Johnson, Supreme Court Justices–anyone Holy Spirit brings to mind. Pray with me: Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy, and the changes we see in our nation and the world. You are working to bring forth an incredible harvest of souls into Your Kingdom, and our hearts are in sync with Yours–we want this desperately. We know You are all-wise–only You know what needs to take place in Iran and the Middle East to accomplish Your good purposes. You alone know how to remove the evil and bring good. We ask You for this, including the complete annihilation of strongholds of darkness. We ask also for a great outpouring of Holy Spirit in that region, bringing hundreds of millions of people to You. Please give President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and others great wisdom as they work toward a peaceful solution in Iran. Do not allow them to be misled or taken advantage of. Give them supernatural discernment; bring them uneasiness when deception is being attempted. Expose all evil. And lead in these negotiations to ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon and that their terrorism ends…whatever this takes. Please protect our leaders, exposing every plot to harm them. We ask for supernatural protection against every plan to hurt them or their families. All of this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen Our decree: We decree that the purposes of God will be established in the Middle East. Click on the link below to watch the video.

Introduction Today’s post is from my friend Dale Mast’s new book, Secrets to Hearing God’s Voice, something we all long to do more effectively. I had the honor of writing the foreword. Today’s title is: The Best Thing Within Fifty Feet There is no relationship without communication. That’s why the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. They saw Jesus return from His early-morning times of prayer and understood that spending time alone with God was a key component of His powerful life and ministry. The God Who Hears If Father God doesn’t hear us, it isn’t really prayer. That would simply be us speaking. Prayer, however, is communication with a God who hears. And the God who hears speaks. He responds to our prayers with verbal answers; they don’t always align with our requests, but He talks to us. He also loves to start conversations with us. He loves to talk with His children. Open the door of your heart to receive His voice. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20 NKJV) He also likes to speak through us. The time Moses spent in the presence of Father God transformed him from a reluctant prophet to a friend of God. When we yield our lives to be available as a voice for Him, no matter our occupation, it is a high form of honor to Him that creates a deep friendship with Him. This attracts His anointing, the miraculous, and angelic activity. Moses told God at the burning bush that he couldn’t speak well and asked Him to send someone else. Father God met him where he was. But He meets us where we are, to take us where He is. And our decision to be available brings Him joy, even if we struggle in the journey. He Doesn’t Just Tell, He Teaches I love what God said to Moses: “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” He is with our mouth (Exodus 4:12 NKJV). He is not just telling us what to say; He is teaching us what to say. There is a world of difference. Remember, He is not searching for the perfect, but for the available. The Best Option Within Fifty Feet… Let me give you a real-world example of discerning God’s thoughts and giving voice to His words. I was in an airport waiting for my flight, and I was not having a good day. The Lord pointed out a woman and asked me to minister a prophetic word to her. I repented of my ungodly attitude as I started walking toward her. I felt no anointing, but a simple short word came to me as I started walking, and His peace flooded me. To this day, I cannot remember the exact prophetic word I gave her — but I will tell you what I cannot forget: she started gently weeping while lifting both hands and whispered, “Thank you. Thank you.” As I walked away, I started a conversation with Father God. “Why would You ask me to minister to her? You saw the attitude in my heart.” He responded, “Dale, I knew you would do it for Me.” I felt His love and His delight in me. Then the smile on my face was interrupted by His voice again. And “Dale, you were simply the best thing I had within fifty feet.” My smile turned into internal laughter. Sometimes He uses us because we are His best option within fifty feet! We must be available at His call, even when we need to repent before we minister. He desires to use those who are after His heart and who will do whatever He asks, even if they feel less holy in the moment. Remember, He works with the willing and the available, not the perfect. The Voice of God Doesn’t Wait for Perfect Conditions Another story. I will never forget this experience as long as I live. The hostess had seated us in a packed restaurant during a busy lunch hour. About three or four tables away was a young server with a stack of dirty plates. As I glanced at her, I heard the Lord say one word: “Prostitute.” It was not judgmental or condescending — yet it was the only word I heard. When she came to our table, I stepped into the anointing. “I’m a Christian, and when I look at people, God shows me things,” I told her. What the Holy Spirit gave me next was stunning: “I see that your relationship with men has been like a mystery to you, and you feel bought and sold.” The tears began to flow from her eyes, and the stack of plates began to shake in her hands. Then the Lord showed me a picture of her heart, with a crack running from top to bottom. While I described to her what I saw, I was also asking God internally, “What are You doing for her cracked heart?” As soon as I asked, He showed me His finger moving gently over that crack, healing it. While motioning with my index finger, I told her, “And the finger of God is healing it.” “Are you a Christian?” I inquired. She shook her head: no. “Would you like to be?” She nodded yes — tears still flowing — and in moments, she whispered: “Jesus, come into my heart.” All of this took less than thirty seconds. One word from God — received in prayer, released in love — and a life was changed forever. This is the lifestyle that prayer produces. Not just personal peace or spiritual maintenance. Prayer positions us to be carriers of His voice into the world He loves. A prophetic word in church will edify someone. A prophetic word outside the church can turn a heart toward God and bring a whole town to Jesus — remember the woman at the well in John 4. There are people near you right now — in a restaurant, an airport, a grocery store aisle — who are carrying questions they have never been able to ask out loud. They are within fifty feet of someone who hears God's voice. You don’t have to be the most trained or the most anointed. You simply have to be available, and willing to do it for Him. You might just be the answer He is sending. Pray with me: Father, enable us to be vessels for Your voice. What an honor, joy, and privilege to be entrusted with Your very words: words that release life, salvation, and transformation. When we’re tired and our attitudes are poor, may we surrender to You afresh and obey anyway. Speak anyway. Be Your ambassadors… anyway. We are grateful You don’t need us to be perfect; You use the available and the willing. Lord, may we be that “best option within fifty feet” to those around us. Father, as this revival intensifies, You desire us to be available for supernatural releases of Your heart, love, and power. Give us the boldness to do so. Use us to give hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary, and health to the sick. In Jesus’ name we pray this. Amen. Our decree: We are available, willing vessels — and because the God who hears also speaks, His voice flows through us to a desperate and hungry world. Click on the link below to watch the video. Today’s post was taken from Dale Mast’s new book Secrets to Hearing God’s Voice. This book can be purchased on Amazon. You can find out more about Dale Mast at DaleMast.org.

Learning from Yesterday In yesterday’s post, I shared some of the weaknesses that came into the American church during the revival of the 1960s and 70s; I’ll discuss more of them today. I’m doing so to enable us to learn from those mistakes, pray with understanding for these deficiencies to change, and also to pray that they are not repeated in the coming revival. (Today’s post is a follow-up to yesterday’s. If you did not see or hear yesterday’s post, today’s may not make much as much sense. Consider reading/listening to yesterday’s first.) Continuing the List 5) Once the church redefined success to speed and size, redefining our mission was inevitable. The mission became to attract more believers to our church, which of course demanded that we focus on what the sheep want - not what they need or what God wants. Nicer buildings and facilities, shorter services, entertaining messages, fun and fellowship - these and more became the goals, as we sought to please sheep and grow the flock. What the King of the Kingdom wanted and needed - as well as the culture around us - barely entered the equation. “Don’t rock the boat by talking about sound doctrine, government, morality, abortion, etc. Don’t make the sheep uneasy; they may find another shepherd. Just make them happy.” 6) This led to a consumer-based approach in our congregations - models were driven by the needs, preferences, and behaviors of individuals, rather than the Scriptures and Holy Spirit. People became customers and consumers, rather than disciples and stewards of God’s Kingdom. This eventually spawned a welfare mentality in the church: “Someone else take care of me. Someone else do the giving, praying, sacrificing. The mindset of many church goers became: “Who will give me the most for the least?” Rather than producing disciples and responsible citizens of the Kingdom, we generated “takers” with a “what’s in it for me” mindset. 7) After the first six problematic changes occurred in the church, it was inevitable that our messages and worship services had to be altered. Shorter messages were needed, more innovative and entertaining - ten, fifteen, twenty minutes at the most. Forty-five minutes to an hour for the services - “a couple of songs to wake us up, a cup of coffee and some handshakes, a short message, and we’re outta here!” Doctrine and theology were ignored - who wants to hear that boring stuff?! This resulted in untold damage to the body of Christ. Deception seeped into churches. Sin was not discussed, foundations were ignored leaving no moral compass. Soon, humanism crept in, and truth was lost. Many evangelical “Christians” no longer believe in the inerrancy of the Bible or that it is God’s Word. They don’t believe in a literal Holy Spirit, heaven, hell, or the virgin birth of Christ. Biblical standards of morality became outdated, compromise became common, the church had to change with the times.” Sadly, with a weak church, the nation lost its salt and light, allowing depravity and godlessness to prevail in our land. 8) Obviously, many leaders conformed to these new ideals in order to grow. The pressure on pastors to perform and compete became almost overwhelming. The contest to transfer the most sheep and have the biggest sheep pen became great. Holy Spirit’s desire to restore all the five-fold ministry gifts of Christ to the church was hindered. (Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher - Ephesians 4:11-12) The only gift needed or wanted was that which cared for believers - the pastor gift. As churches grew, we added worship pastors, singles pastors, youth pastors, children’s pastors, etc. The attitude was: “We don’t need the other four gifts. Well, maybe a few times a year we’ll bring in a guest teacher–you know, to help us grow. But we don’t need the others.” All staff positions were to feed, bless, take care of the sheep, not reach our communities and train believers to become members of Christ’s ekklesia. Make the sheep happy in order to keep them here, and transfer more of them to our flock. 9) This, of course, produced flocks but not armies. Families, but not ekklesias. Fellowships, but not nation-discipling training centers. This watering down of God’s Word and altering of our calling also resulted in less authority from heaven. But no problem - sheep don’t need authority; soldiers and ekklesias do, but not sheep. These tendencies shifted the church from dominion to survival, from occupation to existence, and from countering sinful culture to conformity. Romans 12 warns us against being conformed to the world (verses 1-2), but we were. And every step we made in these wrong directions not only weakened the church, they allowed the antichrist spirit to become stronger in our nation. The city on a hill lost its light. Laws were changed, standards lowered, and our nation crumbled from within. We now have depraved leaders, open borders, and kids who can’t read, write, or do arithmetic. Violence is rampant, and laws are ignored; criminals are freed while parents who don’t want boys in their daughters’ locker rooms are arrested. Fraud is allowed, and those who oppose it are called racists. The American boat has been sinking fast, so riddled with holes that only God can save it. This is why so many of us talk not only of revival, but of reformation. Revival will change hearts, allowing reformation to change laws and culture. A reaping body of Christ is being prepared, and a transforming ekklesia/church is being built. As this continues, the great commissions of both Mark 16:15-20 and Matthew 28:18-20 will be fulfilled simultaneously–winning the lost and discipling nations. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, much of the American church has gotten off track; we slid off the rails, ending up in the muck and mire of compromise and ineffectiveness. Now we need a mighty revival and a great reformation. Restore our biblical focus and foundation to the church, and the power of the true gospel. Bring back to us the truth of Scripture and the success seen by the church in Acts. Break the spirit of the world off Your body, and make us a light to our nation once again. Raise up messengers of fire, and believers with eternal purpose. Grow our churches through the passion and fire of Holy Spirit, not innovation and good ideas. Give us a revival of unprecedented proportions, as You have said You would do, until Your glory covers the earth like the waters cover the seas. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the church Jesus spoke of in Matthew IS being built, and WILL emerge in our day. Click on the link below to watch the video.

Narcissism in the Church When a storm and its strong winds bring large waves ashore, they often leave a lot of debris, requiring considerable cleanup. Unfortunately, the same is true of spiritual waves of revival; along with the good outpouring of rain they produce, debris also washes ashore. Along with the tremendous good from the great outpouring of Holy Spirit in the 1960s and 70s, negative fallout also occurred. Babies make “messes,” and a lot of babies were born in that era. Another great revival has begun. My prayer is that we learn from the mistakes made in the last one, and that correction comes to eradicate the bad fruit. Today’s and tomorrow’s posts deal with this. My goal is to light a candle, as they say, not curse the darkness–to pray for positive change, not complain or criticize. Problems In the 60s and 70s, tremendous growth occurred in the church, many new churches sprang up, and others grew quickly. Unfortunately, the spiritual growth of the new converts did not keep pace with the numerical growth. The discipleship process was weak. Also, many leaders of existing churches did not want to adapt and change. They didn’t like the music the young people were bringing with them, the casual attire they wore, or the informal style of worship services they preferred. Quite honestly, many of the existing churches also didn’t want the messes baby Christians would create. Consequently, thousands of new believers, especially the young ones, couldn’t find suitable churches. Therefore, they started their own, although their theology and knowledge of the Bible were weak. These weaknesses didn’t concern them because the prevailing belief was that Jesus was coming soon to rapture the church and, after a short stint of antichrist rule, deal with all the evil on earth. Therefore, church services focused primarily on loving God and one another, and most evangelism was intended simply to prepare people for heaven. Discipling nations (Matthew 28:18-20) was nowhere in the picture. Most teaching was to benefit the believer himself or herself, not equip them to become part of Christ’s ekklesia (Matthew 16:18-19), which exists to release His will and authority on earth. As many of you know, when Jesus said He would build His “church,” He used the Greek word ekklesia. In the Greek language, an ekklesia is a governing or overseeing assembly, not a building, not an organization, and not a religious gathering. He was describing our function. The body of Christ was to be more than a family of worshipers; we were to be spiritual legislators - binding and loosing, forbidding and allowing, opening and closing spiritual doors, and discipling nations (Matthew 16:18-19; 28:18-20). The internal focus of the revival without discipling new believers and prioritizing our assignment led to some very significant problems: 1) It eventually produced a spiritual narcissism, with believers focusing primarily on their own needs and wants. The word “narcissism” originated from Greek mythology. Narcissus was a mythical person who became so enamored with himself that he stared at his image in a pool until he died. The Greek gods turned him into the flower that bears his name: Narcissus.(1) When believers focus primarily on themselves - their own wants, needs, well-being - as opposed to what God wants and others need, the church stagnates. We don’t aspire to serve, give, and become the ministers Christ desires us to be, but to receive, be served, and blessed. It is easy to see how this mindset stifles personal growth and hinders the body of Christ’s effectiveness in releasing the kingdom of God in the Earth. When we should be releasing the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15), we become like Narcissus, releasing only the fragrance of ourselves. Rather than laying our lives down for Christ daily (Luke 9:23), we live for ourselves. 2) The corporate focus of many churches mirrored this narcissistic mindset. Most congregations didn’t truly see themselves as part of the church of a city or region, called to work together to release God’s Kingdom life into their communities. Instead, the focus was on their own needs, well-being, vision, and growth. Individual self-love became a corporate self-love. Truth be known, most churches now have very little concern for other congregations in their city. They feel no grief over church-splits, financial struggles, or other shake-ups, as long as these things aren’t occurring in their congregation. In fact, they are actually excited that some of those “sheep” might end up in their congregation. How sad this must make Christ. 3) This spiritual narcissism inevitably produced independent and competitive mindsets in the body of Christ. Believers tend to think only of “our” or “my” church/congregation, not the entire body of Christ. And rather than working together, churches became competitive. Our goals aren’t primarily to extend Kingdom influence, but OUR influence, to grow OUR church. And we are happy to do it through transfer growth– relocating sheep; the new key to church growth is to have the best “sheep relocation plan.” This mindset has made the church incredibly weak and sick, feeding on itself. If the body of Christ thought as we should, pastors of a city would be gathering and strategizing together, like an army, hearing from God as a team regarding how to win their city for Christ and release His Kingdom life there. This, however, is almost nonexistent. 4) This competitive mindset led to redefining success. The competition had to be justified, so the definition of success for many churches in America changed, and has become the size of the congregation and how quickly it grows. When referring to local churches, phrases such as “fastest growing” and “one of the largest” are proofs of our competitive hearts and our wrong definitions of success. The sad truth is that the vast majority of church growth in America over the past 50 years has been due to people relocating to a different congregation, not to people being won to Christ. And this transfer growth now defines success. This is appalling and a very great deception. Because of their geography, some congregations will always be small in number. Others will remain small because of their assignment: some churches are called to intense prayer ministries, others to primarily caring for the poor or hurting, and other valid assignments. Are they less successful in God’s Kingdom or less important? If they are fulfilling their assignment well, even though they will probably never be the biggest or fastest-growing, are they not significant? Absolutely! The “well dones” in heaven will be based on faithfulness, not size or speed (Matthew 25:21). I’ll share more consequences in tomorrow’s post. But let’s pray today regarding these weaknesses, asking Holy Spirit for correction to come in these areas, and for them to be avoided in the coming revival. Pray with me: Father, You are persistent in Your love and mercy. We mess things up, You help us repair them. In the last great national revivals in America, human tendencies to exalt “self” prevailed, and we turned our churches into self-help centers. Forgive us for the self-promoting, the spiritual narcissism, and the competitive spirit that gained control in much of the church. We redefined success and actually justified working against one another. Forgive us, and deliver us. In the coming revival, transform the church and give us selfless, committed believers willing to lay down their lives for Your cause. Give us New Testament churches and leaders. In Jesus’ name. Amen Our decree: We declare that God is raising up a new generation of believers who are Christ-centered and filled with Holy Spirit. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.etymonline.com/word/narcissism

Audacious Faith Today’s teaching is from Psalm 27. I’ve included the entire Psalm here for your reference, though I won’t read all of it aloud: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. “And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.’ “Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up. “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a level path because of my foes. Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” I have always loved Psalm 27. The Holy Spirit, through David, shows us how to navigate between intense spiritual warfare and uninterrupted intimacy with the Lord. David declares his faith in God, speaking of the source of this faith as his intimacy with Him, yet follows this with acknowledging the real-life challenges of believing when the circumstances shout otherwise. Then, He crowns this great psalm by declaring a great promise. David’s Decree This was a very challenging time in David’s life–he was being pursued by King Saul and his army–but he didn't open this psalm by complaining to God about how big his problems were. Nor did he lead with his feelings, as impactful as they were. He led with a declaration of faith. Verse 1 says: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” This was more than the religiosity some believers fall into when trying to maintain a “good confession,” nor was it mere wishful thinking. David knew the significance of stating what he believed in his heart. By doing so, he was allowing God’s words to define his reality rather than the adversity he was facing. David was personalizing God’s promises, declaring who God was to HIM. Notice his language: “my” light, “my” salvation, the strength of “my” life. David was laying claim to the covenantal protection promised him by Almighty God. When David declared that the Lord was his light, he was stating that not only would God lead him, but He would also expose the enemy’s hidden traps. When he declared the Lord as his stronghold, he was announcing that those attacking him would not be able to break through and overcome the Lord’s defenses. We should do the same, declaring our faith in God’s protection over our lives, health, homes, family, businesses, and yes, our nation. In verses 2 and 3, David got pretty graphic and spoke of evildoers advancing to “eat up my flesh” – describing an enemy intending total annihilation. He looked at Saul’s army encamped against him, yet his response is one of strong faith: “In this I will be confident.” Where did this audacious faith come from? It came from an understanding of covenant with God, and an unshakable confidence in His faithfulness. The Intimacy Factor Right after describing this intense opposition, David recorded a verse that seems completely out of place: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (verse 4). Naturally speaking, if a person is under siege, he or she should be watching his enemy vigilantly. If a nation is under siege, the leader should be in the war room looking at maps, conferring with military advisers, etc. But David’s strategy was different. He went into the Lord’s presence. He traded the war room for the tent of meeting, the holy of holies! This wasn’t a retreat into denial; it was an anchoring of himself to the reality that his help came from God. This was strategic! The Hebrew word “dwell” in this verse is significant; yashab implies permanent residency, living in God’s presence.(1) When we do so, our minds become insulated from the panic our problems can bring. There in the secret place, David said he could “behold” God. When we behold Him, the enemy loses his ability to intimidate us. Giants look like grasshoppers up against the majesty of God. And notice the word “inquire.” David went there, not just to behold the Lord, but to inquire of Him. The temple was a place of divine counsel. David went into the presence of God to receive wisdom and revelation–the heavenly blueprint for battle, the intelligence report, the exact battle plan needed to defeat the adversary. Seeking intimacy with God is not running from spiritual warfare; intimacy is essential during our warfare. In verse 5, David reveals that not only would he find guidance in the Lord’s presence, but protection: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” In ancient culture, if a leader or king welcomed you into his tent or dwelling, you were protected by the strength of his military power. An enemy couldn’t touch you without first going through the king. By dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, David was in a place of protection and strength. The Good Fight of Faith In verses 7, 9, 12, and 13, the tone of the psalm shifted once again. Holy Spirit motivated David to share with us not just his faith-filled decrees but also the emotional struggle he was facing. Some commentators believe this represented a breakdown in David’s faith. I completely disagree. This pictured the reality of the fight of faith. This is what it looks like to share our frustration and feelings with the Lord, while also standing firm in faith. When doing so, David affirmed his connection with the Lord: “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’” (verse 8). David wrapped up this great psalm by once again referencing the tension every believer faces: the time between the promise and its fulfillment. In verse 13, he stated: “I would have fainted (lost heart), unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” David was stretched, but maintained a stubborn, unyielding faith that God was going to give him the breakthrough…here…now…not just in heaven one day. Then David issued a final command to himself and to all of us: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” Many misunderstand this word “wait.” In our language, waiting means sitting around doing nothing. But the Hebrew word here is qavah. It is a word meaning to braid, to bind together by twisting.(2) It is used to braid hair or make a rope from multiple threads of cord. When we qavah on the Lord, we are braiding ourselves to Him. His strength becomes ours. We are infusing His infinite power into our finite strength, enabling us to make an expectant, aggressive stance. We can stand our ground, refusing to waver, holding fast to our faith until the promise manifests. In summary, Psalm 27 encourages us to declare our faith, enter the secret place of God’s presence, receive His strategy, be strengthened with His power, and then stand our ground with tenacity until we see His goodness manifest. Pray with me: Father, it is impossible to live life without experiencing great challenges. Help us, by the power of Your Spirit to maintain the right perspective. Help us to keep our faith anchored in You and Your promises, even in dark times. And remind us that a strong heart connection with You is the key to overcoming. We pray for those struggling, whether it be over personal issues or struggling to believe for Your turnaround in our nation. Give them strength to believe that they will see Your goodness in their lives and in our nation. And we pray for our governmental leaders, as You commanded us. Give them strength when they face adversity. Remind them that victory is guaranteed in Your presence. Give us leaders like David who seek Your face and trust in You. Teach them Your ways, and how to hear Your voice. Keep them from deception and from harm. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Lord is our light and salvation; we will not fear! Click on the link below to watch the video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3427. Ibid. Ref. no. 6960.