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Controlling the Narrative There’s a reason leftists and progressives want to control the narrative. Language shapes culture. Words influence thinking, thinking forms beliefs, beliefs create actions, and shape the culture. Pretty simple.  Murder is bad; call it “abortion.”  Riots are bad; call them “mostly peaceful” protests.  Reverse racism is bad; call it “DEI - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”.  Taking people’s hard-earned money is bad; call it “democratic socialism.”  Defunding the police is bad (and stupid); call it “reallocating funds.” You get the point. Perhaps you’ve seen clips of 20 or 30 liberal newscasters all using the exact same language to describe events or policies. The talking points are obviously disseminated from party leaders and talking heads to ensure they are using the same language. This is to shape the thinking and culture of America. The goal of censorship is to control and shape the narrative, thereby influencing and controlling the culture. It’s all by design.  Leftists and progressives know that what people believe to be true shapes and controls them, whether it is true or not.  In other words,  people are not controlled by truth – they’re controlled by what we believe to be true! The Scriptures confirm this. Consider the verse from Proverbs 23:7, which tells us that  “as a person thinks within himself, so is he." Some translations say that as a person thinks in his “heart,” so is he. The Hebrew word is nephesh,  the word for “soul” - the mind, emotions, and will. As your soul thinks, so are you. (1) There’s greater depth to this verse in Proverbs, however. The meaning of the Hebrew word translated “think” gives added insight into what Holy Spirit was saying regarding the soul’s operation. The word is shaar, which literally means “to split or open.” (2)  It refers to “a place of access” or “an entranceway.” It is the word in Scripture for a doorkeeper or gatekeeper. This verse is referring not so much to the actual “thoughts” of one’s mind, but to what the mind has been opened up to that creates the thoughts.  Whatever the door or gate of a person’s soul has been opened to, and what has gained access to their soul, will shape and control them, determining their decisions and actions.  Snakes, Sweat Drops, and Blisters The following examples illustrate the profound impact of this on a person’s behavior. An article in Reader’s Digest said, “Gut feelings can occur without a person being consciously aware of them. For example, when people who fear snakes are shown a picture of a snake, sensors on their skin will detect sweat, a sign of anxiety, even though the people say they do not feel fear. The sweat shows up even when a picture is presented so rapidly that the subject has no conscious awareness of seeing it.” (3) Amazing. The door of the person’s soul had been opened to a fear of snakes. The subconscious mind picked up the image of the snake and responded with a measurable response of fear. Another example is found in the field of hypnosis (which I don’t believe is wise to participate in). It’s been proven that, under hypnosis, a person’s subconscious beliefs clearly trump reality. One hypnotist told his subject to hold out her hand, then announced that he was going to put a hot coal in it. Instead, he placed an ice cube there. Despite reality, she immediately flinched and dropped the ice cube... and a blister formed on her hand! (4) What?! How can that be? The subconscious mind believed the hypnotist’s words to be true. Therefore, it went to work, initiating the body’s process of dealing with a burn. It pulled the file that associated holding a hot coal with pain and, working on autopilot, sent impulses throughout the body that caused a blister.  What’s believed in the mind doesn’t have to be true to control us; it merely has to be believed.  Norman Vincent Peale recounts the following: “Once, walking through the twisted little streets of Kowloon in Hong Kong, I came upon a tattoo studio. In the window were displayed samples of the tattoos available. On the chest and arms, you could have tattooed an anchor, or flag, or mermaid, or whatever. But what struck me with force were three words that could be tattooed on one’s flesh: ‘Born to lose.’ “I entered the shop in astonishment and, pointing to those words, asked the artist, ‘Does anyone really have that terrible phrase tattooed on his body?’  “He replied, ‘Yes, sometimes.’ “‘But,’ I said, ‘I just can’t believe that anyone in his right mind would do that.’  “The Chinese man simply tapped his forehead and said, in broken English, ‘Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind.’” (5) Educators in America have tattooed on the minds of a generation that there is no God. If there is no God or Creator, then there is no purpose, destiny, or design; all is by accident and happenstance. This allows one to believe their body is a mistake: they have the body of a male, when they’re actually a female trapped in the wrong body. Or vice versa. The answer? Go to work changing it: take pills to kill the male parts. Better yet, cut them off. We have tattooed onto their minds that fulfillment can be found in drugs, alcohol, and other temporal pleasures.  That marriage doesn’t have to be between a man and woman; all that matters is love. That marriage isn’t really necessary at all; just live together until the excitement ends, then find another mate.  That children are a nuisance, an inconvenience, and unnecessary interruptions in one’s career. That sin and Satan are fun, while God and righteousness are boring.  That absolute truth doesn’t exist; all is relative and to be determined by ever-changing standards. And many more lies. A godless culture is a hopeless culture, a mooring-less and anchor-less society blown about by human philosophies and ideas, everyone doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6, 21:25).  Revival will change this, removing the tattoos. Reformation will preserve the change. God’s power is strong enough to transform the minds and hearts of a generation. He will enter the gates of their minds, remove deception, and invade their souls with His truth. He will write new laws in their hearts and minds, His laws. And He will capture them with His perfect love and passionate heart. Sixty years of deviant planning and hard work by satan’s kingdom will be overthrown through one powerful revival.  Pray with me: Father, we humans get things all messed up when we try to live life without You. We call good evil and evil good. Eventually, we abandon even common sense and embrace insanity. You rightly referenced those who say You don’t exist as fools. Here in America, we removed You from our education system, filling our textbooks and lectures with hell, destruction, hopelessness, and purposeless living. Please forgive us for this heinous evil. Come now and heal our land. Begin with the young generation of Americans, doing what You promised: send the greatest awakening in history and begin with the youth. They are hungry, they are searching, and You are the answer. Demolish the arguments of humanism, secularism, and atheism. Open the eyes of this generation to the reality of who You are and who You have created them to be. Deliver them from demons, deception, confusion, and spiritual darkness. Let the power of Your love overwhelm them! All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the tattoos of deception and darkness are being removed from the minds of our young generation in America and around the world. Portions of today’s post were adapted from my book Becoming Who You Are,  published by Baker Publishing Group. 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. 5315. Ibid., ref. no. 8176. Reader’s Digest  (January 1996), p. 50. Linda-Ann Stewart, “Myth Conceptions About Hypnosis,” Cedarfire (5/5/99), www.cedarfire.com . Norman Vincent Peale,  Power of the Plus Factor  (old Tappan, NJ: Revell, 1987), adapted.

I’m glad to be back in the saddle writing the post for today. I hope you enjoyed hearing from some of our friends. Ceci is recovering nicely from last week’s hip replacement surgery. It’s a slow process, but she looks forward to being on the other side of it.  The title of today’s post is: The Snare of Denial According to the dictionary, denial is “An unconscious defense mechanism used to reduce anxiety by denying thoughts, feelings, or facts that are consciously intolerable.” (1)  This can be very detrimental to a person’s well-being. However, I contend that there is good denial and bad denial. For example, a desert nomad awakened from hunger one night and decided he’d have a midnight snack. Lighting a candle, he grabbed a date and took a bite. Holding the date to the candle, he saw a worm, whereupon he threw the date out of the tent. Biting into the second date, he found another worm and threw it away, also. Then, the nomad paused to consider the situation. Deciding he might not get anything to eat if this continued, he blew out the candle and ate the dates. (2) That’s good denial. Just pretend there are no worms and eat the dates. The fear is all in your head, anyway - eating worms won’t hurt you. I learned that from watching the History Channel show “Alone.” Then there is the story of a stubborn, never-say-die general who was taken captive and thrown into a deep, wide pit along with a number of his soldiers. In that pit was a huge pile of horse manure. “Follow me,” the general cried to his men as he dove into the pile. “There has to be a horse here somewhere!” (3) That’s bad denial. Granted, it’s good determination, unshakable optimism, and noble leadership - he went first. But it’s still bad denial. Excuse my grammar but…there ain’t no horse in the manure!!! Just because you want something to be true doesn’t make it so. In a case like this, it’s far better to “dive” into the truth.  A lot of people in America have a case of bad denial, this “unconscious defense mechanism used to reduce anxiety by denying thoughts, feelings, or facts that are consciously intolerable.” I appreciate wanting to help gender confused individuals, but denial and multiple labels aren’t the answer. Certainly, castration and mutilation are not the answers. God said He made us male and female (Genesis 1:27), and that settles it. Common sense confirms it, and science even proves it - X and Y chromosomes. We must absolutely love the confused and help them deal with their pain, but not through denial.  Then there is marriage. People are supposed to marry the opposite sex, not the same sex. God took a woman, not another man, from Adam’s side, and she became his wife (Genesis 2:21-24). To believe otherwise is unhealthy denial. Some politicians and educators are in denial about this, as is the Supreme Court. I certainly don’t hate those who have chosen to believe and live contrary to what the Scriptures say regarding this. To the contrary, I love them as fellow humans and citizens, and do not want them mistreated in any way. But I cannot compromise the Scriptures.  And men can’t have babies!!! Talk about denial. Play word games all you want, buy fake breasts and pretend to nurse a baby, but at the end of the day, there is no baby in the “men can have babies” pile. No amount of denial and pretend games will change this fact.  Gender issues are by no means the only areas of bad denial in America. Denial is everywhere. Some in the church practice denial: “Portions of the Bible do not apply to me. God just wants me to be happy.” Some in the education field engage in denial: “DEI is more important than reading, writing, and arithmetic.” And some in the media are actually specialists in denial: “Truth doesn’t matter; reporting what we want people to believe is far more important.” And then there is government. Some politicians in Washington, D.C. would rather have criminals controlling the city than have Trump remove them. It’s not that they like the crime and violence; they just don’t want Trump to get credit for fixing the problems. And they don’t want his help. In fact, many would rather have rampant crime than accept help from President Trump. So, they practice denial: “We don’t have a crime problem here!”  Government is overpopulated with “ostrich politicians” - head in the sand, blind to reality. In Chicago, Mayor Johnson, with his 6% approval rating and his city being the murder capital of the nation for 13 straight years, recoiled at Trump‘s offer to help clean up Chicago. Johnson called it “Tyranny!” Proverbs 26:11 comes to mind:  “Like a dog that returns to its vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.” And we cannot forget the denial of gerrymandering. “We despise your gerrymandering,” say the kings of gerrymandering to the Republicans. “You are destroying democracy with your corruption. We don’t engage in this evil; we simply redistrict.” And who can forget those on the left who are so upset about the investigations of liars, leakers, corrupt judges, “lawfare” prosecutors, dishonest and disgraceful members of Congress, a shadow government in the White House running our nation during Biden’s tenure, and other criminals in government. “These investigations are only revenge,” they shout, as the DOJ, DNI, and FBI turn over more and more documents. They’re in denial, refusing to believe that their previous shouts of, “No one is above the law!” are drowning out their current accusations and confirming their hypocrisy. With eyes closed, they just continue diving into the Trump Derangement Syndrome pile.  Jesus gave the antidote to denial in John 8:32: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  Consistent with this, Proverbs 10:17 tells us, “If you readily receive correction, you are walking on the path to life. But if you reject rebuke, you’re guaranteed to go astray”  (TPT‬‬). And Proverbs 13:18 instructs us, “Poverty and disgrace come to the one who refuses to hear criticism. But the one who is easy to correct is on the path of honor”  (TPT‬‬). “The path to life” and “the path of honor” are available to all. According to God’s instructions to Israel, life can be chosen (Deuteronomy 30:19). Let’s pray that more and more people in our nation accept the truth and choose life. Pray with me: Father, we humans are “prone to wander,” as the hymn writer said (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing). (4)  We sometimes prefer the darkness of denial to the light of truth. Remind us that we do not have to stumble upon the truth; Holy Spirit has been sent to lead us into all truth (John 16:13). We can choose to follow Him, honor Your Word, and thereby choose freedom and the path of life. We pray for those who have chosen to turn away from Your words of life and path of freedom. Bring them to their senses as You did the prodigal in Scripture. Break the deception off them. We ask that You remove the veil of darkness that blinds them to the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Remove the influence of those leading people into deception. Jesus described it as “the blind leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14).  Continue to awaken the American people. Expose deception and corruption in government and media. Expose these things in education and entertainment. We declare along with the old but timeless song, “[Your] truth is marching on.” Awaken America to Your truth once again. Make it strong and loud. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we are aligning ourselves with Scripture and the truth is setting us free. Click on the link below to watch the full video. dictionary.com   Craig Brian Larson Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching  (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1993), p. 59, adapted. Craig Brian Larson, Contemporary Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1996), p. 110, adapted. https://hymnary.org/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing

Introduction As you probably saw last week, we made a few temporary adjustments to the GH15s. Ceci had hip replacement surgery last Tuesday, and I’m playing nurse. She continues to recover well and thanks you for your prayers. I’ll be back in the saddle, writing the posts myself, starting tomorrow. Today’s encouraging post is from Timmerle Kelly, Executive Director of the Reformation Prayer Network. Timmerle reminds us of the tremendous victories our prayers have generated, and exhorts us to persevere in seeing America reformed. Her title is: ___________________________________________________________________ Reformation Rising Some of us have been praying for our nation for a very long time, longing to see shifts that seemed not to materialize. Many had to regularly guard against the heart sickness caused by hope deferred, mentioned in the first half of Proverbs 13:12. We longed to reach the second half of the verse, which says, “But a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”   As this year began, something changed. Prophetic words shifted. Victory began to manifest from the years of faithful prayers. Many began asking, “Could this be the year where the synergy of our prayers manifests in earthly fulfillment?”  A new government was seated in January 2025, and we began to watch as prayers that had been prayed for 30 years or more began being answered. In some cases, we could not have imagined how completely and quickly this would occur. We had elected  a president, but God had chosen  a man who would form a government He could work through. Many believers–some appointed by Trump, others elected–are now in high-level positions, such as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and the Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. But even those who are not Christians are clearly in place to carry out God’s plans for the nation. Jeremiah 1:10 is our new reality, “See, I have set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant” (NKJV). We now join our prayers to the victories we have seen materialize. And the more we see, the more we long to see. Here are just a few of the astonishing victories we have seen in just the first half of this year: One of the longest prayer battles we have fought has been the battle for life, which has raged since the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade in 1973. This ruling was overturned by SCOTUS on June 24, 2022, which sent the battle back to the states. More needs to happen to stop abortion in America, but good things are happening. A few days after his inauguration, President Trump re-enacted the Hyde Amendment. His Executive Order states, “It is the policy of the United States, consistent with the Hyde Amendment, to end the forced use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion.” (1) Adding to this victory was the passing of “The One Big Beautiful Bill.” It included a provision prohibiting Medicaid reimbursements to health clinics that provide abortions. This is being contested in the courts, but funding is being withheld until the case is decided. In California alone, the loss to abortionists is considered to be $300 million. (2) Over 100 abortion-providing clinics have closed or are closing across the nation thus far – including at least 41 Planned Parenthoods. (3)  In fact, the largest Planned Parenthood facility in the nation, in Houston, TX, recently announced its closing due to a lack of funding. (4) We have much work to do, but we celebrate these victories! Religious persecution of Christians and Jews has been another issue in which we are seeing positive change. We have seen Christians “de-platformed” from social media, and “de-banked” by major financial institutions for public statements of faith and political comments regarding biblical values. In February, President Trump launched a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias.” He additionally stated, “The law protects the freedom of Americans and groups of Americans to practice their faith in peace, and my Administration will enforce the law and protect these freedoms.” (5) While watching a serious erosion of family values in America, we have consistently and fervently prayed Malachi 4:6, “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse” (KJV). Still, we watched as attacks against family values escalated in recent years. This moved from gay rights to gay marriage, then to gender identity confusion therapies, resulting in the mutilation of children’s bodies and the threat of the loss of parental rights. (6) But in answer to prayer, President Trump has signed numerous executive orders to protect children, including one on January 28 th  that reads, “Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child’s sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions. This dangerous trend will be a stain on our Nation’s history, and it must end.” (7) And the President is working to stop this evil. On another front, in February, the president banned biological men from competing in women’s sports. The next day, in order to prevent the retraction of federal funds, the NCAA (the largest governing body for college sports) aligned its participation policy with the executive order. NCAA President Charlie Baker said, “To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.” (8)  In July, the U.S. Olympic Committee banned trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. (9)  Thank you, President Trump, for making a righteous stand. Although it seems ridiculous, we do need legislation to support these changes, or a future president could reverse them. We must continue to pray that ruling bodies stand firm for common sense and righteousness. There is so much more for which to be thankful. We could talk about the “cleaning up” of government initiated by the DOGE team, immigration and the closing of the border, changes in the leadership of our judicial and intelligence divisions, and the ongoing exposure of past political espionage. We could examine how all three branches of government are finally beginning to work together, and how other nations are being affected by our nation’s changes, including the ending of six wars around the world.  We are truly in the midst of a national and international reformation. See it, believe it, agree with it, shake off any complacency or doubt, and press on  in prayer and intercession. Pray with me: Father, we thank You, for You are truly moving in our nation! We see the signs of revival and reformation! We rejoice in these breakthroughs that are rolling unrighteousness off America. We will persevere in our intercession, connecting heaven and earth in a synergistic momentum that can’t be stopped by anything hell can throw at it. We thank You for the closing of abortion clinics and the losses suffered by this evil industry. As we heard clearly last Friday, we have a long way to go before this heinous activity is eradicated in America. We pray that You would give strategy to those working in this arena, both on the legislative side and on the front lines. And awaken the conscience of our nation. Also today, Lord, we pray for the many children who are in the foster care system of America. Our hearts break over this. Please move on the hearts of Americans to help these children in need. Place them in loving homes where they can be cared for and learn about You. We also pray for the children who have been trapped in gender confusion. We pray that You would bring about significant breakthroughs in this area, saving children and transforming their lives, as only You can do. All of these things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that revival and reformation will continue and increase in America and the nations of the earth. Today’s post was contributed by Timmerle Kelly, Executive Director of the Reformation Prayer Network, a branch of Generals International .  Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/enforcing-the-hyde-amendment/ https://calmatters.org/health/2025/07/planned-parenthood-california-defunded/ https://sbaprolife.org/newsroom/press-releases/new-resource-tracking-planned-parenthood-closures-in-2025#:~:text=August%2013%2C%202025,closed%20or%20will%20close%20soon . https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265607/world-s-largest-planned-parenthood-clinic-to-close-due-to-lack-of-funding https://lc.org/newsroom/details/020725-president-trump-launches-task-force-to-eradicate-antichristian-bias https://www.carolinajournal.com/opinion/state-shouldnt-seize-children-from-parents-over-differing-gender-views/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-children-from-chemical-and-surgical-mutilation/ https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/g-s1-46938/ncaa-transgender-athletes-ban-trump https://www.axios.com/2025/07/22/us-olympic-committee-bans-trans-women-from-competing-in-womens-sports

Introduction As you probably saw last week, we made a few temporary adjustments to the 15s. Ceci had hip replacement surgery last Tuesday, and I’m playing nurse. She is recovering well and appreciates your prayers. Today’s post is from our friend Gina Gholston. Gina reminds us to pause and remember what God has done for us, then share these experiences with others, believing God’s power will be released as we do. I know you will enjoy it. Her title is: ___________________________________________________________________ Aim for the Glory I recently spoke at a conference where the theme was “Miracles, Signs, Wonders.” As I was praying about the meeting, the Lord said to me, “Miracles, signs, and wonders are not just a theme; they’re a calling! I have called believers to work with Me as I work through them in power to make My glory known.”   Our efforts in the past season have not been in vain; much has been accomplished. And yet we will do more–the revealing of God’s glory is part of His plan for us. I once asked the Lord, “Where are we on Your timeline, and what do we do now?” Among other things, He said, “I am giving the church a space of time to advance with the demonstration of My power. Aim for the glory!  To see, to know, to experience, and to show My glory must be the goal of everything you do.”   I believe we are still in that space of time, and the manifested glory of God must continue to be our aim. It’s time for the awakening we have entered to advance to another level. As we do, the demonstration of God’s glory will spark an awareness of Him that can come no other way.   The fourth chapter of Acts gives us a picture of this. At that time, the church was just being launched. They had recently experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, empowering them to be effective witnesses for Him. There was great opportunity, but there was also great resistance and persecution. It was a critical point on God’s timeline, and they understood that their purpose in this time was to make Jesus known. So, their prayer was not “Lord, hide us from the persecution.” Their prayer was:  “God, give us boldness to speak Your Word by stretching forth Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders would be done in the name of Jesus”  (see Acts 4:29, 30). When they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were filled once more with the Holy Spirit. The demonstration of God’s power gave them boldness to speak the Word, and the resulting miracles produced undeniable evidence of Jesus’ reality.   This must be our prayer, as well! We have come to an urgent point on the timeline of God’s plan, and He has given us this window to advance His Kingdom purposes. I believe the moment we are moving into will be marked by evidence of His revealed power and glory.   God once said to Me, “I am about to show My strength and demonstrate My power in and through a people whose hearts are fully dependent and focused on Me! The world WILL see and know that I am God as I send My people forth with the light and covering of My Glory! This is the time to rise and shine, and the dark world will respond to My Light!”   God has also been speaking to me recently about the church laying “memorial stones” by telling stories of our experiences with Him, enabling others to hear of His glory and power. We find this concept in Joshua, chapter four. As they were crossing the Jordan River into God’s next phase, Joshua instructed twelve men, one from each tribe, to gather stones from the river and use them to build a memorial. It would serve as a lasting reminder for the following generations of God’s miraculous intervention.   We, too, are moving into a new phase on God’s timeline, and He is saying, “Before you go forward, take this moment to remember what I have done to get you here. Remember what you have seen and experienced, and tell your stories, so that others will hear of My power and know that I am God.”   One of the most valuable treasures we have access to as born-again believers is not only the intellectual knowledge of God, but experiential knowledge. Intellectual knowledge is beneficial, but when it is grounded in experience, rather than mere words, it becomes much more powerful and compelling. Experience is a powerful witness. It cannot be dismissed as mere speculation, supposition, or assumption; it is undeniable knowledge gained by personal experience and observation. And when we talk about the Lord on the basis of our experiences with Him, our words become much more effective.   Many in our generation desperately need to be shown God’s power. He has made us His witnesses to declare and give them evidence of His reality. Regardless of how small or grand we may consider our testimonies, every experience with God is a treasure that gives us knowledge of Who He is. It is a knowledge that has been written on our lives by the Author Himself, allowing us to see, feel, and experience the demonstration of His love, power, and reality. When shared, these testimonies have the ability to convince others that He is real and His power is great, available to all.    We must reveal God to this generation by allowing Him to work through us to demonstrate His power, and also by sharing our testimonies. We must be bold to talk about His mighty works that we have seen and experienced. Tell your stories to your family; share your testimonies with those to whom the Lord may lead you.  One way we can do this is to use our social media platforms, sharing testimonies of how God has worked in and through our lives. Let’s lift up Jesus and make Him known. The world around us may not understand when we talk about the Ekklesia making decrees or engaging in prophetic assignments. But they understand when we share the testimonies of how Jesus healed us, provided for us, and helped us in our times of need. Where we’ve been on our journey could be where they are now, and our testimonies of the overcoming power of the Lord Jesus may be just what they need to shine light on their path and give them hope.  Pray with me: Father, thank You for every experience You have given us, marking our lives and developing in us an unshakeable faith in You. Through those experiences, You have established for us a testimony of the reality of who You are. We ask that You would refresh us with the remembrance of the power and goodness You have shown to us. We ask that You would give us wisdom to confidently and effectively share those testimonies with others. Let our words become an unavoidable light that pierces the darkness. Bring freedom to many as the testimony of Jesus prophesies of His hope, love, and overcoming power. Grant us boldness to speak Your Word by stretching forth Your hand to heal, and let signs and wonders be done in the name of Your holy Son, Jesus! Amen!   Our decree: We declare that we will not be silent, but will boldly share God’s hope and love everywhere we go.   Today’s post was shared by Gina Gholston and taken from her new book, Along the Journey.  You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholston.com . Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction As I stated yesterday, we are making a few adjustments to the GH15s for the next few days. Ceci had hip replacement surgery on Tuesday, and I’m playing nurse. She continues to do well, and prayers for her recovery are appreciated. I have asked some trusted friends to write the posts for these few days, individuals who have done so in the past.  Today’s outstanding post is from Kelsey Bohlender, Executive Director of Zoe’s House, a God-birthed and Spirit-led adoption agency. Kelsey also co-pastors with her husband, Randy, and is a seasoned intercessor. Her passion for life and corresponding actions for promoting life have made her a strong voice for the most significant cause in America. Kelsey’s title is “Advancing the Culture of Life.”  Here’s Kelsey.  Advancing the Culture of Life My name is Kelsey Bohender. I’m the executive director of Zoe’s House Adoption Agency in Kansas City. I am honored to bring you today’s Give Him 15. Today, I bring you an update on abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned—and a call to action for the body of Christ. When the Dobbs decision returned abortion policy to the states, we rejoiced. Roe v. Wade was dead. We knew some states would cling to abortion, but we hoped others would drive numbers down. Yet three years later, abortions haven’t decreased—they’ve shifted. Our strategy for life must follow. Informed intercession is critical. When our prayers align with action, they become “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen” brought into reality. My husband, Randy, and I launched Zoe’s House ten years ago as part of our response to the culture of death that had taken root in the forty years following Roe v. Wade. As an adoptive family, we believed we could champion life by raising awareness and helping other families adopt. Our vision was also to treat expectant mothers with dignity and the love of Jesus. We saw adoption as a prophetic witness to the day Roe would fall – and it still is. Adoption remains a powerful answer to abortion, a living testimony that life is always the better way. While adoption stands as light in the darkness, the landscape has changed. The Guttmacher Institute estimates 1,038,000 abortions in 2024 – the highest in recent years. Though twelve states enacted total bans after Roe’s reversal, national abortion rates have actually increased. How? The truth is, abortion hasn’t ended; it’s shifted to regional hubs, drawing women from states where it’s restricted. In Kansas, which chose to protect the “right” to abort, nearly 16,000 out-of-state residents came to the Sunflower State for an abortion last year. North Carolina and New Mexico saw similar trends; Illinois nearly doubled that, performing over 35,000 abortions for women from other states. Roe may be gone, but abortion has concentrated into epicenters – bigger clinics, busier schedules, and a steady stream of women traveling in. Meanwhile, medication abortions are surging through telehealth and online pill orders. With both travel and medication abortions rising, the battlefield has changed – and when it changes, so must our strategy. This is why strategic intercession and targeted action matter more than ever. Intercessors speak the language of battle, so hear this: a “beachhead” is a foothold wrested from enemy hands, a place where the tide begins to turn. It is not the war’s end, but it is sacred ground, claimed and held, from which the next great advance will rise. Stand firm. Strengthen the lines. From here, light breaks through. As Isaiah 58 promises, “If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”  This is the promise for God’s people who stand for the vulnerable – light in dark places, victory on contested ground. For the pro-life movement, adoption has always been a crucial beachhead — a strategic foothold where conviction becomes undeniable action. Adoption doesn’t end abortion, but it ignites a movement to defend the value of a child, protect the sanctity of a mother, and celebrate the beauty of a family. Zoe’s House is one such beachhead. From the ground gained over the past ten years, we have been able to launch in multiple directions, advancing the cause of life. Families who open their hearts to babies and children through the spirit of adoption also become a beachhead on the pro-life front. Like Isaiah’s parents, they said yes to this precious, non-verbal, autistic 2-year-old boy with no hesitation when his birthmother decided that she wanted a family for him who could care for his needs. Isaiah spoke his first words as he became a part of their family, and his birthmom receives regular updates in this open adoption. It’s a beautiful story. The courage and compassion of this family give them equity in the fight for life. In the Church, Isaiah and his birthmom are not statistics; each life is sacred with a future worth fighting for. We should never be content with merely saving a heartbeat, but invest in the futures of these children and in the dignity of their mothers. Ground is not held simply by caring for children. In the pro-life movement, holding ground means valuing the futures of both child and mother. Some women, when they choose life instead of abortion, do so out of deep love for their child and a desire for a better future. Others may not yet have that vision for their child—but they still need to know that their own life is worth investing in. The Church must see both. This means asking hope-filled questions: “What could your life look like five years from now? What would it take to get there?”  It means walking alongside her with real help – healthcare, job training, education, safe housing – so that her life, too, can flourish. This is where conviction becomes action, where life advocacy becomes life provision. When the Church champions both the child and the mother, it stands firm against the tide of cultural opposition, holding ground so that hopelessness cannot sweep them away. And from this foothold, we move forward – not only to prevent death, but to provide life in all its fullness. The pro-life mission continues long after a child’s first cry. If adoption of babies is a beachhead in the fight for life, then stepping into foster care is advancing that line. Across our nation, thousands of children in foster care are waiting not just for shelter, but for stability, belonging, and love. Over 36,000 of these children are legally free for adoption right now. Many have been moved from place to place, carrying their lives in a trash bag, wondering if anyone sees them. Stepping into adoption from foster care means claiming new territory where the enemy has sown abandonment, neglect, and despair, and replacing it with safety, healing, and hope. Every home opened, every heart willing to mentor, every church that wraps around foster families - these are forward movements in the campaign for life. We have the opportunity to expand the foothold we’ve gained, not only defending the unborn but also in defending the born who are still waiting for a permanent seat at a family table. When the Church steps into foster care, the mission of life becomes complete. We move from simply saving lives to transforming them. The battle for life is fought wherever children are protected, mothers are cherished, and families are made whole. From the womb to the foster home, from the prayer closet to the frontlines, this is the campaign for life. We’ve prayed for abortion to end, for children to be safe, for families restored, and Jesus is raising up churches to be the answer. Not everyone can adopt, but every believer can serve; be a surrogate aunt or uncle, driver, babysitter, or cook, wrapping around families so they thrive. Informed prayer strikes with precision, and tangible steps bring those prayers to life. As Isaiah 58 reminds us, when we champion the vulnerable and fatherless, His light breaks through, healing quickly appears, and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard. Darkness cannot stand.  We are not bystanders in this story – we are the ones who plant the flag of hope, hold the ground, and press the advance until every child thrives, every mother flourishes, and every family is whole.  If you have further questions about adoption, please visit our website at zoeshouseadoptions.com . And if you’d like to see a snapshot of children in foster care who are legally free for adoption and waiting for families, go to adoptuskids.org . Look at them, and let their faces be more than images, let them be a call to action. Pray with me: Father of the fatherless and defender of the vulnerable: We thank You for the gift of life and the dignity You give to every person. Grant us clear minds to discern the times, courageous hearts to do what is right, and generous hands to carry the burdens of real families. Strengthen weary parents, protect waiting children, empower women to give life, and make our churches places of refuge and belonging. Forgive us for words without deeds, and teach us to love with compassion, honoring the vulnerable and carrying the load together. May every child find a home, every story find hope, and may our lives reflect Your steadfast love. In Jesus’ name, Amen. You can learn more about Kelsey Bohlender and how you may contribute to this ministry at zoeshouseadoptions.com . Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction As I mentioned yesterday, we are making a few adjustments to the GH15s for the remainder of this week and early next week. Ceci had hip replacement surgery on Tuesday, and I’m playing nurse. She is doing well, and prayers for her speedy recovery are appreciated. I have asked some trusted friends to write the posts for these few days, individuals who have done so in the past. Today’s post from Larry Sparks is OUTSTANDING.  Larry is a bestselling author, the publisher of Destiny Image, and an anointed revivalist. He is confirming that revival has begun, and we should claim it for our family and city. His title is: “Claim the Rain.”  Here’s Larry. ___________________________________________________________________ Claim the Rain There is an end-time alarm clock going off in the spirit right now. When you hear or see the Holy Spirit moving somewhere, that is your prophetic invitation to claim the rain of revival for yourself. End-Times Context and Promise Zechariah 10:1 provides a striking prophetic instruction: “Ask for rain in the time of rain.” This Scripture gives us a model for how to respond when we see or hear reports of revival. Sadly, many believers have been conditioned to associate end-times language with doom and disaster—especially the warnings Jesus outlines in Matthew 24. But recently, while helping a community navigate end-times concerns, the Lord dropped a phrase into my spirit that recalibrated everything: “Matthew 24 is the context. Joel 2 is the promise. Claim the promise. Claim the rain.” Yes, Matthew 24 describes the shaking—wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, famines, deception. But Jesus didn’t invite us to claim  those events; He was giving us context for the age in which we’d be sent. Joel 2, however—later quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2—is the divine promise for that very hour: “In the last days, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy…” (Acts 2:17) This is what we’re called to claim —an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people, especially the sons and daughters who are part of God’s prophetic end-time agenda. And in this present moment, I’ve never been more convinced that we’re beginning to see that promise unfold. Lightning Struck in Dublin, Ireland… Everything shifted for me personally at a church in Dublin, Ireland, in May of 2024. The church met—of all places—in a boxing ring. I was ministering alongside my dear friend, Tommy Evans, in a spiritually charged atmosphere. There was energetic worship, hopefully solid preaching, and then an unexpected call to respond. We felt prompted to invite all those 30 years and younger to come forward. They began to gather on the platform. What happened next can only be described as a divine interruption. The lightning of God struck.  As we began to pray, some fell under the power of God. Others crumpled to their knees in tears. Many lay prostrate on the boxing ring floor, overcome by the weighty presence of the Holy Spirit. All across the auditorium, families prayed together, embraced one another, and turned their seats into sacred altars of encounter. From that moment on, we’ve seen an intensification of Holy Spirit activity—across generations, across nations. And here’s what’s so encouraging: the most explosive outpourings are happening in places many have written off as too hard, too dark, or too secular—nations and territories labeled as spiritual graveyards. Evidently, the Holy Spirit did not receive that memo. If you go into a territory with the Gospel and the Glory —the bold proclamation of truth coupled with the tangible demonstration of God’s power—no stronghold can stand. No region is unreachable. So when people ask me, “Larry, where are the revival hotspots?”  I can now say confidently: Southern California. The Pacific Northwest. New England. Ireland. The United Kingdom.  These are places I minister regularly, and we are witnessing an overwhelming spiritual hunger rising alongside unmistakable outpourings of the Holy Spirit. And this is not just anecdotal. Look at the data—begin with what’s happening in the United Kingdom. The “new atheism” movement failed to deliver purpose to a generation, and now, we are seeing young people turning to the church in record numbers. Revival is real—and it’s measurable. Showers and Storms So what exactly is happening? Jennie Allen—bestselling author and founder of the IF: Gathering—has been at the forefront of a university campus awakening movement called UNITE US , alongside Jonathan Pokluda and Tonya Prewett. Recently, she had a conversation with Pastor Greg Laurie, who hosted a massive evangelistic crusade in Southern California where approximately 45,000 people attended and around 6,500 made professions of faith in Christ. Laurie’s insights struck me. As Jennie recounted what the Lord was doing, Laurie—himself a leader in the Jesus People Movement—said it sounded just like that historic revival. He described a pattern: First, there are scattered rain showers. People hear of revival breaking out here and there, at this place and that place. Then, it simply starts to rain. Moves of God start erupting everywhere. But his last statement is what caused my heart to burn. Then… it starts to storm . Laurie was not speaking of some kind of storm of destruction, but a storm of revival outpouring where the move of God becomes an unstoppable territorial awakening that ushers multitudes into the Kingdom of God and produces cultural transformation.   I believe we are entering that final stage. The showers are turning to storms. And not storms of destruction, but storms of divine visitation. Watchmen of Revival As I continue to travel, I’ve made it my mission to be a watchman of revival . And I want to encourage you to do the same. Now, when we hear the term “watchman,” we often think of someone looking out for threats—demons, darkness, and deception. And yes, we must be alert and discerning. But I believe the Lord is raising up a different kind of watchman in this hour: Watchmen who are God-preoccupied, not devil-obsessed. Watchmen who are alert to what the Spirit is doing , not just what the enemy is scheming. These are men and women who have set their hearts to seek and recognize the movement of God wherever it manifests. Right now, I pray that kind of anointing over you. May you be like Elijah in 1 Kings 18:44, who, in the midst of a long drought, celebrated the small cloud “the size of a man’s hand”  as if it were already a downpour. Celebrate the cloud. Claim the rain. Celebrate the little signs of breakthrough in your life—the smallest shift in your marriage, the prodigal child asking a provoking spiritual question, a glimmer of healing in your body. In a microwave, fast-food culture, we’re trained to expect instant, massive results. But heaven celebrates the seed  as much as the harvest.  It’s Time to Claim the Rain The rain is falling. We’re not waiting for God to move—He already is. So the question is: Will you claim it? When you hear about revival in California, New England, Ireland, or across your social media feed, don’t just cheer it on— lay hold of it in faith.  If it’s raining anywhere, it can rain everywhere.  Because Joel 2 wasn’t just a local promise—it was a global one. The last days’ outpouring is not reserved for special people in special places. It’s for all flesh . It’s for your family. It’s for your city. It’s for your church. So lift your eyes. Bend your ear. Tune your heart. The Holy Spirit is moving. He’s pouring out His Spirit. Ask for rain in the time of rain. And don’t just ask—claim it. For additional practical teaching on how you position yourself to experience personal revival, please download my free e-book, Outpouring,  at larrysparksministries.com/claimtherain Pray with me: Father, Your great end-times promise is Holy Spirit outpouring. We will not be afraid of the shaking, of chaos, of world events and news headlines. Those things will not move us. We are aware of them, but unafraid because our eyes are on what You are doing. We build our lives on the outpouring of the Spirit that will impact all flesh.  We believe that this outpouring is bringing in an unprecedented harvest of youth and young adults. Even those who were considered the “hard to reach” ones–those who were under the influence of atheism, secularism, and the occult–we see a shift taking place where their resistance is turning into hunger. Lord, as we see genuine moves of Your Spirit breaking out across the Earth, we continue to wildly celebrate what You are doing, while we continue to boldly cry out and contend for the fullness of everything You desire to pour out, in Jesus’ Name.  Our decree: We decree that we are watchmen of revival, with eyes trained to see what the Holy Spirit is doing, so we can pray into His movement and partner with His activity in our everyday lives.  About Larry Sparks Larry Sparks has spent over two decades in ministry, igniting hunger for the Holy Spirit and calling the Church into revival and awakening. A Master of Divinity graduate from Regent University and mentee of Pentecostal historian Dr. Vinson Synan, he served as publisher of Destiny Image for 13 years. Today, Larry travels globally—preaching, teaching, and sounding a prophetic call for the Church to return to Book of Acts -level prayer, presence, and power. He is the bestselling author of Pentecostal Fire and serves on the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders, led by Cindy Jacobs. He lives in Texas with his wife and daughter.  Link to Free E-book, Outpouring : https://larrysparksministries.com/claimtherain Click on the link below to watch the full video. References: About historic Harvest Crusade in July 2025 https://churchleaders.com/news/515524-greg-laurie-harvest-crusade-crowd-fire-marshal-altar-call.html Jennie Allen message, What Do You Want More Than God? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoH0GxUpVtk&t=251s Bible Society 2025 Quiet Revival  Metrics and Data for the United Kingdom  https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival

Introduction We are making a few adjustments to the GH15s for the remainder of this week and early next week. Ceci had hip replacement surgery yesterday, and I’m playing nurse. Her surgery went well; prayers for her speedy recovery are appreciated. I have asked some trusted friends to write the posts for these few days, individuals who have done so in the past. What they have generated is OUTSTANDING.  I’ll be reading most of them, and a couple of guests are reading the posts themselves. Today’s stirring post is from bestselling author and prayer leader Cheryl Sacks. Since it’s time for schools and colleges to start again, we have asked Cheryl to inform and encourage us on how we can transform our schools. Cheryl’s title is:  ___________________________________________________________________ When God Was Removed from Our Schools: The Battle is Real—But We’ve Seen Him Turn the Tide! It was June 1962. Twenty-five second-graders bow their heads in a New York classroom: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country.” It’s the last time that prayer will be spoken in an American public school. (1) In that moment, something foundational shifted. A daily reminder of our dependence on God was silenced. The moral compass that had quietly shaped hearts and guided choices was taken out of the hands of the next generation. At first, the changes seemed small. We removed prayer. Then the Ten Commandments. Then God altogether. Since that time, we’ve seen the unimaginable: Parents removed from school board meetings for opposing pornographic books. (2) Drag shows for kindergartners. (3) Teachers fired for stating biological facts. (4) Children are chemically castrated and surgically mutilated (5) —at times with teachers or counselors encouraging the transitions—while parents are kept in the dark. (6) A mother addressing the school board confronted a male member wearing lipstick and his late wife’s clothes—this is the confusion shaping policies for our children. (7) The Crisis Is Deeper Than We Think An invisible war is raging for the hearts and minds of the next generation. Just last week, I read about a murder plot devised by fifth-graders (two boys and two girls) to take the life of an autistic boy. One student was to bring the knife, another to fake a suicide note, and one to serve as a scout while the stabbing took place. The autistic boy thought these were his friends. (8) Are you weeping yet? When God is removed, the devil fills the void. Good is evil. Evil is good. Lord, have mercy! What’s happening in our schools is alarming. Once beacons of academic learning, places of safety, friendship, and good citizenship, they are anything but that today. And it’s not just gender confusion and moral issues. Across America, students are falling through the cracks academically. As an educator, I’ve seen this firsthand. A fifth grader sits quietly at his desk, eyes downcast—not because he doesn’t care, but because he can’t read the words on the page. A teacher stares at an empty desk, one of dozens in a classroom where nearly half the students didn’t show up. The bell rings, but fear has kept many at home. This is more than a local issue—it is a national crisis with serious consequences. Nearly two-thirds of graduating high school seniors cannot read proficiently, (9) and nearly three-fourths lack proficient math skills. (10) Many don’t feel safe enough to come to school. Across America, one in three students is chronically absent, and in some districts it’s far worse—over 60 percent at a Harlem elementary school, (11) 60 percent in D.C. high schools, (12) and 50 percent in parts of Washington State’s Highline School District. (13) And it’s not only academics. Suicide, depression, and anxiety are surging among students. Teachers, overwhelmed and under-supported, are leaving in record numbers. But We Are Not Without Hope It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but we are not powerless. The battle for our schools is real—but we’ve seen God turn the tide! And He can do it again. I’ve seen with my own eyes what happens when God is invited back into a school. I’ve watched hopelessness lift, fear give way to peace, and entire communities begin to believe again. What once seemed impossible suddenly becomes a testimony to His power. Take one Arizona high school, for example. It had been labeled an “F” school, plagued with drugs, violence, and despair. One to three students a month were overdosing. But then believers began to intercede. They prayerwalked the campus and held all-night prayer vigils, crying out for God to move. And He did. The overdoses stopped. The spiritual atmosphere began to shift. Within a year, the school skyrocketed from an “F” to an “A” School of Excellence. The following year, it was ranked an “A+” school and named by U.S. News & World Report  as one of the best high schools in America. When God is invited in, everything changes! Transformation Is Possible I’ve also seen God move in schools so broken that even their leaders couldn’t imagine a turnaround. When we asked one Arizona high school principal about the greatest need his school faced, he responded, “That’s an easy question to answer. There’s no hope here!”  The school was underfunded, short on teachers, and overrun with behavioral issues. Fights were breaking out on campus daily. The sports fields were in disrepair. The facilities were crumbling. I’ll never forget the student athlete who held up his cleats. The bottom was falling off—barely held together by masking tape provided by the front office. It was a picture of what was happening not just to this student, but to the entire school. We knew something had to change. So, we started to pray. We began to walk the campus and intercede. We held an all-night prayer vigil. We asked God to intervene—and He did. The Arizona Cardinals got wind of the school’s need and donated cleats, jerseys, and gear they no longer needed. NBA Cares provided $150,000 in furnishings and funded renovations. The Phoenix Suns showed up with a $200,000 check to hire more teachers. But the biggest miracle wasn’t the money. Teachers reported no more fights on campus. One wrote on social media: “The entire atmosphere of our school has changed.” This is the power of a praying community.  A Call to Action Today, this same kind of transformation is needed in schools across the nation. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, student, or just someone who cares—we encourage you to adopt your local schools and commit to prayerwalking, prayerdriving, or interceding from home. The results speak for themselves: Academic performance rises—failing schools turn around. Drug use, suicide, and violence decrease. Fear gives way to peace and hope. Students discover identity and purpose. Parents speak up and take action to demand change. Here’s how you can join this movement: Adopt a school near you and commit to prayerwalking or prayerdriving it this fall. Start a prayer cluster—a few friends, your church group, your family—to pray for your schools. Pray from wherever you are. Even if you can’t leave your house, your prayers still carry power. You can view the map to see where others are praying across the nation and sign up to pray for schools in your area at   prayerforschools.com . I am convinced that no student, no school is too broken to be transformed when God’s people pray! Pray with me: Father, we stand before You on behalf of the schools of our nation. We repent for allowing You to be removed from our classrooms, hallways, and culture. Forgive us for yielding ground to darkness. We dedicate every school in America—public, private, charter, homeschool, and every college and university—to You. We consecrate each campus as holy ground where Your presence is welcome and Your purposes prevail. In the authority of Jesus Christ, we release the light of Christ into every classroom, the truth of Your Word into every curriculum. Send a mighty revival to our campuses, O Lord, and save our children. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that God’s plumbline of unshakable truth is set again in America’s schools. We declare that classrooms are restored as places of learning and moral strength—violence driven out by peace, confusion shattered by clarity, despair overwhelmed by hope. We decree that teachers instruct with God-given wisdom, parents lead with courage, and students rise in bold faith to live for Christ. What the enemy meant for evil, God is turning for good. America’s children are taught of the Lord, and great is their peace (Isaiah 54:13). Cheryl Sacks  is the author of multiple bestselling books, including   Reclaim a Generation: 21 Days of Prayer for Schools , and   Fire on the Family Altar , a guide to igniting revival in your home and nation. You can learn more about Cheryl and her husband Hal’s work at   bridgebuilders.net . Click on the link below to watch the full video. Engel v. Vitale , 370 U.S. 421 (1962), accessed February 14, 2025,   https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/engel-v-vitale . Parent Challenges Explicit Library Books, Escorted Out of Frederick School Board Meeting , The Winchester Gazette , January 23, 2025,   https://thewinchestergazette.com/articles/news/parent-challenges-explicit-library-books-escorted-out-of-frederick-school-board-meeting/ . The American Mind . “What I Saw at Drag Queen Story Hour.” Accessed July 1, 2025.   https://americanmind.org/features/the-revolt-of-the-kids/what-i-saw-at-drag-queen-story-hour . Vision Radio. “Professor Fired for Stating Biological Fact.” Accessed July 1, 2025.   https://vision.org.au/read/articles/professor-fired-for-stating-biological-fact . Sam Levin, “Sixteen U.S. States Sue White House Over Healthcare Access for Transgender Youth ,” The Guardian,  August 1, 2025,   https://theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/01/states-sue-trump-administration-transgender-youth-healthcare . Shaun Boyd, “Colorado Parents Sue Over Law and School Policy Regarding Transgender Students, CBS News , August 9, 2024.   https://cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-parents-sue-state-law-school-policy-regarding-transgender-students . Melissa Fine, “‘Meow!’ Mom dresses up, declares ‘I am a cat’ to protest trans school board member who wears dead wife’s clothing in front of students,” BizPac Review , December 15, 2022,   https://bizpacreview.com/2022/12/15/meow-mom-dresses-up-declares-i-am-a-cat-to-protest-trans-school-board-member-who-wears-dead-wifes-clothing-in-front-of-students-1317209 . Micaela Marshall, “Surprise Family Speaks Out After 5th-Grade Classmates Plotted Son’s Murder,” Arizona’s Family , August 4, 2025,   https://azfamily.com/2025/08/04/exclusive-surprise-family-speaks-out-after-5th-grade-classmates-plotted-sons-murder . U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Reading: National Achievement-Level Results, Grade 12 (2019) ,   https://nationsreportcard.gov/reading/nation/achievement/?grade=12 . Declines in Math Readiness Underscore the Urgency of Math Awareness, The 74 Million, April 5, 2023   https://the74million.org/article/declines-in-math-readiness-underscore-the-urgency-of-math-awareness . Chronic absenteeism remains high in Harlem Elementary Schools, Newsday, Columbia News Service, November 22, 2024   https://newsday.com/news/region-state/elementary-school-attendance-h37821 . D.C. Schools Have a Stubbornly High Absenteeism Problem , Axios Washington D.C. , March 7, 2024, reporting that 60 percent of D.C. high school students were chronically absent last school year,   https://axios.com/local/washington-dc/2024/03/07/high-school-student-absences . Angela King, “Washington Schools Grapple with One of the Highest Chronic Absenteeism Rates,” KUOW , February 17, 2023,   https://kuow.org/stories/washington-schools-grapple-with-one-of-the-highest-chronic-absenteeism-rates-in-the-country .

Picture the Promise Trump’s Meeting with European Leaders I have an encouraging and insightful teaching from my brother, Tim, for today’s post. However, first I feel I must address the meeting that occurred yesterday with President Trump, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and other major leaders in Europe.  Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 million people have been killed in the Russia/Ukraine war over the last three years. These are staggering numbers. Also, it is estimated that upwards of 20,000 children have been kidnapped and taken to Russia in order to reeducate and indoctrinate them. Putin is a very cruel and evil man.  After yesterday’s meeting, there seemed to be guarded optimism that a peace deal is possible. President Trump called Putin after discussing security guarantees for Ukraine with the European leaders. “I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” the President wrote on Truth Social. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” Trump said, calling it a positive “early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years.” Trump placed the call to Putin after the discussions at the White House with the European leaders, “which ended in a further meeting in the Oval Office. During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump wrote. We must continue to pray fervently for these ongoing talks, asking God to bring a peaceful end to this horrible war. Tim’s Message In Ephesians 1:18 (NKJV), Paul prays that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened. “Enlightened” comes from the Greek word photizō , meaning to light up or give light, thus to enlighten. (1)  You can see the similarity to our English word “photo,” and both words do indeed originate from the same root word, phos , meaning light. It’s easy to see the connectedness of these terms: photos are produced by literal light entering through a camera’s shutter, burning an image onto a negative; enlightenment occurs as figurative light enters the mind, bringing understanding.  To assist us in our faith, Holy Spirit will sometimes inspire a “photo” or picture in our hearts and minds. These images serve as faith reminders and igniters that help us declare and confess God’s promises; they give focus to our faith. They allow us to “see” and meditate on God’s promises. Faith is a function of the spirit, but the mind must also be renewed and brought into agreement with His Word. The two must be in harmony. If not, the mind will hinder the process; we can’t be picturing the opposite of what our faith is believing for. Thus, Holy Spirit will often prompt an image to serve as a spiritual photograph, helping us in this process. In Joshua 6, we see a powerful example of the Lord inspiring a picture of a promise fulfilled. Forty years after leaving Egypt, Israel was finally on the verge of stepping into their promised inheritance. Their journey had required an enduring faith. Now, standing before them was Jericho, the first city they would encounter after crossing the Jordan River. It could not be avoided, but had to be taken. Jericho, however, was no ordinary city. As one of the most fortified strongholds of its time, its walls stood 54 feet high and 24 feet thick, broad enough for two chariots to ride side by side on the tops. Its defenders were seasoned warriors, men of valor. Joshua, having spied out the land years before, knew firsthand just how formidable Jericho was. Now he stood on a hillside, looking down on the city, seeking direction from the Lord and wondering how such an impenetrable place could be conquered. At that moment, the Lord appeared to Joshua dressed as a warrior, with a drawn sword. Joshua asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The Lord didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, He gave a declaration. Joshua 6:1–2 (NKJV) tells us: “ Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘ See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.” God didn’t say, “Look at Jericho.”  He said, “See, I have given it into your hand.”  That’s a key difference. God didn’t want Joshua to focus on the natural circumstances. He was calling him to see with the eyes of faith. The Hebrew word for “see” is raah , which means to see, both literally and figuratively–to perceive, to envision, to gaze upon in the mind, even to dream. (2)  God was telling Joshua: “ Picture Jericho already in your hands. Envision it as done. See it as conquered.” The word “hand” is also significant. In Hebrew, it is yad,  which can also be figurative, used for holding power and authority. (3)  God was saying, “ See Jericho already under your power and authority.”  Regarding this verse, in the footnotes of The Passion Translation, it says: “Faith will see ‘what is still unseen’ (Hebrews 11:1). God gave Joshua a promise upon which to rest his faith.” This was not about natural sight; it was about supernatural vision, a photo, if you will. Joshua was told to see  the promise as fulfilled before it physically happened. Picture the walls down, the enemy scattered, and the victory won! As he aligned his vision with God’s promise, his faith was assisted and activated.  This is a tremendously helpful principle for us: See the promise fulfilled! God often gives us a picture, not in the natural but in our spirit, that becomes a photograph of the promise. Romans 4:17 (AMP) says that God “ calls into being that which does not exist.”  In other words, He speaks about things that don’t yet exist in the natural realm as if they already do, knowing His words have the power to bring them into reality. This is the essence of faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us faith is the substance of things we hope for, the evidence of things not yet seen in the natural realm. Some translations of this verse refer to faith as the title deed, the proof of ownership before the promise is visible naturally. Even when nothing appears to have changed in the natural, faith gives substance to what we hope for. It allows us to speak and act as though the promise already belongs to us. How can we talk about things that don’t yet exist? How do we describe what we haven’t seen? By seeing with spiritual eyes that have been renewed and trained by the Word of God, picturing what our faith is producing. See your faith working. Envision the promise fulfilled. Picture yourself walking in healing, freedom, provision, and victory. Meditate on it. Daydream about it. Gaze upon it in your heart until it becomes more real to you than what your natural eyes see. Align your heart, mind, and mouth with God’s Word. Agree with His truth. When you see the promise clearly, you can decree it boldly, and your faith is positioned to grow and produce. Take a spiritual snapshot of your breakthrough, your healing, your deliverance, your answered prayer, and keep it before your eyes, your faith photo. Let that become a photo that encourages your faith.  Pray with me: Lord, help us see a picture of the promise fulfilled within us, sparking faith. Give us divine photographs, enlightened visions of inheritance, healing, provision, and power. Let us “see” healing and provision flowing. Let us “see” victory and breakthrough, our Jerichos falling before us  We will see it, and we will say it. Cause our faith to rise above all opposition, enabling us to thrive in the realm of the unseen. Teach us, Holy Spirit, to picture the change, declare the promise, and walk in the power of Your anointing. And Father, we continue to ask You to take action from heaven regarding the war in Ukraine. The toll in human lives has been unimaginable. Give NATO leaders and President Zelenskyy wisdom to know how to deal with Putin. Show them where to be firm and unyielding, and where to yield. Keep them united. And do something to move Putin. His heart is hard and wicked, but overrule him. Cause him to back off. Then, remove this evil man from rule. And we ask Your help in freeing the 20,000 kidnapped children.  In Jesus’ name, amen.  Our decree:   We declare that our faith is activated, and we can see our promise fulfilled. Healing, deliverance, and victory are ours now in Jesus’ Name! Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim Sheets 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. 5461. Ibid., ref. no. 7200. Ibid., ref. no. 3027.

Rowing Together: Healing the Nations “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:43-45, NASB, 1995) Doulos and Latris There are several New Testament words for “servant” or “minister,” each with different nuances of meaning. I will mention five of them today. I have found in my studies that these five form an interesting and important progression.  The first two are doulos  and  latris.  A doulos  was a bond-slave, owned by another. (1)  Paul often referred to himself as a bond-slave or bond-servant of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1, etc.). Yes, God owns us. This is true by the right of creation, but also because we are bought with a price by the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). As Lord, He can require us to do anything He wants. In the early days of the Charismatic Movement, we frequently sang the song, “He is Lord.” And He is. Latris,  however, from the verb latreuo,  means to serve, not out of compulsion, but by choice. (2)  A parent serves his or her family by providing for and caring for them – not as a slave, but from the motivation of love. This is  latreuo . Romans 12:1 in the King James Translation tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, as it is our “reasonable service.”  Other versions of Scripture translate the phrase differently, and appropriately so, saying this is our  “reasonable service of worship.”  They do this because the word here is latreuo , not doulos.  We are not being told to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice because we are His slaves, but rather because we are in a relationship with Him and want to please Him. We do it as worshippers.  God’s heart is not to relate to us as slaves “owned” by Him, but to do so as His family and friends. Jesus said in John 15:14-15: “You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Our Lord wants us to serve Him from a heart of love and worship, based on relationship. When we move into this type of relationship with God, we become His co-laborers, working together with Him. We embrace the great commission as a co-mission. Our hearts have become one with His, and we want what He wants. We’re members of Abba’s household of faith, His family. This motivation changes everything. Yes, Paul certainly referred to himself as the Lord’s bond-slave, but he also said the love of God constrained him; this was his motivation (2 Corinthians 5:14). As we pray and work toward the great harvest that is beginning, we must establish that we will obey God fully. But we must also fully realize that we are His partners, friends, and kids. As the Head of the church and King of the Kingdom, He gives directions, but He delights in involving us in the process. Diakonos The last three words used for “servant” or “minister” change the focus. Whereas the first two define our service and relationship with God, the last three involve us serving or ministering to other people. We are still doing it as unto the Lord, but the direct benefit is to humankind. The third word is diakonos,  which simply means “to serve, minister, attend or wait on,” as in a “waiter” serving tables. We also get the English word “deacon” from this Greek word. (3)  In Acts chapter 6, it is used for both the apostles’ “ministries” (Acts 6:4) and the deacons’ “ministries” (Acts 6:2). One group served natural food to the widows; the other served spiritual food to the entire church. Same word–both were servants. Diakonia/diakonos  simply means to serve another, regardless of the purpose. We are ALL called to ministry or service for Christ, regardless of whether it is on a platform, in an office building, or at home. We have all been given gifts from God; serving that gift to benefit others is diakonia. (4)  Huperetes The fourth word is huperetes,  meaning “a subordinate or an attendant,” as well as a servant. (5)  Interestingly, it is used in Acts 13:36 to describe David in his role as King of Israel. One would not typically think of describing a king as a subordinate, attendant, or servant. The verse says David ”served” God’s purpose in his generation. While governing the people, he was doing so as God’s servant.  But there is another little-known meaning of huperetes . The word comes from two Greek words meaning “under” and “rower.” An underrower in that day was one who, in synchronization with others, rowed a boat or small ship. The key to their success was the synergy produced when they rowed together, simultaneously.   Thirty people who take turns rowing produce only the strength of one, thirty different times. But thirty individuals rowing simultaneously create a synergistic force that can propel a small ship. This is why they often sang when rowing; it kept them in a cadence, rowing together to create a greater thrust.  God’s goal is for groups in His church of “diakonoses”  – servant ministers -- to connect relationally and row together ( huperetes ). They must not quarrel over who calls the cadence or what song they sing; instead, they must have Kingdom-minded hearts to move the boat forward: “Give me an oar and let me row.” When this is happening, we can accomplish number five.  Therapon The last word for a servant is therapon . This word, while meaning “servant, attendant, or minister,” includes doing so to cure  and heal! (6)  (Matthew 4:23-24). We get the English words “therapy” and “therapist” from this Greek word. When God has people submitted to His Lordship ( doulos ), who love and want to partner with Him ( latris ), by ministering to others the gift He gave them ( diakonos ), and do so in harmony and agreement with others ( huperetes ), they become His healing force in the earth ( therapon )!  This is what we are doing when we intercede together for God’s purposes to be accomplished and released on earth. We become a force of God’s life, healing, and restorative power to save, deliver, and heal. Let’s do so now. Pray with me: Father, Jesus demonstrated true ministry – servanthood – as He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by satan (Acts 10:38). He came, not to be served, but to serve and give His life for many (Matthew 20:28). David, a king, was called a servant. Your apostles were called servants. We ask for great revelation to invade the church regarding our call to servanthood. And we ask for our hearts to be moved upon by Holy Spirit, bringing us passionate desires to connect, to work together. We ask that denominations, movements, leaders, and all believers would be moved on to produce this level of agreement. Convict us, the church, of judging one another, criticizing, causing, and/or honoring divisions. Show us the religiosity and pride that motivates this divisive spirit and replace it with a spirit of love and cooperation. And we ask for connections—millions of them. Build prayer connections, enabling us to fulfill the assignments you’ve given. We ask that EVERY nation have a STRONG prayer covering by the Ekklesia. Return our nations to You and send the greatest awakening the earth has ever experienced. In Christ’s name, amen. Our decree: We decree that Spirit-led connections are occurring, causing great unity and power to manifest in our land. 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. 1401. Ibid., ref. no. 3000. Ibid., ref. no. 1249. Ibid., ref. no. 1248. Ibid., ref. no. 5257. Ibid., ref. no. 2324.

Pray for the Trump and Putin Meeting Today  We live in interesting times. Those on the Left are demonstrating against Trump and the National Guard who are attempting to make Washington, D.C. safer and cleaner. They contend that DC is already safe and that crime isn’t a problem. Chuck Schumer says he feels perfectly safe walking around the Capitol area. He, of course, has his armed Secret Service detail all around him. Proverbs 18:1-2 comes to mind: “Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.” (New Living Translation) Then there are the Democratic legislators in Texas who have walked off the job, protesting what they consider to be gerrymandering by the Republicans (redrawing Congressional districts in order to obtain more seats for a political party). Apart from the fact that abandoning their legislative jobs is illegal, the Dems did so by fleeing the state and hiding in Illinois, one of the most Democrat-gerrymandered states in the nation! “Let’s protest gerrymandering by fleeing to some of our gerrymandering friends!” One can’t help but wonder who thought that was a good idea.  Meanwhile, “villain Trump” is off to Alaska today, attempting to stop another war. The Left doesn’t like this, either – someone else should end the war in Ukraine! As I have stated before, it appears TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) is real and growing much more destructive.  It doesn’t matter to most of us who gets the credit for ending the war in Ukraine; we would just like for the incredible suffering and loss of life to end. It seems that the economic pressure Trump has been placing on Russia is having an effect; Putin has requested a meeting with him. No one knows if the meeting will be productive - the tensions between Russia and Ukraine are great, and they seem to be pretty far apart with their demands – but it is worth a try. Though Putin’s brutal attack against Ukraine cannot be justified, the situation is a little more complicated than most of us Americans understand. The animosity between Ukraine and Russia has deep historical roots that stretch way back beyond the two modern states, similar to the millennia-old conflicts throughout the Middle East. Layers of rule, painful memories, and strategic interests have built a long-running tension. Here is a brief historical review based on my research, which perhaps will help us pray more intelligently. In medieval and early modern times, what is now Ukraine and Russia shared a significant amount of culture and political intermingling. Over the centuries, this changed.  The 19th and early 20th centuries saw an intensification of conflicting ideals. A Ukrainian national awakening challenged foreign dominance. World War I and the collapse of empires opened a brief window for Ukrainian independence, but an ensuing civil war and foreign interventions left Ukraine fragmented and under Soviet control by 1922. Under the Soviet Union era, the central government exercised tight and sometimes brutal political and economic control. One of the many negative outcomes in Ukraine was the famine-genocide in 1932–33 under Stalin (known as the Holodomor). This became an enduring and painful symbol of Soviet oppression for Ukraine. At least 3.5 million Ukrainians died, and some say it was closer to 7 million. World War II also added to the complexity and tensions, with postwar borders further entrenching Moscow’s authority over Ukrainian life. Fast-forward to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine declared independence, seeking Europe-oriented reforms and security assurances. Moscow’s reluctance to relinquish influence and Kyiv’s desire to assert sovereignty led to friction over security guarantees, energy supplies, and the status of Crimea. (Crimea is the southeast portion of Ukraine on the Black Sea.) The 2004 and 2014 uprisings in Ukraine (the Orange Revolution and the Maidan protests) crystallized a push toward European integration and further away from Moscow’s sphere of influence. Then came Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the resulting war in eastern Ukraine, followed by the broader invasion in 2022, which is what the world is now dealing with. Russia attempted to justify its actions, framing them as 1) protecting ethnic Russians and Russian speakers, and 2) countering NATO expansion. Ukraine frames them as illegal aggression and attacks against its sovereignty, which, of course, they are. The conflict has revived debates about history, painful interactions, security interests, and centuries of competing narratives.  Although Putin is a violent and, I believe, evil man, let’s pray that he will agree to end this war and the suffering of millions of people. Let’s pray that Zelinsky and the Ukrainian people can move beyond the pain and devastation of Russia’s current aggression and, for the sake of saving many lives, be willing to negotiate a peace deal. Doing so won’t be easy when Russia is demanding some of their territory and has dealt them such pain and suffering. I’m not sure ANY peace deal will be “fair” to the Ukrainians, but the other two options may indeed be worse: their complete annihilation by Russia, or other nations entering the conflict and causing a Third World War. There may be other options I am not aware of, but the situation is certainly very complicated. Trump is a skillful negotiator. Let’s pray that God gives him wisdom and great insight as he meets with Putin. Pray with me: Father, President Trump has certainly come into the Kingdom at a precarious time in history. We believe that You have shaped and prepared him for such a time as this. Please amplify the skills You have given him and use his gifts to bring forth a breakthrough for the Ukrainian and Russian people. Give him and his team strategies that produce the outcome needed at this time. We pray that You would help the Ukrainian and Russian people recover from the incredible devastation they have suffered for these past few years. Many, many lives have been lost to both nations, and incredible damage has occurred to numerous cities and thousands of homes. War is so horrible. Use this challenging time to draw people to You, as has happened many times in history. We ask that You save millions of Ukrainians and Russians. And Father, we ask for wisdom for our government officials as they work to end crime and violence in our nation. America is reaping the fruit of great rebellion, but in Your mercy, please send an awakening and a reforming of our nation. Bring this current youth revival to greater levels very quickly, and we ask for this especially in inner cities and neighborhoods. At times, the strongholds seem insurmountable. But this is not true! You CAN save a generation, and we are asking for this. Rain down revival, we pray. All of these things we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Experiencing the “Abundant Life” Jesus Promised In yesterday’s post , we talked about an important Greek word used in the New Testament in the context of prayer. The word is dei , which means “that which is necessary, even binding, as in a legal sense; that which is right, proper or necessary in the nature of a case; that which is prescribed by law, duty, custom, etc.; from a sense of duty, one must.” (1)  This word is used in Luke 18:1 to tell us prayer is absolutely necessary ( dei ) in order to overcome in life. Another important passage using this word is Matthew 16:18-19: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” “Bind” ( deo ) is a different form of this same word. Jesus, King of the Kingdom of heaven, is referencing the spiritual authority He would give His Ekklesia (the church) to carry out His will on earth. An Ekklesia, of course, was a legislative assembly. The footnote in the Passion Translation makes this clear:  “This is not a religious term at all, but a political and governmental term that is used many times in classical Greek for a group of people who have been summoned and gathered together to govern the affairs of a city. For Jesus to use this term means He is giving the keys of governmental authority in His kingdom to the church.” The meaning of deo, the word for bind (2)  in verse 19, is consistent with this legal spiritual authority Christ gave His Ekklesia. Deo  speaks of rulings that are “legally binding;” they must be honored. This is why some translations, including the Passion Translation, use the word “forbid” to translate deo . The Amplified Bible uses the words “forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful.” We have the right to forbid demonic powers from interfering in our lives and in the spheres of authority God has delegated to us.  We can also do so in broader areas of shared authority, such as natural government. The fact that government is a “shared” authority means that the will and authority of others come into play. This is why it takes longer and requires the prayers of more people to shift governments through prayer. Nevertheless, we have the authority to bind or forbid the powers of darkness from affecting us and our family. And the corporate body of Christ has authority to bind and forbid demonic powers from ruling their nation. There is still another important and fascinating verse regarding prayer that uses the word dei . Romans 8:26 makes the point that we don’t always know how to pray as we “ought” ( dei ). The verse is stating that we don’t always know what is “legally right or necessary” spiritually speaking, in order to see some situations change. For example, we may not be aware of all the spiritual strongholds that control an individual for whom we are praying. We may not be aware of the “legal” ground the person has given to evil spirits, giving demons the “right” to operate. We may not know whether it is a demonic spirit controlling a person or their own fleshly appetites. When praying for a person’s healing, the sickness is at times caused by an evil spirit. (Matthew 17:18 and others). If this is the case, we would need to pray differently. When praying for our government, we obviously don’t know all of the details of how to pray; we don’t know “what is necessary, right or proper in the nature of the case” ( dei ).  This wonderful passage in Romans 8 says Holy Spirit will help us overcome this weakness by praying through us. He alerts us to pray, gives us insight as we pray, brings Scriptures to mind and releases revelation regarding the situation. His supernatural help is what causes the working together of all things for our good, mentioned in verse 28. In her book Prophetic Intercession , Barbara Wentroble shares the following testimony of Holy Spirit’s help: “My mother-in-law was sitting in her living room at 9:30 AM. Suddenly, she felt a sensation of fear, accompanied by an urgency to pray for her son (my husband), Dale. “After asking the Lord to reveal to her how to pray, she felt a deep impression that Dale was in danger. She prayed for several minutes and then felt the ‘burden’ lift. Later that night, she called our home to ask Dale what he had been doing at 9:30 in the morning. ‘Oh, that’s easy,’ he replied. ‘I remember because I looked at my watch. Another man was talking to me while we were standing out in the plant at work. There had been some remodeling in the plant over the past several weeks, and we were discussing the progress. All of a sudden, I felt an urgency to move from the place where we were standing. We quickly moved to another spot about 20 feet away. Just as quickly as we moved, a large steel beam fell from the ceiling and landed in that very spot where I had been standing.’” (3) That is Holy Spirit help when, apart from Him, we wouldn’t know that prayer was needed, or what was necessary in the prayer. In summary, Jesus said it is required of us, it is absolutely necessary ( dei ), that we always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). He said we have authority to enforce what is legally right ( dei ), spiritually speaking (Matthew 16:18-19). And He told us that when we did not know what was legally right ( dei ), spiritually speaking, Holy Spirit would help us (Romans 8:26-28). These are just a few of the ways we experience the abundant life He promised (John 10:10). Pray with me: Father, You told us to pray and never lose heart. You delivered us from the authority of darkness, translated us into the Kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13), and told us we could forbid satan and his demonic forces from influencing our lives. We can stop him from causing us harm, stealing from us, and hindering our success in life. And You told us that Holy Spirit was always available to help us in our prayers.  Therefore, in the name and authority of Jesus: We forbid demonic attacks against our families from succeeding.  We forbid diseases caused by demonic forces from affecting our bodies. We forbid demonic forces from stealing our finances. We forbid spirits of fear from overcoming us in our minds. We forbid powers of darkness from controlling our government.  We forbid spirits of murder from taking over our streets. We forbid spirits of division from continuing to divide races in our nation.  We forbid spirits of perversion and confusion from overtaking the children of America.  (These are simply a few examples of things to pray. Let Holy Spirit lead you.) We ask, Father, that You would increase revelation in the church regarding the authority given to us in Christ. We ask that the Ekklesia be taken to her highest level of functioning in Christ’s authority as we represent Him on earth. And again, all of this we do and ask for in His name. Amen. 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. 1163. Ibid., ref. no. 1210. Barbara Wentroble, Prophetic Intercession  (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1999), pp. 68-69.

Be Courageous…And Pray! Today, I want to mention a very important Greek word from the New Testament, along with a couple of references where it is used. The word is “dei,”   which means “that which is necessary, even binding, as in a legal sense; that which is right, proper, or necessary in the nature of a case; that which is prescribed by law, duty, custom, etc.; from a sense of duty, one must.” (1) From these definitions, it is easy to see the strong meaning of the word. Dei  does not indicate a suggestion  or that something might perhaps be a good idea . To the contrary, it carries the weight of duty or legality. The very literal Wuest translation of the New Testament typically uses the phrases “that which is right and proper” and “that which is necessary in the nature of the case” to translate the word. With this in mind, let’s look at two passages where it is used. The first one will demonstrate the strength of the word; the latter uses it in the context of prayer. In Luke chapter 13, Jesus healed a lady on the Sabbath who had a crooked back, bent over for 18 years; the condition was caused by a demonic spirit (verses 10-12). However, practicing medicine was considered work, and the Pharisees lumped healing in with practicing medicine. Therefore, as ridiculous as it seems, the Pharisees considered it a violation of Sabbath laws to heal on that day! Upon seeing this miracle performed, the synagogue official became indignant, saying to the people gathered, “Six days there are during which it is right and proper [dei] to accomplish things. In them therefore you should come and be healed and not on the day of the Sabbath” (verse 14, Wuest translation). Unimaginable. “It’s against our laws to heal on the Sabbath,” he protested. No wonder Jesus couldn’t tolerate the Pharisees and religiosity of His day. Christ‘s response to the official was first to point out the hypocrisy of this law, reminding him that they took care of their animals on the Sabbath. Then He turned the tables on the official, using his own word “dei” to win the argument. “And this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound, just think of it, eighteen years, was it not a necessity in the nature of the case [dei] that she be released from this binding restriction on the Sabbath?” (Verse 16, Wuest translation).  Follow Christ’s logic. He first pointed out that this woman was “a daughter of Abraham.”  As such, she had a covenantal right to healing:  “I am Jehovah Rapha, the Lord your Healer”  God had said to Israel in Exodus 15:26. Later, He said,  “You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst”  (Exodus 23:25). Healing was her covenantal right. Then He continued: “Since she has the legal, covenantal right to healing and I am here as Jehovah Rapha, the initiator and fulfiller of that covenant, it is legally binding (dei) that I heal her. I must. Your religious legalism says I must NOT; the legality of covenant says I MUST.” Checkmate! Now, with this understanding of the strength of this word, dei,  let’s look at another reference. Jesus used the word again in Luke 18:1:  “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought (dei) always to pray, and not to faint.” He then shared the parable of the unrighteous judge and widow.  When we use the word “ought” in conversation, we are typically suggesting that something be done or stating that it might be a good idea. That is NOT what Jesus was doing! Prayer is more than a suggestion, a possible good idea. He was saying that it is necessary, right, proper, even legally binding (dei) , that we pray, asking the Father for what we need. We MUST! Wuest again confirms this, stating in the verse that it is a “necessity.”  Elsewhere, Jesus said that even though God knows our needs before we ask (Matthew 6:8), we still must ask (verses 11-13). James 4:2 goes so far as to tell us one of the reasons we don’t receive what we need is simply because we don’t ask. Prayer isn’t optional! And the last part of the verse in Luke 18:1 is also significant: “don’t faint.”  A better translation in today’s language would be  “don’t lose heart.”  Some translations tell us not to lose our courage. Don’t be faint-hearted or lose your courage. Instead, pray! When Joshua began his assignment to lead Israel, three times God commanded him to be courageous (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9)! As challenging as it is to hear, courage is a choice. God has placed within us an innate ability to overcome and be courageous. He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We must draw on this overcoming nature and refuse to let fear conquer us. When times get tough, be courageous… and pray! When the bad report comes in, be courageous… and pray! When the storm rages and it seems you will not survive, be courageous…and pray! When your nation turns away from God and toward evil, be courageous…and pray! Anchor yourself to faith in God as your Father and believe that He will come through for you. You MUST! Pray with me: Father, You told us to always pray and not lose heart. You commanded Joshua in his battles to possess the land, to be strong and courageous. We, too, must be strong and courageous as we possess our nation. We declare our faith that You have given us a spirit of power, love, and a disciplined mind; the spirit of fear is not part of our inheritance.  In the spirit of Luke 18:1, we ask You to forgive and heal our land. We ask You to heal the division and hatred, replacing them with brotherly love. We ask for a continued purging in our government, cleansing it from evil and corruption. Weaken those in our government who resist You and Your righteousness, removing their influence; strengthen those who walk in integrity and truth. We ask that the spirit of violence and crime be broken off our nation. Send revival to the youth of America (and the world), with a power the world has never before seen. Awaken the Ekklesia here and around the world to the authority You have given us, and cause her to burn with fires of revival. Uncontainable fire! And we agree in prayer for our brothers and sisters who are struggling with loss, sickness, lack, emotional pain, and discouragement. Cause the spirit of faith to arise in them, overcoming the spirit of fear. Help them to choose courage, to fan the flames of hope and faith, and to pray! Where there is confusion, awaken the soundness of mind. Where there is discouragement, cause hope to arise. Where there is pain, replace it with healing power. We stand with and for them today, in the mighty name of Jesus. Our decree: We declare that we will always pray, and we will not faint. 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. 1163.