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It’s Just Common Sense I am often reminded of Thomas Paine’s 1776 pamphlet, “Common Sense,” when thinking about today’s battle to restore America. This writing was so compelling that George Washington required all of his troops to read it as they faced the challenges of being outmanned, outgunned, and undersupplied. No doubt about it, Paine’s pamphlet was a key part of motivating America’s patriots to fight for freedom.  Paine’s choice of this title was as deliberate as the arguments inside it. The phrase was designed to frame the question of independence as something obvious, universal, and within reach of every reader—not reserved for scholars and politicians. By naming his work “Common Sense”, Paine signaled that he would demonstrate to ordinary people that the case for breaking with Britain rested on practical judgment and shared human experience, not on aristocratic theory.  The title revealed that the pamphlet was a voice for a broad audience. Paine wrote in plain language, deliberately avoiding the high-brow jargon of political essays. He wanted farmers, tradesmen, artisans, and laborers to grasp his arguments without wading through numerous footnotes or Latin phrases. The choice of “Common Sense” promised clarity and the kind of reasoning that anyone, regardless of education, could recognize as reasonable. By appealing to the “common” logic of his readers, Paine bypassed the elites and framed independence as a decision rooted in everyday practicality. The phrase also implied shared ideals. “Common sense” referred to the practical knowledge a community relied on to govern itself in ordinary life. Paine adopted this notion to contend that the colonies’ separation from Britain was not a radical leap but a logical conclusion grounded in the mutual interests and rights of the people. If a monarchy and hereditary rule, as Great Britain preached, seemed contrary to ordinary experience, then rejecting them became, in Paine’s view, common sense. In this way, the title invited readers to view independence as a natural consequence of the basic principles of liberty and self-government. The title also reflected Paine’s target audience. “Common Sense” was addressed directly to the mainstream inhabitants of America, not to the academic community and cultural elite. Paine’s plan was to mobilize opinion by presenting simple, provocative arguments in direct language, often posing questions that exposed the inconsistencies of British rule and the benefits of republican self-government. If the reasons for independence felt like common sense, then resistance to it would appear as stubborn resistance to practical truth.  Finally, the title helped inaugurate a new political culture. The pamphlet helped foster a growing American identity around the notion that governance should be grounded in consent and common welfare rather than inherited authority. The term “Common Sense” thus carried with it a promise: that all could grasp political truth, and that the American dream would be explained in terms that any person could understand and act upon. It was a strategic declaration that the decision to sever ties with Britain rested on the clear, shared judgments of ordinary people. Common Sense Today Here we are again needing common sense to save us. Oppressed by cultural elites, woke idiocy, and anti-biblical Marxists, the value of common sense is on the rise in America. Americans are sometimes gullible, definitely uninformed, and, sadly, entirely too self-absorbed. But they love their freedom, and most of them possess “good ole common sense.” They will tolerate bureaucratic and woke nonsense for a while, but their tolerance level is eventually reached, and they demand a return to sanity.  Enter Donald Trump.  I just listened to his press conference, where he announced that he and his team are taking over law enforcement in Washington, D.C., at least for the time being. He spoke of the rampant violence, filth, graffiti, disrepair, homeless camps, out-of-control crime, etc. I couldn’t help but think of Paine’s pamphlet as I listened to him, for all that Trump said was simple common sense. Here are some highlights of his statement, not in direct quotes, but generally speaking: We are taking back our nation from the thugs and criminals. We will clean up and repair our nation’s capital, making it something we can be proud of.  We will remove the graffiti; those who deface the city and its monuments will be held accountable and face jail time until they have served their entire sentence. We will make our capital city safe again, so that US families can visit without fearing for their lives. Spit in the face of a cop and they will now hit you, rather than be forced to stand and take it. We will use whatever force is required to accomplish this, including the military if necessary. Commit a crime and you will not be back on the street in a few hours through cashless bail. You will go to jail. We will now listen to the culturally elite talk about how horrible these things are, while the rest of us shout a hearty “Amen.” One of the more entertaining parts of the press conference was watching Pete Hegseth stand just behind and to the right of the President, trying not to smile at some of Trump’s comments. Patriots like Hegseth enjoy good ole patriotic common sense.  Most of Trump’s statements at his rallies were also simply common-sense-based declarations: We are going to function like every other nation and have controlled borders. We will deport those who have come here illegally, beginning with criminals, gang members, rapists, murderers, and those with terrorist ties. We will demand fair and equitable trade in our dealings with other nations. Countries we protect across the ocean are going to start paying their fair share. We are going to stop calling girls, “boys” and boys, “girls.” And we will stop mutilating their bodies. We will stop arresting concerned parents who attend school board meetings because they don’t want their kindergarten children taught how to be drag queens.  We will strengthen our military. We will lower taxes and cut out waste in government. Common sense. Pray with me: Father, Your Word speaks of those who profess to be wise, but are actually fools (Romans 1:22). America has its share of these. It also says,  “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Romans 1 also speaks of suppressing the truth and allowing darkness to overtake foolish hearts (verses 18 and 21). Rejecting You and silencing one’s conscience makes people become fools. America has allowed many incompetent individuals to sit in positions of government and education. In Your mercy, please continue removing them. Give us more plainspoken purveyors of truth and common sense. Continue to awaken the American people to the nonsensical positions of those who oppose You and the laws of nature. Cause them to continue to rise up and demand that truth rule our nation. Give support to leaders like Trump, his team, Michael Johnson, and other government leaders who are standing for our Constitution, our heritage, and Your ways. We ask You to rescue the many youth in America who are out of control and angry in our inner cities. They have been misled, deceived, and left to their own ways. Save them before it is too late for them. Give strategies to those attempting to reach them, and send the fire of revival to the inner cities of America. Pour out Your Spirit in our schools. Please send the greatest revival to the young people of America that has ever taken place. And we pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Americans are being awakened to truth and the teachings of Scripture once again. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

“Heaven Shall Never Abandon Us” Sandy Fitzgerald, writing for Newsmax, points out that a third of the District Judges in Washington, D.C., five of the 15, had never served as a Judge before being appointed by Obama and Biden, and were also born in other nations. (One of the five has only been a U.S. citizen since 2019.) Let that sink in: five of the rogue judges dictating policies that affect our entire nation had never served as a judge in any capacity before being appointed to some of the most powerful judgeships in America. They are: “Judge Tanya Chutkan, born in Kingston, Jamaica. She came to the U.S. in 1979…In addition to overseeing the legal challenge to the Department of Government Efficiency's [DOGE] work to slash government spending, she has presided over cases involving Trump, including overseeing his criminal trial in connection with the 2020 presidential election. “Judge Amit P. Mehta, appointed by Obama, was born in Patan, India…He is to oversee four Jan. 6 civil cases against Trump. “Judge Ana Cecilia Reyes, nominated in 2021, was born in Uruguay and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky…and is the first openly LGBTQ Hispanic woman to be appointed to the court. She presided over an objection to an executive order from Trump that declared ‘gender dysphoria’ as inconsistent with standards for troop readiness, blocking the order through a preliminary injunction.  “Judge Amir Hatem Mahdy Ali, another Biden appointee, is the first Muslim and Arab American to serve on the D.C. District Court. He was born and raised in Canada to Egyptian parents and became a U.S. citizen in 2019…He has written about Trump’s 2017 executive order restricting travel to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries, stating that ‘prejudice and intolerance’ were ‘the very hallmark of [Trump’s] campaign against Muslims.’ In more recent actions, Ali restored $2 billion in spending to foreign nonprofit contractors by the U.S. Agency for International Development [USAID] that had been on pause for 90 days. “Judge Sparkle Sooknanan was Biden’s final appointee and was sworn in on Jan. 2, 2025…Last week, Sooknanan ordered Democrat Susan Grundmann to be reinstated to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, keeping a Democratic majority on the board.” (1) These are just a few examples of the way in which the Left has worked diligently to shape America’s judicial system according to liberal, leftist agendas. Who needs Congress to pass laws? Just appoint the right judge, and they can legislate from the bench and even override the President elected by the majority of Americans. The appointment of liberal judges and the election of left-leaning district attorneys in numerous blue cities has led to horrendous violence and crime. The recent mob attack in Cincinnati, Ohio, is just one case in point. Tens of thousands of people are leaving beautiful California, having given up on changing the state back to a place of common sense and law and order. The same is true with New York. The problems go all the way to the top. Certain opinions of Supreme Court justices on the left have been criticized as ridiculous, even laughable, based on the Constitution and precedent. And regarding corruption at the High Court, does anyone in their right mind actually believe the ludicrous assertion that the leaker of the Dobbs decision reversing Roe versus Wade cannot be found?! Please! The good news is – and yes, there is good news – people in America are rising up and demanding change regarding the un-American, leftist, dishonest, and stupid ideals being forced upon them. And a remnant of the church is praying. America was birthed by appealing to heaven, and America is being saved by appealing to heaven.  Samuel Adams, known by Bostonians as the father of the American Revolution, has become one of my favorite Founding Fathers. In September 1777, the war for independence was not going well. The British were in control of New York, Washington’s troops were suffering from deprivation and fatigue. “The number of delegates present at Congress had dwindled to a mere twenty from the fifty-six members who had signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Those remaining gathered for a private meeting in York to question whether there was any hope of success.” (2) Sam Adams rose to speak, comparing the American revolutionaries to the Israelites who had left the slavery of Egypt. According to Exodus, chapter 13, God guided them in the wilderness with a “pillar of cloud by day” and a “pillar of fire by night.” In his address, Adams demonstrated his faith and patriotism stating: “Let us awaken then, and evince a different spirit, a spirit that shall inspire the people with confidence in themselves and in us, a spirit that will encourage them to persevere in this glorious struggle, until their rights and liberties shall be established on a rock. We have proclaimed to the world our determination ‘to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.’ We have appealed to heaven for the justice of our cause, and in heaven we have placed our trust. Numerous have been the manifestations of God’s providence in sustaining us. In the gloomy period of adversity, we have had ‘our cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.’ We have been reduced to distress, and the arm of Omnipotence has raised us up. Let us still rely in humble confidence on Him who is mighty to save. Good tidings will soon arrive. Heaven shall never abandon us while we act worthy of its aid and protection.” (3) Keep praying, church, we have Scripture and history on our side. Heaven shall never abandon us. Pray with me: Father, sin and rebellion often lead to depravity and insanity. America now has depraved judges and legislators who want to see babies killed, children mutilated, Your Word mocked, Your marriage covenant defiled, and common sense outlawed. Many  “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”  (Romans 1:21-22). We have sown the wind and are reaping the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). And yet, You are rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), and love to redeem.  We approach You now based on the redemptive properties of the blood of Jesus. In the greatest story ever told, our Creator has become our Redeemer. We ask that His blood continue to cleanse our nation from sin, its resulting depravity, and the curse of insanity. Cleanse our hearts and heal our minds. Restore us to You, and thereby to truth and life. As founder Samuel Adams referenced, we ask You for the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). Bring Your glory and fire to our three branches of government, releasing these guiding forces in the White House, the halls of Congress, and the Supreme Court. Flow down from these “heads” to every facet of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of our government. “We have appealed to heaven for the justice of our cause, and in heaven we have placed our trust.” (4)  We will not doubt, and we will not stop until our nation is ablaze with revival and being reformed by truth. And in Jesus’ name we seal this. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the appeals to heaven will not stop, and they will not fail. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/federalist-us-judges-district-of-columbia/2025/03/26/id   Sample text for Samuel Adams : a life / Ira Stoll.   Ibid. Ibid.

Help Us Write History in Washington, D.C. Exodus 23:14-17: “Three times a year, you shall celebrate a feast to Me. You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. Also, you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also, the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. Three times a year, all your males shall appear before the Lord God.” Deuteronomy 16:16: “Three times in a year, all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.” God understands that we must relate to others on different levels. In Israel, they identified with one another as families, cities, tribes, and as a nation. God realized that the closeness and commitment to one another would decrease as the number of people increased. One of the ways He ensured that Israel would maintain its national identity, while immersed in living life with family, community, and tribe, was this requirement for all of the men (13 years old and upward) to go to Jerusalem three times a year for major feasts. This practice helped keep them all connected both spiritually and nationally. These journeys were time-consuming and required sacrifice, but they were necessary to remind all of Israel that they were part of something bigger than themselves. Who doesn’t realize how easy it is to get caught up in our own world of family, friends, challenges, and activities?  The principle behind this requirement in Israel is appropriate for us in the body of Christ today. Though we are members of different congregations, streams and “tribes,” we are part of one spiritual nation; we must never fail to remember and honor this. It is inappropriate to think we can isolate ourselves from other tribes and spiritual families. Our union in Christ is far more important than our differences and preferences. God loves and demands unity, and those who divide brothers are an abomination to Him (Proverbs 6:16-19).  There is another occurrence in Scripture mentioned in the books of Numbers and Joshua, which demonstrates the importance of our corporate identity in God’s family and the importance of working together. Joshua 1:12–18 reads: “To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, ‘ Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, “The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.” Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’ “ They answered Joshua, saying, ‘All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”’ These verses refer back to an account in Numbers 32. Three tribes, Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, had requested that Moses give their inheritances to them before Joshua and the entire nation conquered Canaan. They had found land on the other side of the Jordan River that suited their livestock well, and asked that this land be given to them as an inheritance. Moses agreed – as long as they temporarily left their ranches and homes to fight for the other tribes when it was time for Israel to possess Canaan. It was “all for one and one for all” as far as the inheritance of Israel was concerned. Failure to honor this agreement was punishable by death! Regardless of how settled they were on their farms and ranches, how comfortable they had become in their homes with their families, when the time came to fight, the men would have to pack up, grab their weapons, and fight for their brothers and sisters. Although it was 40 years before the time came for the remaining tribes to possess their land, Joshua – and God – had not forgotten the agreement. Joshua brought it up immediately in chapter one of the book bearing his name, and these three tribes honored their commitment. How different things would be if the body of Christ thought this way today. If we realized that we could not honor only our tribe’s identity or celebrate only our congregation’s success, but possessed hearts willing to sacrifice and battle for the success of our brothers and sisters, how different things would be. If we realized it was required of us to war for the entire nation, not just for our home and family, how different things would be. Obviously, some causes and battles are local, but others rise to the level of national importance.  As we war for the soul of America – for her revival, restoration, and reset – much of that must be done at the local level. But there are some battles that require all of the tribes to fight as one. This is why God, at times, leads individuals to host significant national  gatherings or release national  prayer alerts. And when we honor these calls to national prayer, victories flow down to all. A very significant national gathering will take place in Washington, D.C., on October 9-12. It is simply called Communion America ,   referencing our faith in the blood of Jesus, and the belief that no person, no religious or political organization, and no human strategy can save America. The journey of salvation we are on is a journey back to our faith in Christ and our relationship with God through His blood: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. ” (1) So, throughout the day on Thursday and Friday, we will gather in 50 tents – one for each state -- and worship. In the evenings, we will all gather together, worshiping and praying for our nation. On Saturday, October 11, a table of communion will be set up the length of the Washington Mall, and we will humbly partake of the covenant meal together, asking God to cleanse our nation with the blood of Jesus…and send the greatest of revivals.  I can safely say that God has used various visits to Washington, D.C., to accomplish as much or more in my heart than any other activity. There is something about taking a stand in our nation’s capital – as both a citizen of heaven and of America – that is incredibly significant. My emotions have run the gamut when doing so, from overwhelming travail accompanied by many tears to exultant, powerful decrees. If you have never made such a pilgrimage, this would be a great time to do so. During my visits, not only have I been used, I have been marked . Nothing has done as much to solidify the revelation that this is MY country as have these visits to pray in Washington, D.C., Holy Spirit has told me many times while there, “Take ownership of this nation – it belongs to you.” You should consider joining host David Bradshaw, Lou Engle, me, and other leaders, helping us write this new chapter of America’s history. All for one, and one for all! Pray with me: Father, we know You relate to people, not just as individuals, but as groups of people. Family units are blessed and cursed, as are cities and entire nations. Also nations, just like individuals, possess divine purposes and destinies. We know You raised America up to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. And though we have rejected You and turned from this calling, in Your mercy, You are restoring us. We declare that we will experience a great harvest and also be used to reap an incredible harvest in other nations. Without a doubt, You have led David Bradshaw and Awaken the Dawn  to host this worship and Communion gathering on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Now, we ask You to breathe Your life, favor, and blessing into it. Give it wind. Move upon the hearts of tens of thousands of people to attend, and millions more to participate online. We ask that You would use this event to take Your rightful place in our nation. As we partake of the bread and wine that week, arise and scatter Your enemies. Give us great breakthrough in the heavens, shattering strongholds and lifting the veil of darkness off millions of people. Let the power released as we gather merge with the power released from millions of prayers and other significant events in our nation over the past 30+ years. Amalgamate and synchronize these into one huge explosive release of Your power. We ask for all the funds needed to accomplish this event. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Our decree:  We decree that another great Communion Revival has begun and will come to fullness in America. Link to give: Awaken the Dawn Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://hymnary.org/text/what_can_wash_away_my_sin

Our Protected Future Yesterday,  we looked at Jeremiah 33:3, where God said if we would call on Him, He would show us great and mighty things we have never seen. We saw that the word “mighty” does not refer to physical power or might, but has the connotation of something that is hidden, and therefore fortified or protected. The verse is saying God will reveal to us things that have been hidden and protected until the right time.  Isaiah 48:6-7 is another passage speaking of God revealing previously hidden things. “Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even HIDDEN things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.” (emphasis mine) The word used here for “hidden” is different from the one used in Jeremiah 33:3. It is natsar, (1) which means to watch over, keep, guard, protect, maintain, etc. As such, it is one of the Hebrew words for a watchman. These definitions do not do the word justice, however. For all of the word-nerds out there, A Little Perspective  ( alittleperspective.com ) explains that natsar  is made from three different Hebrew letters/words: nun, tsadey, and  resh.  Combined, they literally mean: “We ensure the continuation ( nun ) of a thing when we conceal ( tsadey ) its beginning or foundation ( resh) ; that is, we guard a thing of value when its root is hidden from view.” (2) The article continues adding, “The sense I get of  natsar,  is that the thing which is kept is hidden from view…The thing of value is not on display, so thieves do not know of its existence to steal it.” (3) Now, for all of you bottom-liners who don’t want the etymology–just the meaning–Isaiah 48:6 is saying that God protects His plans by keeping them “hidden” until He knows it is time to reveal them. Holy Spirit chooses not to reveal many things regarding God’s plans for the future, whether they pertain to a person or a nation. Even when the Lord reveals certain plans, He typically does not reveal the exact timing  or how  He will accomplish them. He is protecting them, not only from His enemies, but from us! If He didn’t, we would want to see them fulfilled NOW, and would try to make them happen OUR WAY, not God’s. Therefore, He “hides” His plans and waits for the right time to reveal them. Jesus was born at a “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4). Holy Spirit was poured out only after Jesus was crucified, and the Day of Pentecost had “fully come” (Acts 2:1). Until these events, the plans and timing of God regarding redemption were still “hidden.” The apostle Paul was born again, then waited 14 years until God’s fullness of time, before being separated into his apostolic calling and destiny (Galatians 2:1; Acts 13).  In 2020, God hid some of His plans regarding America. He did clearly reveal that America would be saved, and He informed us that revival was coming to America. He also told several prophets that President Trump would serve two terms as president. What He chose not to reveal at the time was that there would be a four-year delay for Trump’s second term, during which time He would 1) expose corruption in America; and 2) change Donald Trump, which would allow him to accomplish much more than he could have previously. Preparation was needed, both in our government and in Trump personally. Eventually, God’s hidden plans were revealed.  God has plans for you that He has not yet revealed. He is still hiding them in order to protect them. In the meantime, pray and declare what you do know. Be obedient to what He has shown you. When the time is right, Holy Spirit will show you more. Don’t get ahead of Him.  God began speaking to me about writing several years before it was time to do so. He needed to plant the seed in me, but it was not yet time for the fruit. This was somewhat confusing at first. When He first began speaking to others and me personally about this calling, all of us assumed it was time to start. Some of those who had prophetically discerned this gifting began urging me to begin. I tried, but it was obvious that I was not yet ready. Holy Spirit had simply been preparing my heart and mind for His future plans. A few years later, He made it clear that it was time to begin. I wrote my book, Intercessory Prayer  and have been writing ever since.  He has plans for you, also. Good plans. You are familiar with some of them; others are hidden. Regarding those you do know of, He has likely chosen to hide the timing. Trust and obey. Your trust in Him and perseverance during the wait are parts of your preparation. Remember, you are on a journey.  And when God chooses to reveal His hidden plans to you, you’ll be glad you waited. Pray with me: Father, You have plans for us, plans for good and not evil, to give us a hope-filled future (Jeremiah 29:11). Thank You for this verse, assuring each one of us that You are not trying to “come up with” a plan for our life, but that You already “have” it. And thank You for hiding portions of this destiny, keeping it safe from the enemy of our souls, and even from ourselves, until Your fullness of time arrives. You are the Master Craftsman and the Perfect Timekeeper. You always know when the right time has come. Give great assurance to those struggling with their timeline. Give them confidence that they can trust You from this day forward, and declare with the Psalmist that their times are in Your hand (Psalm 31:15). Awaken within them an assurance that You have a plan for their life and that, regardless of what has happened up to this point, they can trust You with their future. And we agree in prayer now for America and her destiny. (Place the name of your nation in the prayer.) We declare our faith that Your purposes for our nation will be accomplished; that You have plans and events hidden in Your heart that You will bring forth at just the right time. These plans revolve around the gospel of the Kingdom spreading from these shores to the entire world. These plans involve a third great awakening that will reset and reform our nation. These plans involve a youth revival, not only here but around the world, that will shake the nations of the earth. We declare that these purposes are safe in You, and will not be destroyed. All of this we pray in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the hidden plans of God, safely concealed in Him, are now being revealed.  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. 5341. https://alittleperspective.com/proverbs-4-guard-your-heart-with-all-diligence/ Ibid.

Mining the Gold “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. ” (Jeremiah 33:3) This famous verse of Scripture has no doubt been heard by almost every believer. On one occasion several years ago, I woke up at 3:33 AM and heard the Lord say to me, “Jeremiah 33:3.” At least, I thought  I had awakened at 3:33 AM, until I woke up again at 3:33 AM, and heard the same words! When I finally did wake up, I realized I had dreamed – twice! – that I woke up at 3:33 AM, and heard the Lord say “Jeremiah 33:3.”  The Lord wanted to “awaken” me to this verse and do so with extra emphasis, so He gave me the same dream twice. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but upon waking, I knew immediately that God wanted me to look at Jeremiah 33:3.  We all find comfort in the promise that if we call upon the Lord, He will answer us and show us great and mighty things. But I decided to dig a little deeper, and began by reading the verse in several translations. I was immediately intrigued by the Amplified Classic Bible: “Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” The phrase “fenced in and hidden” fascinated me. “Mighty” is the word that motivated the Amplified translators to add this additional phrase. My first thought was, Well, which is right? “Mighty?” or “fenced in and hidden?”  Out came the lexicons. The Hebrew word is batsar. (1)  It is a very fascinating word. Follow closely: the root concept is “to cut off,” including the aspect of separating or isolating something. It was often used in the context of doing so in order to protect it. This is why it was used by the Amplified translators to describe something “fenced in and hidden,” like a garden or vineyard; it was even used to describe gold, which is “cut off” from view and “hidden” by the ground. The word also took on the meaning of a city that was cut off, inaccessible, and therefore, “fortified.” The concept of mighty, therefore, is not referring to a muscular or military might, but to something hidden and inaccessible, thus, protected and “mighty.”  The Amplified got it right. The verse is saying that God will reveal information or a revelation that has been hidden, not yet made known. He will “unhide” it. This can be seen in the fact that a different form of the word, betser , (2)  is used to describe gold that was once “hidden” but has now been discovered and mined. Using this analogy, we could say that God is going to reveal the  treasure  of His Word, or the prophetic revelation necessary to succeed or prosper. We actually sometimes use the phrase “a wealth of information.” This information from Holy Spirit could be prophetic insight regarding the times and seasons, how to break through in a given situation, or direction for the future. Any new insight revealed by Holy Spirit would fit the description of  batsar/betser .  God is willing to reveal the understanding you need to break through and prosper. Your Counselor and Teacher, Holy Spirit, wants to release the spirit of wisdom and revelation to you (Ephesians 1:17). He wants to “uncover” truth, information, and insight for You. Uncover is actually the literal meaning of revelation. Let Him help you mine the gold. Jeremiah 15:16 says,  “Thy words were FOUND, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (emphasis mine).  Too often, we fail to “find” the gold, the revelation we need, because we are not diligently looking and listening. Psalm 107:9 tells us God satisfies the thirsty and the hungry, filling them with what is good. “The problem isn’t God’s refusal to speak but our refusal or inability to get quiet enough to hear. Silencing the soul is a learned art. The psalmist David spoke of this. ‘Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother’ (Psalm 131:2). When we quiet the soul, we can hear His voice in our hearts.” (3) As King Solomon was about to begin his reign over Israel, he prayed a prayer God couldn’t resist.  “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”  (1 Kings 3:9). The phrase “an understanding heart” should actually be translated “a hearing heart.” The translators struggle with the concept of a “hearing” heart, so they don’t word it this way. But the Hebrew word is  shama, (4)  and it means “to hear.” Solomon asked for a hearing heart to discern between good and evil, enabling him to lead God’s people appropriately. God answered Solomon’s prayer, revealing to him treasures of wisdom, and we can read them in the book of Proverbs. Why don’t you take a little time today and ask God to reveal some treasure to you? Pray with me: Father, we echo the words of the Psalmist, who asked You to “open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Your law/word”  (Psalm 119:18). There is no problem we have, no situation we face, for which the answer cannot be found in Your Word. Give us the hunger and tenacity to dig for the treasure, for You have said that if we call upon You, You would answer and show us the hidden pearls of revelation we need.  No, these priceless gems are not lying out in the open for the casual seeker to come across them “accidentally.” You do not cast Your pearls before swine. They must be sought, treated as the priceless treasure they are. But for the hungry, You have promised to help us mine the gold and find the treasure. Give us hungry, seeking hearts, just as Solomon possessed. And we know You will respond to that hunger by opening our eyes to see hidden treasures of wisdom. We pray for our leaders in government and in the church. We ask that You give them wisdom and revelation to lead with Your understanding and enlightenment. Give them supernatural strategies to overcome challenging problems. Give them solutions to heal our nation and spread righteousness and justice.  And we pray for everyone joining us today. Give them the answer they need in order to overcome, to break through, to succeed. Give them heaven’s understanding and wisdom for every situation they face. All of this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that as we call upon the Lord, He will answer us, revealing great and mighty things we did not know.  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. 1219. Ibid., ref. no. 1220, 1221. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company  (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books), p. 143. Strong’s Concordance, ref. 8085.

Introduction Holy Spirit has given my brother Tim a very encouraging word regarding restoration and renewal coming to the body of Christ. As always, it is powerful, and I believe it will minister to you greatly. Tim’s title is: The Oil of Joy: Strength for the Season   I believe this is a season in which the Lord desires to bring deep healing and renewal to our souls, positioning us to reign victoriously with Christ in the fullness of His promises. Just as the Lord, our Shepherd, restored David’s soul in Psalm 23, He desires to do the same for us. I recently heard the Lord say, “This is a season in which I will give beauty for ashes in amplified ways. My transforming anointing will destroy yokes of oppression, hopelessness, and resulting bondages. It will be poured out in great measure. “Soul strikes” will be healed, bringing full recovery to My people. I will give the oil of joy for mourning and garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” As I prayed and reflected on this, Holy Spirit brought to my mind a prophetic word from several years ago and added fresh insight. Here is that word: “A supernatural time of exchange has now come to fullness, which will liberate my people to live in the freedoms I intend for them. Move into and live in the reality of that which I have promised. Move into the power dimensions I have provided. Leave the ashes your enemies used to stain your soul and darken your times. Leave the burning, singeing soul-grief brought by the spirit prince of heaviness.  Wrap yourself in new garments created from the promises your Prince of Peace has made to you. Live in the realities of My revealed identity for the joint heirs, My nature and life within you. Live life as a child of God. Live the God-life in your natural-life, filled with Holy Spirit-life.  Come to the place of awesome exchange. Is not My altar the holy place of exchange? Your sins, for My forever life. Your chains, for My freedom. Your guilt, for My pardon. Your shame, for My innocence. Your condemnation, for divine approval. Your weakness, for My strength. Your futile works, for My grace. Your defeats, for My victory. Your fears, for My boldness. Your failures, for My success. Your sickness, for My healing.  Come unto Me, all you who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Understand anew the supernatural favor I placed upon you. You are marked for supernatural favor. Understand the exchange privileges, the promises that are faithful, true, watched over, and performed for you. Move into the reality of My great exchange. Give Me your ashes, I’ll give you beauty. Give Me your grieving, I’ll give you joy. I'll pour soothing oil over you. Give Me your heaviness and I'll give songs of thanksgiving. Give Me your burial clothes and I’ll give you garments of praise. Receive the anointing pouring forth from heaven. Participate in the supernatural time I am providing. Receive and enjoy the benefits of the great exchange.” As I began to reflect on this prophetic word, the Holy Spirit drew me to Isaiah 61. As I read it, I knew the passage was a kairos  word, a now  word. A fresh word breathed on the body of Christ, carrying fresh wind, fresh life, and fresh power. I heard the Spirit saying: A new measure of the joy of the Lord is being poured out in this season. I am pouring out the oil of joy.  Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. When joy comes, strength is activated. This means the opposite is also true: despair weakens us. There is a surge of joy being released by Holy Spirit to strengthen sons and daughters, making them joyful warriors. They will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Joy is always available to us, but there are times when heaven releases an intentional wave of joy that produces strength. This is one of those times.  Isaiah 61:1–3 (Message) says: “ God sent me to announce the year of His grace—a celebration of God ’ s destruction of our enemies… to give bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit… They ’ ll be renamed Oaks of Righteousness, planted by God to display His glory.” This passage tells us the brokenhearted will be renamed . The bound will be renamed . Those who are mourning and in grief will be renamed . God is calling them His strong ones, His oaks of righteousness. The Father never calls you His weakling. You may feel weak because of circumstances that have knocked you down, but heaven is pouring out joy to make you strong like an oak tree.  We don’t make it through life without some misfortune. But experiencing problems doesn’t mean we’re in unbelief or that we’ve sinned. It simply means we’ve encountered an unexpected storm. We may not have seen it coming, and we may not have caused it, but when it arrives, we must overcome. As born-again sons and daughters, we have a promise of victory alive within us, and we trust God – He will turn things around! Romans 8:28 declares that God works all things together for good to those who love Him.  That doesn’t mean everything will return to the way it was; some things will never be the same. But the promise is that God knows how to make life good again .  He knows how to restore or replace what was lost. He knows how to change what needs to be changed. He knows how to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. There is a story recorded in Lee: The Last Years  by Charles Bracelen Flood. After the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee was traveling through Kentucky on horseback and passed by the home of a woman, clearly upset about what the ravages of war had done to her property. She pointed out to Lee a great shade tree that had been mangled and broken by artillery fire, expecting Lee to condemn the Union troops. Lee knew, however, that it was time to heal, and simply said, “Cut it down, madam. Cut it down and forget it.” Then he rode on. (1) You may have suffered greatly from the enemy’s artillery fire. And, yes, some of it is undoubtedly devastating. But I believe God wants to give you grace to move on from losses, abuse, and attacks of the past, so that you can stop reliving the “soul strike.” He will enable you to lay the axe to the root of despair, no longer controlled by the effects of the enemy’s artillery fire. Plant your hope in a new season. Plant your faith for a new harvest. Press forward into the future God has in store for you.    This is a season when God is bringing fresh strength, fresh hope, and fresh joy. Receive the oil of joy and let Him make you strong, an oak of righteousness, planted to display His glory. Pray with me:  Father, we are grateful that You have promised to restore our souls. We thank You for this season of supernatural exchange. Thank You for the promise of Isaiah 61, that You give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Lord, today, we choose to trust You, anchoring our hope in You, knowing that You don’t disappoint. Cause joy to arise in us, producing strength for this season, so we may live as joyful warriors, strong in You and the power of Your might. And Lord, we pray for this refreshing, restoration, and strength to be poured out on our leaders. They are on the front lines of war, not only in America, but the entire world. Give them strength-producing joy, faith-sustaining courage, and fruit-producing wisdom. We pray they not grow weary in doing what is right, so that they may reap in due season (Galatians 6:9). We pray this especially for President Trump. Give him supernatural strength to finish his race well. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name, amen.  Our decree:   We decree that beauty is replacing our ashes, victory is replacing our sorrows, and our futures are filled with the goodness of God. 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. Charles Bracelen Flood, Lee—the Last Years  (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1981).   https://archive.org/details/leethelastyears00floo/mode/2up

Declaring God’s Word “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.”  Job 22:28 NKJV It was 1980, and I was fresh out of Bible College. I was radical enough spiritually to pray for anything that moved – or grew. That’s why I was standing in the middle of a field, reading the Bible to the crops. Now that I have your attention . . .No, I’m not kidding. I was taking my cue from Jesus, who once spoke to a tree, releasing a death sentence to it. The following day it was dead (see Mark 11:13-14, 20). On another occasion, He also spoke to a storm, commanding it to stop (see Mark 4:39), and even addressed a corpse, giving it life (see John 11:43). One of His disciples also did the latter (see Acts 9:36-41). Jesus knew that nature and dead people weren’t “hearing” Him, but that His words were releasing the power of Holy Spirit to impact those realms. Likewise, our words, when they are God’s words and Holy Spirit leads us to speak them, also release divine power. That’s why I was declaring the Bible over a field. Actually, I was reading it to the field and the flies that were invading it. I read the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 concerning the crop:   “Blessed shall be . . . the produce of your ground . . . The Lord will command the blessing . . . in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you . . . And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity . . . in the produce of your ground”  (vv 4, 8, 11).  I read Psalm 91:3 concerning the flies: “For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.” The flies died, and the crop lived. The situation was as follows: A Guatemalan farmer, already in financial trouble from previous losses, was in danger of losing thousands of acres of maize to these flies. He was about to spend approximately $25,000 to have them crop-dusted and wasn’t even sure this would stop the plague. We reminded this new Christian about the biblical principle of tithing and the promise that God would “rebuke the devourer” (see Malachi 3:10-11) for those who would obey Him in this regard. We then read him the verses mentioned above and asked if he would like us to join him in reading and declaring these words of God over his crops. He did, we did, and God did. The crops lived, and the flies and their larvae died. The crop-dusting wasn’t even necessary. Not only was the crop saved, but the $25,000 for the costly treatment was, as well. When scriptural principles are followed, the spoken Word is a powerful aspect of intercession. Decrees and declarations need not lead to imbalance or weirdness. However, being biblically balanced does not mean our actions won’t, at times, strain human understanding or reason.  It means we stay in the parameters of biblical teaching and the leading of Holy Spirit. Much so-called balance in Christianity is simply a desire to remain within the realm of our human understanding and natural laws. This eliminates the spiritual laws of faith and speaking the Word of God as a spiritual weapon. God honors His Word above His very name (see Psalm 138:2; KJV). A person’s name means nothing if his word can’t be trusted. When we consider the Word of God as unfailing and all-powerful, we are giving Him the greatest honor we can give. We’re stating that we know He cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:18), that His Word is eternal (see Isaiah 40:8), and that He can be trusted implicitly. A Roman centurion came to Christ on one occasion, asking Him to heal his servant. Christ said He was willing and offered to go with the man to minister to his servant. The centurion gave a startling response, however: “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it” (Matthew 8:8-9). This man understood the authority of God-inspired words and declarations. Jesus did give the command, and the servant was healed. I recall a challenging situation I faced several years ago in which demonic spirits were obviously involved. Great anger and strife had arisen in a family, and a strong possibility existed that the next day, this family would be torn apart for years, if not forever. I prayed late into the night about this very volatile situation, asking God to intervene. After a couple of hours of prayer, I clearly heard Holy Spirit say, “Use your authority and speak the Word!” I began to aggressively declare Scriptures Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance, making decrees based upon them. It went something like this: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you”  (Luke 10:19).  “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world”  (1 John 4:4). I declare that God has given me authority over the spirits involved in this situation. Holy Spirit in me is greater than any power they can muster. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exaltheth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV).   I declare that my weapons are fully able to disarm this situation. In Jesus’ name, I tear down the strongholds of the powers of darkness in this family situation. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).   I am fully submitted to God and know that as I speak His Word, the evil forces at work must flee. I command you, demonic powers, to leave this situation in Jesus’ name. I free these individuals from your influence, in Jesus’ name! I probably used a few other verses, as well – this happened 40 years ago – but I’m sure you can understand what I was doing. After 20-30 minutes of this, I felt great peace and went to bed. The following morning, every person involved had experienced a change of heart, and total peace prevailed. The power of God’s Word had been released, overcoming the evil spirits and positively influencing the minds and hearts of the individuals. It just needed to be released. Pray with me: Father, we know that the power which created the universe was released through Your words. Few believers, however, understand the power that can be released when WE speak YOUR words. Increase revelation of this to the body of Christ; arm us with truth. As You do, we pledge to go to a new level of using Your words as the sword of the Spirit. We will speak Your words regarding our personal lives, the lives of others, and our nation. Doing so now, we decree that the wicked will not prosper in our land (Psalm 92:7; 125:3). No weapon formed against Your purposes in America will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), but that which You have spoken – giving the nations to Your Son (Psalm 2) – will manifest in America. We release this in the mighty name of Jesus. Our decree: We decree God’s Word from Psalm 119:89:  “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was taken from our Give Him 15 Devotional, Volume 1 .

Introduction This week, I felt a strong leading from the Lord to re-emphasize some truths from Scripture that are essential for our success as we represent Christ, but are rarely taught. In today’s post, I want to remind you of the importance and power of speaking God’s words. You can also find the teaching in our Give Him 15 Devotional, Volume One.  Today’s title is: Releasing Power “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.”   Mark 11:23-24 Today I want to refocus on the number one way we impact the unseen realm of the spirit (“heavenly places”). The answer may surprise you: it is with our words. Whether releasing our faith, the power of Holy Spirit, or warring against satan’s kingdom, the primary way we influence the spiritual realm is through our words. Why? The answer need not be mystical or lead to strange doctrines. The simple explanation for the power of words is that our mouths are the outlets of our spirits. Jesus said,  “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Love and blessing in our hearts are released or communicated through our words, as is cursing (James 3:9-10). The faith in our hearts or spirits is also released from our mouths through words (Romans 10:10; 2 Corinthians 4:13). Believe, speak – born again (Romans 10:9)! Believe, speak – mountains of adversity gone (Mark 11:23)! When God’s conditions are met, we speak and the words are infused with His power and life. “How forcible are right words!”  (Job 6:25 KJV). Most people are unaware that it is mentioned in the Bible.  Job’s word for “forcible” ( marats)  means “to press.” (1)  One of its biblical uses describes a king pressing his seal of authority onto a decree or legal document with his signet ring, making it legally binding, the law of the land. Words seal deals and decree laws. They are powerful, even unto life and death (see Proverbs 18:20-21). The New Testament says we are justified or condemned by them (see Matthew 12:37). Wars are started with words. Love is communicated through words. Instruction and education are shared by words. Deception and confusion are propagated with words. Kingdoms are built with words. People are controlled by words.  Lives are shattered and healed through words. Words are the greatest conduit of authority and power in the world. God’s “ Let there be” created the world and everything in it. Ecclesiastes 12:11 says,  “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies”  (KJV). Nails help us build, construct, assemble, and hold things together. According to this verse, so do words. The Master Craftsman used words to build the earth, the seas, the mountains, and all the other amazing elements and dimensions of creation. Hebrews 1:3 tells us He also holds all of this together by the power of His words and decrees! Luke’s gospel says that even the incarnation -- God becoming human -- was caused by a combination of God’s words and Spirit. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could have a child, the angel informed her that the power of Holy Spirit would overshadow her and impregnate her with Jesus (1:35). Then he said, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). This translation of Luke 1:37 doesn’t nearly do justice to the strength of what the angel actually said. The most literal and accurate rendering is: “No word spoken by God is without power.” (2)   What an amazing statement this is, and what tremendous ramifications it carries for us. Our all-powerful God infuses transcendent power into His words.  They become the carriers of His awesome strength. God also calls His words a sword with which He rules and judges. His declarations not only create and build, they also judge and destroy; they’re both constructive  and destructive. Consider the following: “Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16);  “Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war...with the sword of My mouth”  (Revelation 2:16; see also 19:15, 21). God’s decrees are not only to bring forth or accomplish something in the present; some are declarations regarding the future. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says of Himself, “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” He stands outside of time and looks ahead, declares the future, and eventually time catches up to His decree. How preposterous the fools who think they will outwit or overpower Him! When time catches up to a decree God made regarding the future, He often involves us in its fulfillment. We say what He said, echoing His voice on the earth. Job 22:28 says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.” The first part of this verse could be more literally  rendered “You will decree a decree. ” (3) We discern God’s will, His decree – what He has determined about a given situation – and decree His decree. Incredible! Then, He says, it will be established. The verse then says that when we decree His decree, it will be “established.” This is the Hebrew word quwm , which means “to rise.” (4) Quwm  describes a variety of activities; one lexicon said it is used to depict God’s “creative, saving, and judging action” rising up. (5) Our decreeing the Lord’s Word releases His creativity, His salvation , and yes, even His judgments! I once watched as a minister commanded  a young boy’s crooked legs, supported by metal and leather braces, to be healed. As the minister prayed, the air was filled with the sound of joints popping. Muscles and tendons formed, bones became new. The young man, who had never run before, took off his braces and ran around the church. We watched with amazement and awe, and the entire church celebrated with this young man over his creative miracle...which was released through words! I also watched another miraculous healing take place as this same minister prayed for a lady with stomach cancer. He spoke to the cancer, cursing it in Jesus’ name. The woman vomited up the cancer and was completely healed...again, through the releasing of Spirit-led words!  I know these stories sound fictional, but in the healing revival of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, miracles such as these occurred in services across America. Thousands were healed supernaturally. Doctors substantiated these two miracles. I know because the minister was my dad. Our prayer and decree: Father, we release the power of Your words into America. (If you live elsewhere, do this for your nation.) We declare that the earth is the Lord’s – Yours – and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1). All of it belongs to You. You are the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7). All authority on earth belongs to You (Matthew 28:18-19). Yours is the Kingdom and power and glory forever (Matthew 6:10). We declare the release of Your authority over the government of America. You are dismantling the arrogant systems and political forces that have exalted themselves against You. All who have opposed You, along with the strongholds they have built, are being pulled down, and all unrighteous laws they have written will be reversed in the coming season of revival and reformation. Your angels are on the move now to expose and dismantle the evil of unrighteous leaders. We decree Your Word over America commanding, “Kingdom, come – will of God, be done in this land!” (Matthew 6:10) All of this we do in the name and with the authority of Yeshua, Amen. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible . 7th ed., Abingdon Press, 1980, ref. no. 4834. Bible Hub , “ For no word from God shall be void of power.” https://biblehub.com/multi/luke/1-.7.htm . Accessed 28 June 2021. “Strong's Hebrew: 1504. גָּזַר (gazar) -- to cut, divide, decree.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm . Accessed 28 June 2021. “Strong's Hebrew: 6965. קוּם (qum) -- to arise, stand up, stand.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6965.htm . Accessed 28 June 2021. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Workbook of the Old Testament . Moody, 1980, p. 793.

Introduction Yesterday , I began reemphasizing a few biblical truths that are important but seldom taught. Continuing this, today’s teaching brings insight regarding the dual functions we have as we represent Christ here on earth. As believers, we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9); all of us are privileged to represent Christ in both His kingly and priestly roles. There is a teaching that has circulated over the past few years in the body of Christ stating that “priests” are those in full-time ministry and “kings” are those in the secular workforce. This is not biblically accurate. All believers, regardless of our vocation, are called to represent Christ in both His kingly and priestly functions. Let’s look at this incredibly important subject. This teaching is also shared in our Give Him 15 Devotional, Volume One.   Today’s title is: Understanding Kingly and Priestly Intercession “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:6) “You have made them to be a Kingdom and priests to serve our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”  (Revelation 5:10) In the late 1980s, I was having a friendly phone conversation with a seasoned prophet, Chuck Flynn, when he began prophesying to me. One phrase in particular stood out. He said God was going to bring forth “the fresh age of the Melchizedek order” and that I would play a role in it. “What is that?” I asked when he concluded. “I don’t know,” he said somewhat humorously. “But when you find out, let me know.” It took a while! Fast-forward approximately fifteen years to October 2002. I was praying for America’s Supreme Court when I heard Holy Spirit clearly say, “The church will fully shift the government of America when the prayer movement fully shifts from  priestly intercession  only to kingly intercession as well.” I suddenly remembered what Chuck had prophecied to me, the dots connected in my mind, and I finally understood “the fresh age of the Melchizedek order.” The Scriptures describe Jesus as a priest  “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6-10). Melchizedek is first mentioned in Genesis 14, again in Psalm 110, and then in the New Testament book of Hebrews. He was both a king  and a priest , and as such, became a picture of Jesus, our King and High Priest. And this is key to understanding the “Melchizedek order.” Old Testament priests primarily represented the needs of people TO GOD; kings, on the other hand, represented the authority of God TO PEOPLE. In His unique role, Christ functions as both. As our Savior, High Priest, Mediator, and Advocate, Jesus represents humankind to God.  On the other hand, as King, Christ represents God to humankind.  But Christ doesn’t release these functions by Himself. He established a new order. An “order” is not just one person, but a group of people in the same profession or performing the same function. He works through His body, the church. We are His voice, His hands, His feet; what He does on earth, He does through us. Both His kingly authority and His priestly ministry are now administered by Holy Spirit through His people. This is the “Melchizedek order.”  We are expressions of Christ in His priestly role, representing the needs of people heavenward. Just as Christ “ offered up  both prayers and supplications”  while on earth (Hebrews 5:7), we also, as priests, “ offer up  spiritual sacrifices”  (1 Peter 2:5). However, not only are we priests, we’re a “ royal  priesthood”  (1 Peter 2:9). Spiritually, we are seated with Christ on His   throne   (Ephesians 1:20; 2:6), told to reign in life (Romans 5:17), instructed to extend His scepter (Psalm 110:2) and as His Ekklesia, are given keys of Kingdom authority  with which to bind and loose, forbid and allow (Matthew 16:19). Just as Christ “decreed” the will of the Father in various situations – pronouncing blessings and curses, casting out demons, healing the sick, even raising the dead – we are told, as Christ’s ambassadors,   to do the same (John 14:12). When representing Christ in His kingly authority, we do not petition – we command!  Both the priestly and kingly aspects of prayer, the Melchizedek order, can be seen in the model prayer Christ gave us, often referred to as the “Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13):  The prayer begins with praise, an obvious example of priestly activity: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” The prayer then shifts to kingly intercession, telling us to command God’s will and authority into situations: “Your Kingdom come! Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (The verbs “come” and “be done” are both in the imperative tense, making them a command in Greek. In other words, we are not only to request His Kingdom rule and will – we are to decree them into situations for Him. This is kingly, governmental intercession, releasing heaven to earth.) The prayer then shifts back to priestly petitioning, asking for provision, forgiveness, and freedom from temptation. In 1980, I was asked to lead in prayer for a newborn baby with a fractured skull. During a difficult birth, the doctor used forceps and, in the process, fractured the baby’s skull. I began with priestly intercession (petitioning the Lord), but then was led to command healing into this infant’s skull (kingly intercession). I, along with the congregation joining me, decreed that by the redemptive power of Jesus, the baby’s skull was being healed. It happened instantly! Through this miracle, the mother was born again, and the following Sunday, I had the privilege of dedicating this baby to Jesus. The Melchizedek order is arising on the earth. The priesthood of Christ, the church, is offering up the incense of worship and petitions. But as ambassadors of the King, representatives of His Kingdom on earth, we are also issuing heaven’s commands and decrees against the forces of darkness. This is Christ’s “Ekklesia” – legislators, liberators, deliverers, and enforcers. Pray with me: Father, thank You for the honor of being extensions of Christ’s ministry, releasers of His love and Kingly authority on the earth. We ask for more understanding, insight, and revelation regarding this privilege. May we go deeper in humility and higher in authority. It is Your will we want, and only Your pattern can release it. Yours is the Kingdom, power, and glory forever! Today, as priests, we appeal to heaven for Your mercy and grace to be extended to America. Cleanse us from sin and deliver us from evil strongholds. Awaken America to truth and, as the Psalmist prayed, renew a right spirit in us (Psalm 51:10). Cause the revival that has begun to increase and multiply; breathe on the dry bones of America.  And as kings, we decree that nothing will stop the reset You have begun. We declare that evil will be exposed as Your light shines in the dark places. We break the power of darkness that covers and hides evil, and release the light of truth to shine into it. We declare that this truth will shine as bright as the noonday sun! You said our government would fully shift when we began operating in both priestly and kingly intercession. We are now doing this. We appeal for – but we also decree – America’s shift! We believe now is the time! We ask and declare all of this in Christ’s name and authority. Amen. Our decree: We decree that God is moving and operating to bring victory and renewed purpose to America! Click on the link below to watch the full video. Spiro, Zodhiates, editor. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, New American Standard Bible . 1811. Ibid.

Operating in the Invisible Realm Introduction There are some truths from Scripture that, while essential for our success as we represent Christ, are rarely taught. I feel the need to emphasize a few of them for the remainder of this week. In today’s post, I want to remind us of the reality of the invisible realm of the spirit. I am using portions of the Give Him 15 Devotional, Volume One.  Today’s title is: Operating in the Invisible Realm “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:12. The “heavenly places” referred to in the above verse are not often talked about. This is very unfortunate. Let’s look at the following verses: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. And raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” This sounds like one uninterrupted passage of Scripture, doesn’t it? It is actually five separate verses from Ephesians 1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, and 6:12. I became fascinated several years ago as I read these verses consecutively, with none of the in-between sections. I realized they really do provide a continuity of thought. In summary, they tell us we have been given everything we need in order to operate in heavenly places; Christ has been given all authority in this realm; we have been seated there with Him in that position of authority; through us, from our position there with Christ, God intends to confront the kingdom of darkness; finally, the last verse describes that evil kingdom, listing its various components. What are “heavenly places”? They do not refer to heaven, God’s home, but to the invisible atmosphere all around us, the spiritual realm. It is the unseen realm of the spirit – invisible yet real, hidden yet very active. Much of what happens on earth is influenced from it; certainly, anything of eternal significance or that regulates the destinies of people and nations is influenced from this realm. However, most people, including Christians, give little thought to this unseen world. Many people, especially in cultures that emphasize higher education and intellectualism, are actually cynical of this dimension’s existence. But the Bible is filled with descriptions and accounts of it. In fact, apart from the invisible realm, there is no God, satan, angels, demons, the fall of humankind, the birth of Christ, redemption through the Cross, miracles, or resurrection of the dead. Yet again, surprisingly, most American Christians live their lives without considering how much this realm affects us, let alone how we can influence it. As I meditated on these 5 verses of Ephesians, God began emphasizing to me that I was not cognizant enough of this invisible realm. It was not a new subject to me. I had been aware of it for many years and realized we could operate in it through our prayers and actions. But Holy Spirit was revealing to me that, even so, I was not as conscious of this dimension as I needed to be. I saw more clearly that in order to be as effective as possible in changing situations on earth, I had to understand more fully how this heavenly realm affected them. Conversely, I also needed a greater understanding of how I could influence the invisible world. Consider the following significant statement: the more we learn to function in the invisible spiritual realm, recognizing and applying its governing principles, the more we can partner with God, positively impact our world, avoid the snares and influence of the evil one, and enjoy the blessings of our salvation. (1)  The more I studied this spiritual realm, the more I realized it was central to the Bible’s overall theme – two invisible kingdoms warring for control of the visible world. The following account of the unseen gives us a vivid glimpse: “When the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Strike these people with blindness, I pray.’ So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15-18 NASB) The invisible forces were there all along – it was just that Elisha’s servant could not initially see them. And so it is with us. We live in a world filled with constant and tremendous angelic and demonic activity. Our natural eyes, however, simply cannot perceive it. If we Christians are going to be effective in prayer, we must acknowledge, understand, and learn to influence the spiritual realm. We must move beyond our fear of criticism and agree with Scripture. Jesus is our example, and He frequently dealt with the invisible. He was aware of it and consistently engaged unseen entities, stirring up demonic opposition everywhere He went. The early church in Acts did so as well, confronting forces of darkness and addressing them when appropriate. We are inconsistent if we confess to be Bible-believing followers of Christ and yet refuse to acknowledge and deal with the invisible kingdom of darkness. Failure in this area hinders us greatly. Pray with me: Father, increase our understanding of the spiritual realm and how it influences the natural realm. Give us understanding of how to impact this dimension and extend Your Kingdom influence from it into our natural world. We ask for a greater revelation of how to release the victory of Christ into the earth in order to change nations, cities, and people. Make us more conscious of the invisible realm where much of what occurs on earth is determined. We pray that anointed teachers will be raised up to skillfully teach on this subject, so that with the tools You give us, we can operate in this invisible realm with balance, skill, and accuracy.  And as we do so often here, we ask You for, and thank You in advance, for sending the greatest spiritual awakening/revival ever to the nations of the earth. We pray that entire cultures and people groups would be swept into Your family. We ask You to break off from them the control of invisible principalities and evil spirits, freeing them to see truth and receive Your love and provision. We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We boldly declare that the spirit of wisdom and revelation is being released into the church at the highest level possible. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Sheets, Dutch, and Chuck D. Pierce. Releasing the Prophetic Destiny of a Nation . Destiny Image Publishers, 2005, pp. 75-76.

The Votes and The Children  Biden and the Dems began their assault on America’s borders on Day 1 of his term in January 2021. Executive Orders began flowing out of Washington immediately to undo all Trump had done to stop illegal immigration. This plan to flood the nation with potential Democrat voters was launched and became Biden’s highest priority. Millions were wanted – there would be no time for vetting. A few thousand gang members, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and terrorists coming in with the millions of other illegals would just have to be accepted, as would the hundred thousand or so annual fentanyl related deaths. When you stack up 400,000 deaths over four years against 20 million potential votes…no contest. And so a conscienceless president and his soulless party went to war on America.  There would obviously be many practical issues to address in facilitating this invasion and vote-buying. The illegals would need housing, food, flights, buses, phones – all would want phones, monthly support, government workers to oversee all of this, etc. It would cost hundreds of billions of dollars. No problem – the taxpayers would cover it.  Then, of course, there would be the unaccompanied children. There would be many hundreds of thousands. What could be done with them? Not to worry – the compassionate, child-loving Biden, Harris, and Mayorkas vote recruitment team had developed a brilliant plan: “We’ll just pay a couple of hundred NGOs and UN agencies (234 to be exact) to deal with them,” they decided. “Those of us at the top will have more important things to do.” And so they did. Allocating six billion taxpayer dollars – that’s billion, with a B – they handed off these pesky little “problems” to a host of organizations, some good, but many of whom were simply money hungry and had no idea what they were doing. What could possibly go wrong? The vetting system for “sponsors” -- those to whom the children would be given – was poor, and keeping track of the children was almost impossible. The result: over the next four years, at least 300,000 kids vanished. Some claim that it was closer to half a million. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller stated on Fox News that the number is 450,000 and called it unforgivable. Just let that number sink in: 450,000 missing children. Sure, some are no doubt with people who care for them and have simply disappeared in the “system,” but others are without question either in forced labor, sex trafficking, abusive settings, living on the streets, or dead.  The vetting of the “sponsors” to whom the children were given was so poor that Ali Hopper, Founder and President of GUARD Against Trafficking, told Congress on July 16 in a House Homeland Security hearing that more paperwork was required to adopt a pet than to become a “sponsor” of one of these children. Well, of course, we can’t let the animals be mistreated; pets deserve love and kindness.  We must acknowledge, however, that Mayorkas and his childcare NGOs had a safety net. The kids were given a hotline number to call if they experienced difficulties or mistreatment. But that’s a lot of kids – several hundred thousand. How many phone operators/social workers/child counselors would be assigned to take the potential calls from such a vast number of children? One should do it. Republican members of Congress were stunned, aghast, when Hopper reported that there was only one person assigned to this task, and that between August 2023 and January 2025 (when Trump, Noem, and their team took over), there were 65,000 missed calls. Sixty-five thousand unanswered calls from children in danger, or hungry, or experiencing some sort of trauma, in an 18-month span.  Biden, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas, and their associates could have stopped the carnage at any time, but they couldn’t have cared less about these children. I’m not referring to ICE, by the way, but to the Biden administration and the Dems in Congress. When questioned about the missing children by members of Congress, Mayorkas just smiled smugly and allowed the suffering to continue. The vote gathering must go on.  Don’t doubt for a moment that Biden and the Dems could have stopped this heinous barbarity. When reelected, Trump had the border closed in days, and his team has located 35,000 of the missing children in only 6 months.  This has been a challenging post to research and write. After 2-3 hours of reading and listening to reports, I wanted to hurt someone. I have no words to express the disgust and anger I feel toward all of those who participated in and sanctioned this cruelty. That includes those in the Democratic Party who were complicit through their silence. I am also angry and ashamed over the silent leaders in the church who refused to speak out against this gross wickedness. Regardless of whether they were willfully ignorant, afraid of offending, or believed it was inappropriate to speak about “political” matters, their silence is inexcusable. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, however. Those who won’t speak out regarding the murder of millions of babies in the womb or the mutilation of thousands of children’s bodies certainly wouldn’t speak up concerning a few thousand missing migrant kids? Regarding the perpetrators of this tragedy, I know they can be cleansed by the powerful blood of Jesus, as hard as it is to wrap my mind around this reality. If they don’t find true repentance, however, some words spoken by Christ Himself come to mind: “Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them…And if you tenderly care for this little one on my behalf, you are tenderly caring for me. But if anyone abuses one of these little ones who believes in me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves!”  ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭2,5‬-‭6‬ ‭TPT‬‬)  Jesus seemed to be implying that there is a special corner of hell designed for unredeemed abusers of children. Let’s pray for the children.  Pray with me: Lord, we often forget that You were once a child and therefore know full well their need for love and security. Joseph and Mary were hand-picked to become Your parents – You would need wise and loving care as a child. Your Word tells us that because You became human, You are touched with the feeling of our weaknesses and needs (Hebrews 4:15). And being all-knowing and ever-present, You know the pain, fear, abuse, and trauma all of these children have and are experiencing.  We ask You to give comfort and healing to them. Send angels to aid them. We ask that abuse be discovered and stopped, and that those perpetrating the abuse be brought to swift justice. We ask that wisdom and skill be given to government agencies that are looking for these children. And as they find children in unhealthy situations, please help them locate loving environments in which to place them. And yes, we ask that those behind this evil treatment of the children be brought to justice. And if our system cannot do so, You have promised that You would. The money made harming these children – we ask that You cause it to dry up! Those who “sold” them for votes, may the votes never materialize.  We ask that You forgive our nation for this evil. I ask You to forgive leaders in the body of Christ who have refused to speak out against evils in our land. Awaken the conscience of our nation, convict us of our sin, and cause the burgeoning revival and reformation to end the abominations we have and continue to allow. All of this, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Click on the link below to watch the full video. The research for today’s post can be found here: https://homeland.house.gov/2025/07/17/its-a-pipeline-experts-reveal-how-taxpayer-funded-ngos-facilitated-human-trafficking-profited-from-biden-harris-border-crisis/ https://www.infowars.com/posts/65000-calls-to-help-hotline-for-unaccompanied-minors-went-unanswered-under-biden   https://nypost.com/2021/09/01/feds-lose-track-of-thousands-of-migrant-kids-after-release-report/   https://catholicvote.org/outrageous-report-reveals-biden-hhs-hotline-for-migrant-children-failed-to-answer-65k-calls/   https://dailycaller.com/2025/07/24/human-trafficking-expert-ali-hopper-biden-admin-hotline-missed-calls-migrant-children/ ​​ https://www.westernjournal.com/biden-admin-created-hotline-child-trafficking-abuse-tips-ignored-65000-calls-expert-witness/   https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/migrant-children-humantrafficking-openborder/2021/09/01/id/1034710/

Deliverance from Hidden Traps and Deadly Hazards The Hebrew language is pictorial. The letters form pictures and concepts, and the context gives us specific applications. The word paga (1)  is a good example: the picture or concept of this word is of two or more entities coming together or meeting. The concept can be applied to various scenarios, including a meeting between two individuals, someone arriving at a location, carrying someone’s burden, striking or hitting an enemy, and more. Anytime two or more things “come together” or “meet,” this is paga . In my books Intercessory Prayer  and The Essential Guide to Prayer , I explain how all of these concepts and usages of paga  can be pictures of intercession. And indeed, paga  is sometimes translated as such. Intercessory prayer creates a meeting between God’s provision and individuals’ needs, allowing us to carry one another’s burdens and strike our spiritual enemy with God’s power. Interestingly, paga is also the word for a boundary or border, the point at which two territories meet or connect. Paga  is used repeatedly this way in Joshua 19 to define the boundaries of the tribes of Israel. When applying this picture to prayer, paga  is the establishing of boundaries or perimeters of protection. Psalm 91 describes the power of the “secret place” of prayer. Verses1-4 from THE MESSAGE state: “You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, say this: ‘God, You're my refuge. I trust in You, and I’m safe!’ That’s right--He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; His arms fend off all harm.” What a promise!  The Scriptures also refer to this protection from God as a tower to which we can run for strength and safety. In biblical times, towers were associated with security, as they provided locations for shooting weapons and offered visibility for watchmen. The following verses referred to this: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)  “For thou has been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.” (Psalm 61:3) “The story is told of a missionary experiencing the sovereign protection of God while taking the gospel to an interior region of China. Ruthless bandits along the road had prevented this area from being reached. However, this young missionary went anyway, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. He later returned to the base without having seen any bandits. Shortly thereafter, the missionaries heard a rumor circulating throughout the area: the bandits had not attacked the man because an entourage of eleven soldiers had traveled with him. Since he had traveled alone, the missionaries concluded angels must have protected him! But why eleven? “The missionary wrote about this amazing experience to his home church in the United States. His pastor asked when it had happened. Upon receiving the information, the pastor excitedly communicated his part of the story. God had prompted him to call a special prayer meeting for this missionary. When the date of the prayer meeting arrived, the pastor had been disappointed at the poor turnout. That changed, however, after he received the missionary’s amazing report. The pastor was thrilled to tell him, ‘You’ll be pleased to know that, counting myself, there were exactly eleven of us who were praying for you that very day.’” (2)   Those eleven faithful intercessors created a wall, a perimeter of protection, around this missionary through their prayers of intercession. Through them, Psalm 91 and Proverbs 18:10 became reality. God wants to do the same through our intercession, building walls of protection around individuals. Isaiah 26:1 and 60:18 refer to God’s protection as “walls”:   “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security.’” “Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.” The apostle Paul was a firm believer in receiving prayers for protection and deliverance from others. He frequently requested prayer from those with whom he was in relationship. Romans 15:30-31 states: “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints.”   Again, in Philippians 1:19, Paul states his confidence in “deliverance through your prayers.” Also, in Philemon 1:22, he says, “I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you.”  Paul was frequently persecuted and imprisoned for his preaching of the gospel. He placed his hope of deliverance from this in the prayers of his friends. He believed in the power of intercession, not just for the furthering of the gospel, but also for protection. Two well-known ancient strongholds of protection from enemies exist in Jordan and Israel. The city of Petra (Greek for “rock”) in Jordan was virtually impregnable against attack by the weaponry of the ancient world. The original name of Petra was  Sela , the Hebrew word for “rock.” The stronghold of Masada, from the Hebrew word metsudah  meaning “fortress,” was an incredible natural fortress in Israel, located near the Dead Sea. In Psalm 31:3, David uses both of these pictures, saying of God, “You are my rock ( sela ) and my fortress ( metsudah ).” God is our Petra and our Masada!  A man who has been a spiritual father in my life for over 40 years, Jim Hodges, texted me after reading Friday’s post.  He said that while reading it, he felt from Holy Spirit that Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of National Security Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem needed increased prayer for protection. These three women currently find themselves on the front lines of the Trump administration’s actions and are hated by radicals on the Left. I concur with Jim, of course. We should pray for protection for all of those in government, but today we’ll do so specifically for these three women. It would be great if, for a season, some of you would add them to your daily prayers. Pray with me: Father, we live in perilous times. Satan, whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy, is on a rampage. We are thankful that we can look to You as our rock and fortress, our Petra and Masada (Psalm 31:3). You are our strong tower (Psalm 18:10). You rescue us from hidden traps, shield us from deadly hazards…Your huge outstretched arms protect us – under them we are perfectly safe (Psalm 91:1-4). We declare that our homes are like impenetrable cities, surrounded by spiritual walls of angelic protection. We also pray this over Pam Bondi, Tulsi Gabbard, and Kristi Noem. We ask you to protect them and their families from evil (Matthew 6:13). Surround them with angelic guards and shelter them in Your “secret place” of protection (Psalm 91).  We pray for President Trump and his team, our congressional leaders, judges and justices, as well as state and local leaders. Surround them with protection. Uncover demonic plots to harm them; expose terrorists and their plans in our nation. Give those in authority supernatural help and success in finding the enemy. Protect our law enforcement individuals as they deal with criminals.  We pray against false evidence that is fabricated to accuse and destroy innocent leaders. We ask You to expose all lies and corruption, and vindicate the righteous. We thank You for all of this and ask it in the name of Yeshua. Amen. Our decree: We declare that God is our Petra and our Masada, our rock and our fortress. Portions of today’s post were adapted from my book The Essential Guide to Prayer , published by Baker Books. 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. 6293. Dick Eastman and Jack Hayford, Living and Praying in Jesus’ Name  (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1988), pp. 13-14.