Search Results

Traditions The next twenty-four hours of most Americans’ lives will be expressed in numerous traditions celebrating Christmas. For most, there will be an acknowledgement that this is a celebration of Jesus’ birth. For some, it will only be a series of traditions. The Bible tells us that God commanded that some events be continuously celebrated, so His wonderful acts are remembered by His followers. Christians celebrate few of those today. Even though we love it very much, Christmas was not one of those commanded remembrances. In other cases, God rebukes the Israelites for “rote and form”, because it keeps people distant from relationship with Him. Here at GiveHim15 and Dutch Sheets Ministries, we pray that you have a memorable Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, celebrated with all the family traditions that make it precious to you and yours. And, remember to keep Jesus at the very center of all that you do! Merry Christmas! ““My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” (Luke 1:47-48; NIV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Think about the various traditions you will participate in today and tomorrow. Can you see Jesus in them? Even playing games together as a family can be a celebration of Christ’s work in your hearts. Find Him there. Worship Jesus! Sing hymns and carols and glorify God in your heart. Pray for your family, friends, and neighbors. Intercede for members of the military far away. Pray for President Trump and his family, that they get much rest in their celebration time together. Include a single person or an elderly couple in your family time. Or, go and minister at a shelter or church outreach. Many are lonely and in need of Jesus and they feel it most at Christmas time. A prayer you can pray: Jesus, today and tomorrow I am celebrating You! Amidst everything there is to do and all of our holiday plans, I want You to be front and center. I will worship you, singing Christmas songs that so beautifully honor You. Hear my intercession for my family and friends (pray for them for a few minutes). Be with our military members who are far away from their families today. Let them know that you are close. Keep them safe. And, Jesus, give our President and his family a good day of much needed rest. Amen! Today’s decree: I decree that Jesus will be exalted in our Christmas traditions all across America this year!

We Must See Jesus! Since the wise men from the east saw God’s star in the sky, men have laid everything aside to seek Jesus. They have left homes and countries, loved ones and careers, in order to find Him, follow Him, or lead others to Him. How is it that one man can have such an effect on people, except He be God. Seeker of Christ, are you still desperate to know Him and make Him known? “Not long after Jesus was born, magi, wise men or seers from the East, made their way from the East to Jerusalem. These wise men made inquiries. Where is this newborn, who is the King of the Jews? When we were far away in the East we saw His star, and we have followed its glisten and gleam all this way to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1b-2; VOICE) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: In the midst of this busy day just before Christmas, put everything aside and cry out to God for even more desperation to know Him. He is everything! Read Matthew 1 and 2 today and write down the revelation you receive about Him. Jesus is being revealed to us in these passages of scripture. Today, pray for every member of your family to know Him. Our nation will be saved one family member at a time. A prayer you can pray: Lord, I feel a renewed passion for You today. I want to know You in a new way. I want You to be first in my life! I want to have a fresh desperation to seek you in prayer and in the study of Your Word. It is there You are revealed to me. The more I know You, the more I can make You known to my family and friends. Make me bold in expressing to others who I know You to be. I must see Jesus more clearly and help other see You, as well! Amen. Today’s decree: I decree that many in this nation will see Jesus this Christmas season!

Who Do You Say That He Is? A King born in a manger. The King of Kings, in fact. With angelic fanfare before shepherds on lonely hillsides, he came into this world virtually incognito. We read the story of His birth annually, but how often do we really stop and think about it? Do we sit and ponder the total lack of hoopla, when we live in a world where being known is important? Do we daydream about the rejection He suffered, both at His birth and throughout His life, right up to the end? Do we understand at all why God chose to introduce Himself to us like this – as a suffering servant rejected of men. Can you relate to Him? If someone were to ask you who He is, what would you say? “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’” (Matthew 16:13-15; NIV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: What of Jesus’ humanity can you relate to? Don’t get religious. Stay real. Is it His joy, His rejection, His freedom, His persecution, His wisdom, His humility, or something else? Is it the fact that no one really understood Him? How about the fact that the Bible says He was really pretty ordinary in looks and occupation? Read His Word and find it. Now, ask Him for a divine exchange this Christmas. He became human so we could have a relationship with Him while still clothed in our humanity. Ask Him to exchange His wisdom for your constant mistakes. Ask Him for humility in place of pride, or His contentment with not being the center of attention, unless the Father wanted Him there. Ask Him for rich blessings, freedom from sin and addiction, or for His love, acceptance, and sense of adoption. This is His Christmas gift to you. Let His Word speak to you. “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” Stop and think about why Peter answered this way. Was it the miracles He performed, His profound teaching, or pure revelation? When God asks you, “Who do you say that I am?” ask Him to reveal Himself to you in a new way. Ask God to show You who He is revealing Himself to be to this nation right now. Intercede for America to see Him as He is. A prayer you can pray: Father, reveal Your Son to me in a new way. I can relate to Jesus’ humanity in that He was (See the examples above and fill in the blank.) I’m so glad You wrote about this in Your Word. He was like me, but He did not sin. Exchange (list an area you struggle in, such as pride or some area addiction, needing attention or feeling rejected) for wholeness, love and acceptance. I’ll sit here and let the revelation sink in. I want to be changed in Your Presence. I receive Your Christmas gift to me. Show me how You are revealing Yourself to this nation right now. Help us to realize this, Jesus! Help us to see You. Amen. Today’s decree: I decree that God is revealing Himself to America and our nation shall be changed!

God Cares About Our Struggles How’s the weather where you are? It looks like the forecast across the nation is calling for pretty freezing temperatures from now through Christmas and New Year’s. Travel will be challenging for so many as they try to trek “home” for the holidays. The failure of heaters in the homes of the poor and elderly could prove tragic. Extra room in makeshift shelters will need to be found for the homeless. What about medical emergencies these next few nights? Jesus cares about all these needs, just as He did on a night long ago when Jesus was born. Let’s get ahead of the storms in prayer and action. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4; ESV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Pray for the safety of those who will be traveling for Christmas reunions over the next few days. Intercede for the heating systems of the poor and elderly to hold up to the challenge of the incoming storms. Pray that neighbors stay connected to them. Ask God to help cities and charities to get ready to house more of the homeless. See if there is anything you can practically do to help keep people in your locale safe, cared for and feeling connected and loved in this Christmas season. A prayer you can pray: Father, keep the millions of travelers safe over the next week or so. Let there be an unprecedented lack of accidents or travel issues this year in America. Let families be able to be united and to celebrate Jesus’ birth together. May many come to see who Jesus is! Make sure that those who need help are able to obtain it. Help me to know what needs done to help care for the needs of the elderly, the poor and the homeless in my realm of influence. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. Today’s decree: I decree that America is a caring nation, because we are a Christian nation!

Humanity Interrupted by God I really enjoy Max Lucado’s Christmas books. In fact, my wife, Ceci, always encouraged me to read from them as Christmas drew close each year, when I had a church in Colorado Springs. We would hold a service we called a fireside chat, complete with a fireplace prop, and I would read some of Max’s Christmas stories. He has such a way with words. Here’s a quote I like a lot, “He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. God tapped humanity on its collective shoulder, ‘Pardon me,’ He said, and eternity interrupted time, divinity interrupted carnality, and heaven interrupted in the form of a baby. Christianity was born in one big heavenly interruption.” (Max Lucado)1 “’Am I a God who is near,’ declares the LORD, ‘And not a God far off?’” (Jeremiah 23:23; NASB) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Take some time and rest in this busy season. Get out your Bible and read about Jesus’ birth. Take some time to notice some things about His coming as an infant. Think about how He first came to you. Did He interrupt your life and set you on a new course. Intercede for loved ones you have that need a little God-interruption in their lives. Thank God that He is interrupting our national life. He is good at this. He’s been at it at long time – setting things back on course. A prayer you can pray: Lord, I’m pulling my Bible out today to read the Christmas story with new eyes. Since we read it year after year, I think I’ve gotten used to the way the story has been told, instead of the way you want me to “hear” it. You certainly interrupted my life when You came to me and saved me. Your tap on my shoulder was a shock and I have never been the same. Thank you. (Intercede for loved ones you have that need a little God-interruption in their lives.) Thank you for interrupting our nation’s course. You are course-correcting it, and, while it may be challenging, You know what You’re doing. I choose to trust You and to pray for those in the thick of the change. Amen. Today’s decree: I decree that God is interrupting our nation’s course and the end result will be good! 1 Lucado, Max, God Came Near: God’s Perfect Gift. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee, 1986. Page 7.

Laying Down Their Lives Abraham Lincoln said, “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause.”1 There are a special class of men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom. As Christmas approaches, let us pray for our servicemen and women, especially for those deployed to the battle field. “Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15: 13; NASB) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Thank the Lord for the men and women who serve in our United States military. Proclaim the protection of the Lord over them at home and abroad, especially over those in active war zones. Send a card of encouragement. * Pray for the families of those who are deployed, that they will feel the loving care of the Lord over their lives. A prayer you can pray: Dear Lord, from the time of the Revolutionary War until now, I thank you for all of those who have given so much so that we can live free! I know that freedom is not free. Just like my salvation was bought with the blood of your Son, so is the freedom of this nation bought with the blood of its military. Please keep those on the battlefield safe from harm and let their families know that they can entrust You with their lives. Thank You, Jesus, Amen. Today’s decree: I decree that the Lord watches over the United States military at home and abroad to keep them safe, for they lay their loves down daily for our freedom. *A great resource to help you encourage the military: http://www.operationwearehere.com 1 Abraham Lincoln. “Military Tributes, by Abraham Lincoln.” Abraham Lincoln Online. Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler et al, 2017. Web. December 18, 2017.

Holy Hubert Lindsey I remember Holy Hubert Lindsey. Most of you have never heard of him before. He was a small man who was very non-Charismatic in his delivery and personality. You would never pick him out of a crowd as a leader or someone significant. In the 1960’s, God began to break his heart for the troubled youth of America. Some were on drugs and turning to sex in the middle of the sexual revolution. Youth were disillusioned, rioting, angry over the Vietnam War and other political issues of the day. They experienced hypocrisy of church leadership and their parents. So, Dr. Lindsey went to Berkeley, where it was all starting. He said, “I didn’t know what to do, so I started to walk the streets of Berkeley all night long, weeping and praying.” I said to God, ‘Would You give me these kids? Give us revival. Give us this generation back.’” He paid a great price for his persistent intercession and campus preaching, but the result was what has been determined to be the beginning of “The Jesus Movement”. It was the greatest wave of youth evangelism in the history of the world. “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6; ESV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Do you want this? Do you want revival for today’s American youth? Think about today’s campus climate. Write down the issues you know face the youth today. Intercede over those issues, stirring up passion as you pray. Repeat after Holy Hubert Lindsey, “Would You give me these kids? Give us revival. Give us this generation back!” Go out and prayer walk or prayer drive your neighborhood schools or the schools of your city, if you are really ambitious. A prayer you can pray: Father, I am deeply grieved over the condition of our youth in America. I want to see them radically saved and on fire for You! I want them to know Your love and unconditional forgiveness! I long to see them in revival! The issues of the 1960s were awful. Today’s are even worse. Our society has been on a downward slide away from You for a very long time. God, hear our prayers for our children and children’s children! Give us these kids. Give us this generation back! Heal their pain and remove the effects of their rebellion. I will go out and pray at the places they are congregated and cry out for them in Jesus name. Amen. Today’s decree: I demand this generation of America youth back!

Renewed Passion I believe God is about to rekindle fire and passion in leaders where what they do is not just a job, not just the ministry. It’s something in them that says something like, “Give me Scotland or I die!” “Give me America or I die!” “Give me Oregon or I die!” Your city. Your state. Your people. What is it? I feel like God is saying, “I am willing to put something in you that is an unquenchable flame that will give you what you need to lay your life down for the cause of Christ where you are.” “Jesus answered him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39; GWT) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Do you know what your passion is? Ask God to give you more. Pray for that area of passion for a few minutes. Take your time. Pray for your pastor/leader and ask God to give them more passion for Him and His cause. Go out and pray over your community. Get a map or look one up online and pray for your state or this nation. Lay your hands on it and pray until you are passionate and on fire and desperate for God to move in that area. A prayer you can pray: Father, increase my passion for (name the areas you are burning to see God move in.) (Pray with passion for this area for a few minutes.) Lord, touch my pastor with your fire for You and Your cause. Give them the vision they need to be desperate to see You act on their prayers. Stir my heart to pray. Show me where to go to pray. As I pull up a map of the United States, lead my intercession for Jesus to be seen across the nation and for many to come to know Him! Move, Jesus, move in revival across this land! Today’s decree: Give me America or I die! (You can substitute your neighborhood, city or state here.)

It’s Time for the Judges to be Seated “Life is a series of changes—a process of going from the old to the new—from chronos to kairos. Growth, change, revival—all are processes. Life is connected. Not understanding this, we tend to despise the chronos times of preparing, sowing, believing and persevering. Our preference is to always live in the kairos times…Our actions and attitudes in the chronos times of preparing, sowing, believing and persevering are what determine whether God can shift us into the kairos times of fresh and strategic opportunities.”1 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.” (Mark 13:33; NASB) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Rejoice for many Believers are entering a strategic season. Our nation is in a strategic season. Repent if you have a negative, unbelieving attitude. Repent quickly! Don’t let Satan’s whispers cause you to miss out on what God is doing in this season. Stir yourself up in your most holy faith. Keep believing, regardless of what your eyes see and ears hear. Draw near to God and He will be right there with you! Pray for the judges to take their places in our nation, from the local levels to the federal level. A prayer you can pray: God, I can see that the Kairos season is upon us. We are in the beginnings of a strategic shift in our nation. If there’s anything of complaining or doubt and unbelief in me, remove it. I can’t risk a road block like that in my life right now! I will choose to consciously rejoice and make faith-filled statements and pray God-sized prayers for America. I want to be part of ushering in this strategic season. I specifically pray today for the many open judicial seats. Fill them with Your choices. Raise up those You have been working on and get them where they need to be. In Jesus’ name, amen. Today’s decree: I decree it is time for the conservative judges to be seated all across this land! 1 Excerpted from Dutch Sheets’, “God’s Timing For Your Life”.

A New Season is Upon Us My faith for this nation’s turnaround is not in a party. My faith is not in a person. I believe God wants to use President Trump for some things that are needed in this nation in this season, such as appointing pro-life Justices to the Supreme Court. However, unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain. Unless the Lord keeps the city, the watchmen watch in vain.” So, our faith is in the Lord, but He said, “I’m about to do something new.” There is a new beginning happening. So, train yourself to begin to think that way. Sometimes, we are not doing anything wrong, or praying anything wrong, but we have to change some things to get ready for the new season. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19; NIV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Pray for President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other cabinet members. Ask God to grant them grace and strength, wisdom and understanding. Pray for the Congress. Intercede for them, as it’s not a season of “politics as usual” and they need to know how to navigate the new season. Ask the Lord to give you creative things to do that you couldn’t or shouldn’t have done in the past season, but you can and should do now. Ask the Lord for new prayer strategies. Find new scriptures to use as “swords” for the new season. Listen carefully to what the prophets are saying, as they can help you know what season we are in. A prayer you can pray: Father, I lift President Trump and V.P. Mike Pence before Your throne of grace. Give them what they need in practical and spiritual help to move forward in new ways that benefit the nation. I pray the same for their Cabinet members. Help them not to focus on all the distractions, but, rather, on the task set before them. Considering this new season we are in, I know there are things You want me doing now that I couldn’t have done previously. Show me what they are. Equip me to do them, mantle me with favor, and open doors for me. Teach me to pray new prayers using Holy-Spirit highlighted scriptures as a sword to open the way forward. Lead me to the prophetic Words you would have me hear to help my intercession. In Jesus’ name, amen. Today’s decree: I decree that the nation is in a new season and God is showing us how to work with Him to move things forward!

Are We Ready? We have to start shifting the way we think to line up with what God says He is doing. If I said to you, “You are going to start a new occupation and it’s going to be completely new,” you would start thinking and planning your life around that. You would get ready for this new endeavor you were about to move into. The Church has to decide if God’s saying, or not saying, that we are moving into a third Great Awakening. Is He saying we are moving into a season of reformation? If we are, we need to be asking ourselves, “What do I need to do to get ready for this?” and, “How can I help others get ready for this?” “For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Matthew 24:44; BSB) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Sit and think about this, then make up your mind what you believe: “Are we moving into a third Great Awakening? Are we moving into a season of reformation?” What do you need to do to get ready? Are there those around you that you need to help get ready? Family members? Are you a leader over other Believers and need to help them get ready? Are you a pastor with a congregation that’s not quite there yet? How will you help the ones you identified as needing your help to get there? A prayer you can pray: Lord, I am going to seriously ponder what I believe about the season America is in right now. Show me my heart. Do I really believe that a reformation is at hand? Am I ready to work the harvest fields of a third Great Awakening? What do I need to get all the way there in my faith for this? How can I help others get ready, too? You have a plan. Show me my part in it. I need to get with it! Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. Today’s decree: I decree that Jesus is telling us to get ready for a national reformation!

Deepening Our Trust When God is working to expose things, things get a little stirred-up. The atmosphere is muddy and it’s hard to see where things are going. These are days in which we must walk very closely to the Lord and keep our emotions in check. We need to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and trust Him and His Word over what we see and hear in the natural. We must be especially cautious when the media is driving the narrative. Trust in Him and you will never be disappointed. “How blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!” (Psalm 40:4; NETB) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: If you are struggling with circumstances beyond your control, sit before the Lord and tell Him about them. He already knows and wants to talk with you about them. Repent if you are letting media push you around emotionally. Repent! Ask God about national issues that may not make sense to you. Expect to hear His answers or at least expect to be led by Holy Spirit as to how to pray. Worship the One in whom you trust! A prayer you can pray: Father, I am struggling with some things affecting my life that don’t make sense. I need to stop being afraid, so I can talk with You about them. I need to sense Your comfort and direction. Also, the media is working overtime to shake my peace and cause me to react emotionally to all kinds of things. Forgive me. Show me how to pray for national situations that can affect the future of our nation. I need to look up from my personal needs and consider the bigger picture, including the future my children and grandchildren will have in America. Lord, I choose to put my trust in You! Amen. Today’s decree: I decree that the Ekklesia will choose to trust in Him and not be confused. We will hear and pray.