Simplicity “But only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42) Ecclesiastes 7:29 says, “God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated” (GNT). I’ve always felt the latter part of the verse was true about women, and I’ve been told emphatically that the first half is true of men. But I now believe it is all true for all of us. I can complicate almost any problem, regardless of how simple it might be, making it huge and complex. And I don’t like it when someone else trivializes it or gives me some simple plan to fix it. Somehow, I just seem to feel more important when I have big problems with complicated solutions. No doubt about it, I’m an Ecclesiastes 7:29 kind of guy! We must learn to de-complicate life, but we must especially uncomplicate our relationship with Christ. Paul said to the church at Corinth: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3; emphasis mine). Life can be very complicated; theology can as well. At times, if we’re not careful, both can get downright confusing. But the Lord impresses on my heart time and time again, “There is nothing complicated about a relationship with Me.” The great A. W. Tozer said: “Now, as always, God [discloses] Himself to ‘babes’ and hides Himself in thick darkness from the wise and the prudent. We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few). We must put away all efforts to impress, and come with the guileless candor of childhood. If we do this, without doubt, God will quickly respond.” 1 Tozer also said, “There are occasions when for hours I lay prostrate before God without saying a word of prayer or a word of praise – I just gaze on Him and worship.” 2 Sometimes, no words are needed as we enjoy God’s company. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, “simplicity” is the Greek word haplotes. Its most literal meaning is “singleness, without dissimulation or duplicity;” 3 or “the opposite of duplicity.” 4 The verse is saying that in our devotion to Christ we must not be double-minded. We must guard against anything causing dissimulation, division, or a watering down. It is okay to be multifaceted in our gifts and activity, and it is wise to be broad-based in our understanding, but in our approach to relationship with Jesus, we must be very single-minded. Allow no other person or activity to crowd Him out. To take Him for granted or allow Him to simply be one of many priorities will weaken us spiritually. “One New Year’s Day in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. An amusing aspect of this was that the float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.” 5 Often, we who have within us the well of salvation fail to drink from it. And, like the Standard Oil float, we sometimes run out of gas. Drink from the well daily. Don’t allow Christ to lose His wonder for you. In Christianity Today , Philip Yancey wrote: “I remember my first visit to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Rings of American, Japanese, and German tourists surrounded the geyser, their video cameras trained like weapons on the famous hole in the ground. (For those of you too young to remember carrying a large video camera around on vacations rather than a small phone, you don’t know how convenient life has become.) A large, digital clock stood beside the spot, predicting 24 minutes until the next eruption. “My wife and I passed the countdown in the dining room of Old Faithful Inn overlooking the geyser. When the digital clock reached one minute, we, along with every other diner, left our seats and rushed to the windows to see the big event. “I noticed that immediately, as if on signal, a crew of busboys and waiters descended on the tables to refill water glasses and clear away dirty dishes. When the geyser went off, we tourists oohed and aahed and clicked our cameras; a few spontaneously applauded. But, glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that not a single waiter or busboy – not even those who had finished their chores – looked out the huge windows. Old Faithful, grown entirely too familiar, had lost its power to impress them.” 6 I’m afraid this describes many Christians’ relationships with the One we call Faithful and True. We’ve known Him so long, become so accustomed to Him, well, you know.… Don’t ever stop being impressed with Jesus! Do you ever listen and not really hear ? The word “listening” in Greek is the word akouo , which means not only to hear, but to understand. 7 One definition said, “To understand, hear with the ear of the mind.” Jesus repeatedly said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8; 14:35 NKJV). This places the responsibility of hearing on us. We must choose to posture ourselves in a way that allows us to truly hear. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus commended Mary for listening ( akouo ), 8 while Martha was busy in the kitchen. He said Mary had chosen the good thing, which would produce lasting fruit. Interestingly, the word for “obey” in Scripture ( hupakouo ) 9 comes from the same word. The prefix hupo means “under,” making the literal meaning of this word, “hear under.” 10 The biblical concept of obedience is: (1) hearing and understanding someone, then (2) bringing your will under what they have said. Mary was truly hearing ( akouo ) Christ, which would allow her to obey ( hupakouo ). May we be more like Mary, having unencumbered ears and truly willing to listen, hear, and obey. Pray with me: Father, life gets complicated at times. Our plates get full and we sometimes say we “don’t have enough hours in a day.” But You told us in Ecclesiastes that we complicate life. You have challenged us that no matter how busy and hectic life gets, we must keep our relationship with You foremost and simple – uncomplicated. We know that if we truly listen, You will speak to us both in our hearts and through Your Word. We choose to listen. We choose to have listening and hearing ears. And we choose to bring ourselves under what we hear from You; we choose to obey. We draw near to You, confident that as we do, You will draw near to us. We pray now for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We pray for refreshing to those who are weary, peace to those who are anxious, and endurance to those who are tired. We ask You for the Spirit of revelation to intensify among Your people. Holy Spirit, would You lift the veil in order that those who have never known they could hear Your voice would now begin hearing and enjoying intimacy with You. We ask for these things in Christ’s name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we have ears to hear what Holy Spirit is saying to the church and that we will obey. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Rowell, Edward K. Quotes and Idea Starters for Preaching and Teaching: From Leadership Journal. Edited by Edward K. Rowell, Baker Books, 1996, p.181. Ibid., p.181. Strong, James. New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2003, ref no. 572. Zodhiates, Spiros, editor. KJV Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: Hardbound. AMG Publishers, 1991, p.1808. Larson, Craig Brian, editor. Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching: From Leadership Journal. Baker Books, 1993, p.181. Larson, Craig Brian, editor. Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching: From Leadership Journal. Baker Books, 1993, p. 68. Zodhiates, Spiros, editor. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. AMG Publishers, 1998, p. 1802. “Strong's Greek: 191. ἀκούω (akouó) -- to hear, listen.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/191.htm. Accessed 12 May 2023. “Strong's Greek: 5219. ὑπακούω (hupakouó) -- to listen, attend to, obey, answer.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/5219.htm. Accessed 12 May 2023. “Strong's Greek: 5259. ὑπό (hupo) -- by, under, under authority” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/5259.htm. Accessed 12 May 2023.

Running with the King’s Heart Second Samuel 18 is a sad chapter. King David’s traitorous son, Absalom, is killed and his coup overthrown. A “runner,” as they called them back then, needs to run with the bitter-sweet news to David: “The rebellion is over, but your son is dead.” A fast, gifted runner named Ahimaaz wanted to carry the news, but David’s general chose an unnamed Cushite, and off he went. Ahimaaz, however, was not to be denied: “Please let me also run” (v. 22). The general finally said okay, and Ahimaaz took off. He was so fast that he eventually passed the Cushite and proudly delivered the message to David that the coup was over. “Speed” had won…or had it? When David then asked about Absalom, Ahimaaz answered with embarrassment that he didn’t know. He hadn’t cared enough to find out about David’s son! The Cushite then arrived and gave David the full message: “The coup is over, but your son is dead.” Ahimaaz was very fast. He started last but arrived first. This gifted man ran in vain, however: "You will have no reward for going," the general had said (v. 22). Ahimaaz didn’t have the complete message. And he didn’t have it because he was not aligned with the king's heart. David had not only defeated an enemy, he had also lost a son. Ahimaaz eventually stepped aside in ignorance, insignificance, and embarrassment as a nameless individual took center stage and delivered the complete message. Our message will always be deficient in some way if it isn't connected to the King's heart. I'm speaking, of course, of God our King. The pleasure of God is and must remain the ultimate goal of our running. The glory and exaltation of the Son must be our desire. His passion and priority of harvesting sons and daughters into the family must become ours. God is willing to share His heart for America and the worldwide harvest with those who desire it. But beware - His heart is broken. When God touched my heart with His on October 4, 2000, I wasn't ready for what I felt. I thought mine was going to break in two. When He was finished, I had become a man with a cause - and ruined for life. Yes, ask for an impartation of God’s heart, but know that when you receive it, it will cost you. Why Are We Running? Why are we “running,” laboring for spiritual causes? Is it for personal fulfillment, fame, glory, self-aggrandizement, to make a name for ourselves? Or are we, like the Cushite in this passage, content to remain nameless? Is our motive advancement, a position to display our gifts or our speed? Are we wanting to build something big? In Philippians 3:14, Paul said, "I press toward the mark" (KJV). His goal, or “mark,” as he called it, was clear. In verse 12 (NASB), he said, "I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." The Gift Mentality Unfortunately, the charismatic movement, as wonderful as I know it was, gave many a gift mentality : We ran on the strength of our gifts. The very word "charismatic" means "grace gift." This often led to a performance mentality : running to set records, to be first, to be the best, to be the biggest. "Build 'em big and build 'em fast!" became the mindset of many in the church. Overnight sensations were, and in many ways still are, the order of the day. There is nothing biblical about this mindset! Persistent, progressive, hang-in-there, long-term building should receive more honor than something produced quickly. Sadly, it does not. But far more character is needed to build a work or ministry over a long period of time than to enjoy something that springs up quickly. One of the basic problems with this unbiblical philosophy of success, aside from its inherent pride and self-exaltation, is that if any part of our vision is born from ambition rather than God's heart , we are soon running for ourselves , not the King. Zeal that was originally intended to do something for God, often becomes a zeal to remain successful . This change can be so subtle it frequently happens without us even realizing it. The church in America is inundated with ambitious Ahimaazes - people running for their own fame and success rather than for God’s heart. Vision for the future must not be our starting place. Vision, born of God's heart , must be our starting place. The questions we must continually ask ourselves are: How well do I understand and relate to the King's heart in this matter? Is that, and that alone, my motive for running? Was His heart the birthplace of my vision? Our speed or giftedness NEVER validates our running. Holy Hubert Hubert Lindsay (“Holy Hubert”), a gentleman used greatly by God in the early days of the Jesus People/Charismatic Movement, exemplifies a life lived according to God's heart. “The Jesus People Movement” was used by God to bring thousands of drug-addicted, sexually active, disillusioned, and rebellious young people into the Kingdom of God. Like King David, who was not called by his father to join the “Potential King Pageant” (see 1 Samuel 16), nothing about Holy Hubert's appearance or personality caused him to stand apart. But like David, he possessed something more important: God’s heart for a generation. I once had the privilege of hearing Mr. Lindsay speak. He told of his calling to minister on the University of California at Berkeley campus, and spoke of the miracles and salvations. He mixed in some humor, and we all laughed, cheered, and applauded. What impacted me most, however, was a passing comment Holy Hubert made about how his ministry at Berkeley had been birthed. "I became so burdened for this generation," Mr. Lindsay said, "that I would walk the streets of the campus - sometimes all night long - weeping and interceding for those lost kids. I pled with God to save those young people." God had given this man His heart for a lost generation. The Lord answered Hubert’s cry - because it was His own - and gave him a revival. Church historians agree that the Jesus People movement was incredibly significant in the entire spiritual renewal of the '60s and '70s. And when tracing the roots of The Jesus People Movement, one invariably ends up at Berkeley with Holy Hubert Lindsay. Lindsay’s burden cost him dearly, however. His broken heart led to broken bones - not to a large salary or a huge congregation. Lindsay and his wife were beaten on numerous occasions, stabbed, mocked, and ridiculed as they preached the gospel on campus. His wife eventually suffered brain damage from this, and Holy Hubert lost his sight due to the beatings. Just as the apostle Paul, they bore on their bodies the marks of the Lord Jesus (see Galatians 6:17). The Lindsays picture for us the principle of running with the heart of God, allowing that to become the motivation for ministry. This releases pure revival, keeping it free from the debris of pride and selfish motivation. The Charismatic Movement’s overall weakness in this regard, however, resulted in a generation of Christians who believed giftedness qualified one for ministry. Character and God’s heart were replaced by other priorities and motivations, which inevitably led many to build personal kingdoms. A cooperative heart was superseded by a competitive heart. Travailing, agonizing prayer was replaced with innovation and the strength of our gifts. Last, and probably most tragically, success was measured not by how well we knew the Father but by how well-known we were. Speed, fueled by ignorance, raced forward out of control and with deficient messages. Ahimaaz passed the Cushite, and the King wept. Now, we are in desperate need of an alignment; our fast-moving, state-of-the-art churches are pulling hard to the right and left. A "presence" revival, built around intimacy with the King and His version of success, will be required to correct this. Pray with me: Father, like an automobile traveling down a well-worn road, the potholes of undealt-with ambition and desire for success knock us out of alignment. Before we know it, like Ahimaaz, we are running for our own fulfillment, not Yours, speeding down life’s highway in search of self-worth and success. Passion for You will correct this. We believe this has begun. As it continues, our hearts will burn for You, not for our own fulfillment and personal kingdoms. Religion will be replaced by relationship; intimacy with You will be our desire and the fuel for our activities. Give us Your heart for lost and hurting people. Give us Your heart for the broken, wounded, and confused. Give us Your heart, even for the rebel. Break our hearts for them - give us many who will walk the streets, weeping for those who are so lost. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the heart of God is being imparted to the church, making us nameless, faceless, and powerful. Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book Praying for America , (1) which is no longer in print. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Sheets, Dutch. Praying for America. Regal Books, 2001.

The Dance of Passover As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15b) In 1 Kings 18, Elijah assembled the Israelites on Mount Carmel in what was to be an epic showdown between Yahweh and Baal; Israel was worshiping Baal in this season. Ahab and Jezebel had led Israel into deep idolatry - much like America’s ungodly, immoral leaders have done. The attendees of the Democratic Convention in 2012 literally booed God “off the stage” and out of their platform. Why not? America had already expelled Him from their schools. The homosexual movement in America has mocked God, using His symbol of covenant, the rainbow (Genesis 9:13-16), as their symbol. Obama followed suit, again mocking God’s covenant - marriage, this time - by lighting the White House in the colors of the rainbow when the Supreme Court made homosexual “marriage” the law of the land. Biden hung the rainbow flag front and center at the White House, pushing aside Old Glory to do so, as transvestites bared their “breasts” on the White House lawn. Ahab and Jezebel would have been proud. In Elijah’s day, Israel was experiencing judgment for this idolatry and its accompanying perversions, a three-year drought that was ravaging the land. America’s troubles, too, are from our rejection of God and His Word. Israel’s judgment was accomplishing its purpose, and repentance was now possible; thus, the showdown on Mount Carmel. I’m confident America’s shaking will awaken us, as well. Elijah prophesied that rain was coming and then called for the contest (I Kings 18:1-2, 19). As preparations were being made, he challenged Israel, “How long will you halt between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (18:21 KJV). There was as yet no answer. Israel still couldn’t decide between Yahweh and Baal. The word for “halt” ( pasach ) (1) is fascinating. The Hebrew language is pictorial. A word or number presents a picture that can represent several things; the meaning and/or application of the picture is determined by the context. Regarding this word, for example, picture the up-and-down movement of someone jumping or hopping; that is pasach . Therefore, it is the word used for “hop, skip, or dance.” At other times, the up-and-down movement represents pain, not celebration. Thus, it is also the word for “limping, lame, halt” (a synonym for limp). It is also used for “hesitate,” because to hesitate is to move backward and forward, mentally or physically, while trying to decide something. Pasach is also the word for “pass over” (Exodus 12:13, 23, 27): “When I see the blood I will pass over you” (v. 13). The spirit of death “leapt” or “passed over” the Israelite homes that had the blood of lambs on the lintels of the doors. And a derivative, pesach , (2) became the word for “Passover.” Putting this back into Elijah’s question to Israel, God was essentially asking them in 1 Kings 18:21, Why are you hesitating, halting about who you honor, serve, and trust? You could and should be dancing the dance of covenant with Me, the dance of Passover. Instead, you are limping the limp of Baal. The Complete Jewish Bible translates verse 21: “[Elijah] stepped forward before all the people and said, ‘How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If Adonai is God, follow Him; but if it’s Baal, follow him!’ The people answered him not a word.” Then, the showdown began. Baal’s prophets went first, trying to get Baal to answer by fire. But God had paralyzed the demons behind Baal, and they couldn’t perform. His followers tried many things to get him to respond, including leaping and dancing ( pasach ). Don't miss the revealing irony that Holy Spirit is bringing by using the very same word for their dancing worship of Baal as He uses for Israel’s limp. Baal’s dance always becomes a limp. His worshipers then cut themselves, and blood “gushed” forth. Baal demands pain; he craves and demands bloodshed. Meet America. For many years, we in America danced the dance of Passover. As a result, we were protected, made prosperous, and became the envy of the world. Then, we traded partners. America has been dancing with Baal for decades now, mocking Adonai and His covenant, partying away. But like the Pied Piper, Baal’s “services” aren’t free. He required a price for the party, demanding the blood sacrifice of our children; now, he is demanding their mutilation. He has provoked our children to cut themselves, seeking peace they cannot find. And he has unleashed further violence and death in our land: murder, rape, riots, child abuse and more. We now stumble along with Baal’s painful limp, as he plays his flute and drinks the blood. God’s word to America, just as it was to Israel, is this: How long will you hesitate between opinions, limping Baal’s limp? Return to Me. We’ll celebrate the Passover Lamb again, dancing together in the joyous dance of freedom and victory. I’ll heal your wounds, restore your families, revive the land, and reinstate your destiny. We’ll run together, taking My salvation to the nations of the earth, healing the broken, and freeing the oppressed. May we accept His gracious offer! Join me, please, in asking. Pray with me: Father, we in America have sown to the wind and are now reaping the whirlwind. Like Israel, we traded the Passover dance for the limp of Baal. The death toll from this choice is in the tens of millions. Were it not for Your redemptive power and love, it would ultimately be America’s total annihilation. Mercy is being offered to us, however; not because we deserve it, but through the only appeal You accept, one offered through the blood of Your Son, Jesus. Forgive us for spurning You for demons. Forgive us for sacrificing our children and families on the altar of pleasure and depravity. Forgive us for mocking You and Your covenant of marriage. We ask for the salvation of all who have been deceived into turning away from You and rejecting Your ways. Lord, You broke the rule of Baal off Israel, and You can do so for America. We ask for a reviving of America’s heart and soul, a deliverance from evil, and a return to good. You told us to ask for spiritual rain when we discerned it was “time” (Zechariah 10:1). We are asking, and the rain is coming. We believe this is a season of breakthrough. We ask You for this, and all we have prayed for today, in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that America will choose the dance of Passover, and be healed of her Baal-worshiping limp. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 6452. Ibid., ref. no. 6453.

Epoch-Making Revival One of my favorite verses on revival is Acts 3:19: “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” As is often the case, our English translation doesn’t fully convey the Greek content. The phrase “times of refreshing” is loaded with meaning. “Times” is translated from the word kairos , which means “opportune time.” (1) Wuest, a very literal translator of the New Testament, uses the following phrases to translate kairos : “epoch-making periods” (see Acts 3:19); “strategic, significant period” (see Acts 12:1); “strategic, epochal time” (see Acts 19:23). Using his words, kairos times are strategic, significant, and potentially epoch-making. America must experience an “epoch-making” revival. (2) I looked up the hyphenated phrase “epoch-making” to gain full understanding. It means “significant by virtue of ensuing historical developments,” (3) “a period of time characterized by momentous events or changes,” (4) and “a fixed point of time from which succeeding years are numbered.” (5) That’s what we’re after - momentous events and changes. A revival so great it is historical, one from which succeeding years are numbered, like epoch-making and historical floods. The year is remembered, like the Johnstown Flood of 1889 or the Big Thompson Canyon (Colorado) Flood of 1976. The size of the flood is measured by how often one of that proportion comes: a 50-year flood or a 100-year flood. We want a flood of the river of God so great that people will speak of it the way they speak of physical floods: a revival of such monumental proportions that it is historical. Breathe On Us, Oh God! The word “refreshing” in Acts 3:19 is also important. Anapsuxis is compounded from two words, ana and psucho . Strong’s Concordance says ana means “repetition, intensity or reversal.” (6) Zodhiates agrees, and adds the word “increase.” (7) Psucho means “to breathe, blow or refresh with cool air.” (8) Here are five definitions of anapsucho or anapsuxis : “to draw breath again” “to revive by fresh air” (9) “to cool or refresh with a breath” “to regain strength” “Restoration” (10) In this verse, Peter is saying that if we respond properly to the Holy Spirit, it will create a kairos time for God to once again breathe on us; revive us with a fresh breath, restore us, and give us new strength. I also like the concept of intensity in ana . God wants to breathe on us again intensely. Peter was apparently thinking back a few days to Pentecost when the breath of God blew intensely, once more filling humans with the Spirit and life of God. In Ezekiel 37:1-14, dry bones are used to represent spiritual death. To reverse this, God first caused the bones to reconnect; then He put skin on them, “but there was no breath in them” (v. 8). The prophet was then told, “Prophesy to the breath…say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life”’” (v. 9). God’s breath bringing life is what occurred in Genesis 2:7. He breathed into Adam’s lifeless body, infusing it with His life. In Acts 3, Peter thought back through history - Genesis, Ezekiel, Pentecost - and prophesied that it could happen again if the people would obey the Holy Spirit. They did and God did; and it has happened since, on numerous occasions. God is ready to do it yet again! He wants to release His breath, another wind, to our generation, and He wants to do so with great intensity. Buy the Opportunity! We must seize the moment. Twice the New Testament tells us to “redeem the time” (see Ephesians 5:15-17; Colossians 4:5, KJV). "Redeem" is translated from exagorazo , meaning “buy or purchase,” and “time” is kairos . We are told to buy the opportune time. (11) Indeed, opportunities must be bought; they cost us - time, energy, abilities, money, even our very lives. If we don’t spend what is necessary and “buy” them, opportunities can be lost. When Apple Computer fell on difficult days, its young chairman, Steven Jobs, traveled from Silicon Valley to New York City. His purpose was to convince Pepsico’s John Sculley to move west and run his struggling company. As the two men overlooked the Manhattan skyline from Sculley’s penthouse office, the Pepsi executive started to decline Jobs’s offer. “Financially,” Sculley said, “you’d have to give me a million-dollar salary, a million-dollar bonus, and a million-dollar severance.” Flabbergasted, Jobs gulped and agreed - if Sculley would move to California. But Sculley would commit only to being a consultant from New York. At that, Jobs issued a challenge to Sculley: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want to change the world?” In his autobiography Odyssey, Sculley admits Jobs’ challenge “knocked the wind out of me.” He said he’d become so caught up with his future at Pepsi, his pension, and whether his family could adapt to life in California, that an opportunity to “change the world” nearly passed him by. Instead, he put his life in perspective and went to Apple.(12) We must not miss our opportunity to change the world! Let’s buy the opportunity for an epoch-making revival. Seek Vision for the Harvest Allow God to birth vision in you, vision that will motivate you to faith and action. Vision is a life-changer, a rearranger, a cause producer. Its hunger can be insatiable, a motivating force creating energy and energizing creativity. Vision moves us from mere mental assent to physical exertion. It separates the hearer from the doer, a convert from a disciple, and mediocrity from excellence. Vision is also what separates a ripe harvest from a reaped harvest (see Matthew 9:37). Let’s ask God to increase vision and passion for a historical, epoch-making revival, and for hearts willing to buy the opportunity. Pray with me: Father, we ask You to increase our passion and vision for the epoch-making revival You have planned. Light the flames of passion in the church to such intensity that no price will be too great to pay. Awaken hearts to seize the moment, and buy the opportune time You have created. Bring vision to believers, motivating them to write history. Breathe on the dry bones of the earth and give them life. Save and deliver, redeem and transform. Make this an epochal, historic revival - unlike any other. We believe entire nations can and will be born-again in a day. Do it, we pray! Send the rushing, mighty wind of Acts 2. Give us miracles on the level of Acts 3 that cause thousands to be saved. Blow Your breath all over the world. We ask these things through Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the life-giving breath of God is bringing an epoch-making revival to earth again, and this cannot be stopped! I encourage you to visit YouTube, where you can listen to the song, Revive Us (Revival in Belfast) by Robin Mark. Click the link below to watch the full video: Today’s devotional was taken from my book Praying for America , (13) which is no longer in print. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible . Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 2540. Kenneth Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation . Eerdmans, 1961. New Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus of the English Language , s.v. “epoch-making.” Ibid. The Consolidated-Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary , s.v. “epoch.” James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible . Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 303. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard , rev. ed. AMG Publishers, 1990. p. 1804. Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary . Word Bible Publishers, 1992. p. 1496. Ethelbert Bullinger, A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament . Zondervan Publishing House, 1975. p. 631. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament , abridged. Eerdmans, 1985. p. 1352. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible . Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 1805. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching. Baker Books , 1993. p. 278. Sheets, Dutch. Praying for America . Regal Books, 2001.

Let's Finish This! As the book of Ezra opens, Cyrus, king of Persia, allows a remnant of Israelites to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding their Temple. Seventy years prior, God had allowed Israel to be taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, because of their apostasy. Later, they came under the rule of Cyrus when he conquered Babylon. God then moved upon the heart of Cyrus, a pagan and idolatrous king, to permit this return. He even stirred Cyrus’ heart to help the remnant raise the needed funds for rebuilding (Ezra 1:1-4), and returned to them all the vessels and utensils Nebuchadnezzar had plundered from the Temple.  A remnant returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel’s leadership and began the work. Ezra tells us:   “When the workers laid the foundation of The Temple of God, the priests in their robes stood up with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise God in the tradition of David…All the people boomed out hurrahs, praising God as the foundation of The Temple of God was laid. As many were noisily shouting with joy, many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first Temple, when they saw the foundations of this Temple laid, wept loudly… People couldn’t distinguish the shouting from the weeping. The sound of their voices reverberated for miles around.” (Ezra 3:10-13 MSG) It has always intrigued me that many younger Israelites shouted for joy while some of the older ones wept. We are left to wonder why the older folks wept. Joy? Grieving lost years? Realizing just how far they had to go? One thing is certain: their perspective was different. There is one more certainty about the celebration which took place that day: it was a bit premature. Satan had plans for the project, also. Daniel 7:25 tells us he attempts to alter “times and laws.” The Hebrew word used for   “time” in this verse means an appointed time ; (1)  the word for   “laws”   means, among other things,  the decree of a king. (2)  God our King, appoints our times and seasons; He also decrees His good plans and purposes for us, both in His written Word and prophetically. However, this verse tells us satan tries to alter those times and decrees. We know he can’t do so by overpowering or outwitting God; he attempts to do so by attacking us. Daniel 7:25 also reveals one of the ways satan tries to do so: by “wearing down” the saints. The Hebrew word this is taken from is never used in Scripture to describe physical fatigue, only mental and emotional weariness. Satan attempts to wear us down in our souls, causing us to “grow weary” (literally: “lose heart”) in our efforts (Galatians 6:9). Fear, discouragement, lack of endurance, hope-deferred, and other emotional responses attack our faith and, if not guarded against, can cause us to lose heart. If this weariness occurs, it can alter our God-appointed times. This time-altering strategy worked against the remnant sent to rebuild the Temple of God. Satan’s method in that situation was to work through other people in the region:   “So these people started beating down the morale of the people of Judah, harassing them as they built. They even hired propagandists to sap their resolve. They kept this up for about fifteen years, throughout the lifetime of Cyrus king of Persia and on into the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:4-5 MSG) These “propagandists,” or “counselors,” as other translations refer to them, were basically lobbyists, individuals hired and sent to the king with accusations and misinformation. They succeeded in planting concerns in him that, once the Israelites rebuilt their temple, they would rebel from his rule and cause great problems in his kingdom. The Israelites, rather than remaining strong and trusting God to help them overcome this, yielded to fear and discouragement. The result? The rebuilding of the temple stopped for 16 years! All they had produced was a foundation. During this time, though abandoning God’s house, the Israelites began building their own homes and businesses. They attempted to justify this by saying it must not yet be God’s appointed time for the Temple to be rebuilt. Opposition, however, should never be allowed to determine what we believe to be God’s will. Nor should this be something used to judge whether or not it is His appointed time for something. Eventually, God had enough of their complacency and raised up a prophet, Haggai, to deliver His message to them: “God-of-the-Angel-Armies says: ‘The people procrastinate. They say this isn't the right time to rebuild My Temple, the Temple of God.’ “Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: ‘How is it that it's the "right time" for you to live in your fine new homes while Mine is in ruins?...’ “Then the governor, Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest, and all the people with them listened, really listened, to the voice of their God. When God sent the prophet Haggai to them, they paid attention to him. In listening to Haggai, they honored God. Then Haggai, God’s messenger, preached God’s message to the people: 'I am with you!’” (Haggai 1:1-14 MSG) When the people responded appropriately to God’s words, He was quick to respond with grace and favor. Turns out it wasn’t those in opposition to God that were His problem; He was well able to deal with them. His people were the problem! What God needed was a people of faith who would not succumb to fear, discouragement, or self-centeredness. When they were able to shake off these things, God favored them once again and said, I am with you! Let’s go! A month later, Haggai encouraged them by prophesying again,  “Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back…Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with splendor...I own the silver, I own the gold…This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’” (Haggai 2:1-9 MSG) Like this remnant in Israel, many in the church of America have grown weary in their prayers for revival and the rebuilding of our nation. Lobbyists, media opposition, unrighteous laws, intimidating government agencies, elections that didn’t go our way, ungodly politicians - satan has used these and more, attempting to wear us down. Some responded just as these Israelites did, deciding it must not be time for America’s turnaround. Yet many did not! God now needs for us to persevere in our faith and prayers. We must not allow satan to alter our appointed times and God’s promised recovery by wearing us down. Don’t be intimidated. God can deal with His enemies, just as He did in Haggai’s day. Determine that nothing will stop us – wars, threats, fear, discouragement, setbacks, unbelief – nothing. Let’s finish this! Pray with me: Father, You have begun a good work in our nation. You’ve raised up a remnant of people determined to birth revival, and see America accomplish all You have destined for her. We are determined to see righteousness in our government once again, determined to see the young generation of Americans come to know You, and determined to see world-wide revival - at least a billion souls. We will not stop with only a foundation. We will not yield to opposition, fear, confusion, unbelief, discouragement, or selfishness. We will finish this! We WILL finish this! Raise up Haggais in our day with Your words. Stir the hearts of Your people. We ask for an infusion of strength and hope. We ask that mental fatigue and emotional weariness be broken off of the praying church, the remnant. Send a wind of Holy Spirit to us now, we pray. Stir up hearts that once burned with fire for revival and breakthrough, but have now settled for less. Stir up the hearts of pastors who have chosen to settle for less than the fires of revival. Stir up intercessors who have allowed the fire to go out. Awaken us all to Your passion in this hour. May there be a roar of intercession that is released in this nation and the nations of the earth. We ask You, “Rend the heavens and come down!” We make these requests in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. Our decree: God is with us; we will arise and build! Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Strong’s Hebrew: 2165. זְמָן (zeman) -- appointed time, occasion, season; time.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2165.htm . Accessed 12 May 2023. “Strong’s Hebrew: 1882. דָּת (dath) -- decree, law.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1882.htm . Accessed 12 May 2023.

Release Your Battle Cry “God has ascended with a shout (rua), The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.” (Psalm 47:5)  Spiritual War is necessary. Though God is love, He is also a warrior. And Holy Spirit wants to awaken His warrior heart in us, the Ekklesia. As the Lion of Judah, Yeshua wants to roar from us:   “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel 3:16 KJV) Holy Spirit gave my friend, Scott Reece, a strong word regarding this: “There is an aligning among My lions that will usher in a new shift on earth. Powers will shift, authority will shift, and ungodly rulers will be unseated. I am making room for those that are righteous to rule in the land. Angel armies have been assembled for the purposes of strategic warfare. They will usher in a godly generation that will hold the standard, even against the darkest nights. This is a generation unlike any other. The cry of My people in desperate times has activated a warfare strategy that will catch the enemy off guard. The hallowed halls of men’s political achievements will be shaken to the core and reverberate with a sound of worship and righteousness. You will witness a breaking down of the political divide and see the establishment of a righteous government, holding a righteous scepter in their hands. You will see a governmental body actually stop and pray before a vote in order to ascertain My heart. The podium will be used for godly leaders crying out together in faith, as opposed to arguing, defending unrighteousness, offending My heavens, and shutting off the land from My purposes. The foundation of this alignment will be laid by My apostles and prophets. The aligning will be a source of activation, release, and unity among My Ekklesia. Do not become distracted by the lying of the enemy. Do not become discouraged by divisive methodologies designed to deter you. Set your heart in alignment with My Word and My purposes. Align with the apostolic and prophetic voices I am raising up. You will hear different roars with different anointings, but as they align, you will clearly see that I am in the midst of the roar and My voice is at the center. My word is emerging as a new wine that is being poured out.” What a powerful and encouraging word. Holy Spirit is “roaring” through our prayers. The Bible speaks not only of God’s people roaring (Joel 3:16), but also of releasing a battle cry. Psalm 47 tells us:  “O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout (rua) to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet…God has ascended with a shout ( rua ) , The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.” (Psalm 47:1-3, 5) Shout is the Hebrew word rua . This word describes a war cry, a shout of victory over one’s enemy on the battlefield.(1) It was also used for “blowing” the shofar before a battle; one definition is “to split the ears with sound.” Mel Gibson’s rendition of William Wallace in Braveheart comes to mind: “FREEDOM!!!!!”  Rua  is translated “sound the alarm” in Joel 2:1. In this context, it means “we’re going to war.” The passage in Psalm 47 tells us if WE are willing to lift a rua and fight (v. 1), God will rua  with us (v. 5): He   “ascends with a shout.” And as God arises, His enemies are scattered   (Psalm 68:1). They flee before Him! My point is quite simple: There is “a time for war and a time for peace”  (Ecclesiastes 3:8). There is a time to shout, roar and FIGHT, and that time has arrived. And though the warfare I speak of is spiritual, it must be no less intense. We must allow God to awaken His warrior heart in us. The war on earth for the souls of men and women, and for control over regions of the world, is raging. Satan is ruthless in this war, always wanting to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). In this and all spiritual conflicts, how do we release our spiritual power, weapons, and authority? We do so primarily with our words. When Jesus was confronted by satan, He provided the example of how to war against the devil and his spiritual forces : “It is written!” (Matthew 4:1-11). God’s spoken Word is the most powerful force on earth. With it He creates, releases life, tears down, and builds up. And Holy Spirit tells us that God’s Word in our mouth (Greek: rhema : “spoken words”), (2) is a sword against satan and his demons (Ephesians 6:17). When we speak God’s words in spiritual warfare, they are an overpowering weapon, a sword; leaving them unspoken leaves our sword in its scabbard. Whatever arena of spiritual battle we’re in, we must wield our sword! When we are fearful or tempted to fear, we should speak God’s Word that promises freedom from fear. When we are sick, we should declare promises of healing. When we are in turmoil and unrest, we should decree verses of Scripture regarding peace. And when we see satan stealing, killing, and destroying, we should declare God’s Word regarding deliverance and salvation into the situation.  Consider going into a private place and rua- ing over your unsaved family member, a deceived friend, or an evil government. A shout of war is just as terrifying to the ears of demons as it is to human soldiers on a battlefield. Don’t allow your dignity to silence your roar. Unsheath your sword! Pray with me: Father, many believers have learned to worship, others have learned to pray, but most - though descended from the Lion of Judah - do not know how to roar. You said You would roar out of Zion, so we’re asking You to awaken Your roar in the Ekklesia, shouts of triumph over spiritual enemies. May the sword of the Spirit be removed from its scabbard and devastate the powers of darkness. You said in the word You gave Scott that “the cry of Your people has activated a warfare strategy that will catch the enemy off guard.” We now lay hold of this strategy, calling it forth from Holy Spirit to the womb of the church. We declare that we have ears to hear what He is saying, and we will implement His divine plan. Revival is coming to the earth and will not be stopped. The heavens are being rent, hunger is being awakened, the veil of deception is being lifted. The God of glory is thundering, rain clouds are forming, and an abundant rain shall fall. We declare this in Yeshua’s name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that the warrior nature of Christ is being awakened in the Ekklesia around the world! Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Strong's Hebrew: 7321. ר֫וּעַ (rua) -- to raise a shout, give a blast, raise your battle cry.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7321.htm . Accessed 12 May 2023. “Strong's Greek: 4487. ῥῆμα (rhéma) -- a word, spoken, by impl. a matter; a word or saying of any kind as command, report, promise.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/greek/4487.htm . Accessed 12 May 2023.

Why We Fight “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham.” Genesis 26:3  I love America very much, but my love for her is comprised of two different types of love. One is natural; the other spiritual. First, I have a natural love  for the USA, which I believe every person should possess for their homeland. Where this type of love is concerned, America will always be number one for me. Yes, I am a flag-waving patriot, with nationalistic pride and love for the USA. The word patriot comes from the Greek word pater,  which means “father.” (1)  A patriot is one who honors and embraces the heritage, visions, and ideals of their father/s. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob honors this principle; so should we. True patriotism connects us to our roots: past ideals, creeds, purposes, covenants made with God and other aspects. This connection makes history relevant, giving us benchmarks and boundaries from which to measure our present and future. In a literal sense, for one to say he or she is a “patriotic” American and not embrace the principles of our Founders, which includes allegiance to and partnership with God, is a contradiction in terms. I have another type of love for America, a spiritually rooted love , placed in me by God. In the year 2000, I experienced an encounter with Him during which He imparted to me His heart for America. God loves America. Having said that, I am under no delusion that He loves America more than other nations. He does not. Americans are not more important to Him than Nigerians, the British, the French, or any other people group. God loves us all the same.  “For God so loved the world...”  (see John 3:16). This deep love Yahweh gave me for America, never results in a self-centered love. It causes anything but a national arrogance or egocentric mindset. On the contrary, it is a love linked to God’s heart for other nations, as well. Our purpose as a nation was and is to take the gospel of the Kingdom to all nations of the earth. A large part of my patriotism and love for America is rooted in this holy purpose. It is certainly the primary reason I am so passionate about seeing her restored. My love, therefore, for our nation is a Kingdom love, which supersedes the natural love I have for her. There are those on the left who do not want biblical principles, morals, and ideals to guide America. They reject our Christian roots, disagree with the standards and principles of Scripture, and would find laughable my contention that God raised up America for His purpose. They are determined to remove His influence in our nation. I do not limit my criticism only to those on the left, however. Many on the right - Republicans and conservatives - are unwilling to fight for this spiritual destiny. Having no understanding of God’s purpose for America, their governance - though not necessarily opposing the Almighty - often ignores Him and His ways. Since they are not aligned with the God-given vision of our Founding Fathers, they do not meet the true definition of a patriot. Many are merely self-serving politicians who dishonor the efforts and memory of the true patriots God used to establish America. Having traded patriotism for privilege and Christ’s cause for a career, they are unwilling to make a stand for our spiritual roots. When Lewis Morris was faced with the monumental decision of whether or not to sign the Declaration of Independence, his brother warned him vehemently against it. The cost - life, fortune, perhaps family - would simply be too great. Morris’ response was one for the ages: “Damn the consequences, give me the pen.” (2)  Would that today’s government leaders had such unselfish, patriotic hearts. Some do, of course, but far too few. Perhaps others will one day discover the true American soul. For many, it is too late; they sold out to selfish ambition long ago. Pray with me: Lord, we thank You for the true patriots who fought for the freedoms and blessings we enjoy today. We know that the battles we face are not actually about a political party, but a fight against You and Your plans for our land.  Open the eyes of our elected officials - give them encounters from You in which they are confronted with the truth of the Gospel. We ask You to convict members of Congress, Judges, State Legislators, Governors, Secretaries of State, and other leaders who do not know You. Remind us to pray for those leading our country, Holy Spirit, and lead us as we do so. Give us true patriots once again to lead our nation. Men and women with hearts like Lewis Morris, Patrick Henry, and others. Give us leaders who love America, yet also understand her calling to the nations. Raise up leaders with true integrity and who are honorable, Father. Give us leaders who know You and Your ways, righteous women and men of prayer. We thank You for those who already meet these standards, but we ask You for many more. Remove those who don’t honor You and do not walk in integrity. Expose and remove them. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the purposes of God will be accomplished in America. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ___________________________________ “Strong's Greek: 3962. πατήρ (patér) -- a father.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/greek/3962.htm . Accessed 31 December 2020.  Branch, Mark Alden. ““Damn the consequences. Give me the pen.” | This just in.” Yale Alumni Magazine , 3 July 2014, https://yalealumnimagazine.org/blog_posts/1831-damn-the-consequences-give-me-the-pen . Accessed 2 January 2021.

God Decided It Would Fly Again “We will sing for joy over Your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.”  Psalm 20:5 I was introduced to the Appeal to Heaven flag in 2013. In 2020, a dream was sent to me in which George Washington, who commissioned the birth of the Appeal to Heaven flag, presented me the original and said, “It still works.” Given the fact that God has now resurrected this flag, we should learn more about it. At the end of 2013, I realized I was ending a 13-year spiritual journey. It had started during a prayer and ended with a flag - an old and forgotten flag, forgotten by everyone, it seems, except God. He had kept this banner in hiding for a couple of centuries, waiting in the wings of history until He was ready to reintroduce it. And reintroduce it He has! This flag now hangs in thousands of homes, prayer rooms, churches, government buildings, and even businesses. A church in Indiana made their own version - fifteen feet by thirty feet - then made me one! Another congregation decorated the Christmas tree in their foyer with dozens of small Appeal to Heaven flags. Thousands of people have small ones tucked in their Bibles, tacked to bulletin boards, or conspicuously sitting on their desks. Others display them as lapel pins, wear them emblazoned on shirts, show them off on bumper stickers and at least one person has the flag tattooed on his arm! Governors display the flag, as do judges and congressmen. One was spotted in the U.S. Capitol, another was recently flown over the Capitol of Arkansas. The other day I saw an Appeal to Heaven flag streaming behind an 18-wheeler - it’s going viral! The flag is associated with America’s founding, to be sure. However, it seems God doesn’t intend it to be used only by America. It can be seen flying in the Himalayas - the highest point on the planet - where it is fittingly raised above dozens of Buddhist prayer flags. It has flown on the plains of Ninevah (the place of the first region-transforming revival), in South Africa, Panama, and more recently in Cambodia where it was used in prayers against human trafficking. Who knows where it will turn up next?! This international use seems especially appropriate, given America’s God-given destiny of being a spiritual light to the nations. In times past, flags carried more weight than they do in our present day. Their symbolism was usually understood, from the color to the design, enabling a flag to tell a story or make a strong statement. Many flags are sacred - people swear allegiance to them and die to protect their honor. Banners, as they are also called, were often intended to make declarations. For example, an early colonial American flag had a picture of a coiled snake with the accompanying phrase, “Don’t Tread On Me.” It was a warning to Great Britain: “Be careful; step on us and we strike!” (1) My journey involves a different flag in America’s past, one that is especially relevant to our God-given purpose and destiny. Modern-day progressives, historical revisionists, liberal politicians, and humanistic professors would scoff at the notion that America was established by God for a divine purpose. They would also mock the assertion that our founders believed in and honored this divine-human partnership. As John Adams said, however, “facts are stubborn things…” (2)  These modernists may not like our origins, but they can’t change them. Yahweh, the God of the Bible, was indeed involved in America’s founding and He did so for His unique purpose. When General George Washington commissioned the Appeal to Heaven flag to fly over our naval ships in the Revolutionary W ar (3)   - don’t look for that in our modern-day American history books - little did he know that 240 years later God would ordain that it fly again. This time around, however, it wouldn’t fly over a fledgling nation being born, but over the most powerful nation in the world being reborn . This rebirth isn’t literal, of course, but is a spiritual and moral renewal that will resurrect America’s God-given calling, purpose, and greatness. In the days of the flag’s genesis, the American colonists had no chance of winning a war with the world’s greatest empire, Great Britain. “Chance,” however, was no longer a relevant term once they chose an appeal to heaven. The matter would not be left to fate. When those ill-prepared and poorly equipped revolutionaries appealed for assistance to the Giver of inalienable rights, the tide turned. When they agreed to come under God’s governance and honor His ways, He who “governs in the affairs of men,” as Ben Franklin stated at the Constitutional Convention, did just that. Affirming the Lord’s governing intervention, Franklin also said, “All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor.” (4) Today, let it be said of our generation that when a nation teetered on the edge of destruction, having lost the ancient path of truth, we answered the divine call to war for its restoration. Let it be said of us, as it was of our forefathers, that in the face of overwhelming odds, we took our stand in the celestial courtroom, appealing to the Judge of all the earth for His saving grace, mercy, and sustaining power. Let us appeal to heaven…it still works! Pray with me: Father, the world looked on in amazement as 13 unorganized, army-less, upstart colonies defeated the world’s greatest empire. It seemed impossible, yet they succeeded. And we know how they did it: they asked for and received Your help. They actually put the request on a banner and raised it over the battles. And You responded, coming to their aid - the appeal worked. You have now resurrected this flag and are re-energizing the appeal. It worked then; it will work now. The same phenomenon that birthed our nation will now rebirth it - an appeal to heaven. Breathe on this, Father. Energize it with Your Holy Spirit. Make it live again in America and around the world. We appeal to You for worldwide revival. We appeal to You for the destruction of strongholds. We appeal to You for the uncovering of truth in our land and in other nations. We ask for grace and mercy, but we also appeal for justice. In this land, America, pour out Your Spirit in a great deluge of power and glory. Do this until we are once again a light to the world, a carrier of the life-giving gospel, and a beacon of truth. We decree this shall be so, in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen. Our decree: We decree: It still works! Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book An Appeal to Heaven . (5) Click on the link below to watch the full video. ______________________________________ The U.S. Navy's Jack.” Naval History and Heritage Command , 21 September 2021, https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/browse-by-topic/heritage/banners/usnavy-jack.html . Accessed 2 February 2021 Adams, John. Argument in Defense of British Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials. 4 December 1770. Richard Frothingham, History of the Siege of Boston, and of the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Buner Hill , Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1849, p. 261. Benjamin, Franklin. "Constitutional Convention Address on Prayer." Philadelphia, PA., June 28, 1787. Sheets, Dutch. An Appeal to Heaven . Dutch Sheets Ministries, 2015, pp. vii-xiv.

God is Government For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us. (Isaiah 33:22) Today, I want to give an overview of God’s plan regarding government, one of the most important topics in the Bible . The Origin of Government The concept of government is first introduced to us in Genesis 1:26-28, when Yahweh assigned the responsibility of managing, ruling, or governing (Hebrew: radah (1)  and mashal (2) ) the earth and all it contains to Adam and his offspring. However, the concept of government did not originate when God created the earth ; He didn’t imagine or dream up the notion just for this new endeavor. God is, and always has been, Lord or Ruler over all. The concept of government flows from who God is, not just from what He does - HE IS GOVERNMENT. Obviously then, this makes Him earth’s “Judge, Lawgiver, and King”  (Isaiah 33:22 ), and all government on earth was intended to flow from Him. The fact that God is government and rules from who He is, is why “righteousness and justice are the foundations of [His] throne”  (Psalm 89:14). God is also truth and love (John 14:6; 1 John 4:16). His laws, precepts, guidelines, and actions are based on love and truth, righteousness and justice, and flow from His nature. Again, God governs from who He is! God Releases His Government Through Family  The Bible is the story of God and His family. Our heavenly Father wanted a family, so He created their home, then created them. He then delegated governmental rule of this small portion of His Kingdom, earth, to this family (Genesis 1:26-28). This dominion or authority was to be exercised over all the earth and in all elements of society – personal, home and family, cities, and nations – and was intended to release God’s nature and function according to that nature. His intent was that ALL earthly government be a conduit of Him; He would release His will, ways, truth, righteousness, and love on earth through governmental authority - at every level - and do so through humans, His new family. That God would delegate this governing authority to Adam and his offspring shouldn’t be surprising; they were His family! Every aspect of Adam’s nature and all of his actions were to reflect God’s image and likeness: procreating more eternal beings bearing Yahweh’s image; mining earth’s treasure and potential through dreaming and imagining; loving; and leading and managing this portion of God’s great universe and Kingdom.  We know this plan was temporarily interrupted at the Fall. Satan deceived and stole God’s family, and along with it the dominion/government of their home. The story of Scripture then became how God would redeem and restore these two things: His family and their dominion. The war on earth is over family and government: Who will own the people? Who will rule the earth? Jesus, of course, by becoming one of us, was God’s solution. He made it possible for all people to become part of God’s family again; and He recovered Adam’s lost authority. The Scriptures Are All About Government With family and government being the two primary issues on earth, it seems logical that government would be one of Scripture’s dominant themes, and it is. Government is mentioned extensively throughout the Bible. Earthly “kingdoms” are spoken of 36 times, earthly “kings” are spoken of 108 times, and the words “rule” or “ruler” are mentioned 155 times. God is mentioned by the governmental term “Lord” thousands of times, and His “Kingdom” is referenced more than 80 times. We could give the totals for other governmental terms, such as dominion, authority, govern, leader, and so forth, which are used dozens of times. Suffice it to say, the issue of government, along with family, is absolutely paramount in Scripture. AND YET…through satanic deception, many in the church think government should be ignored. “Win people to Christ” they say, “but the subject of government doesn’t belong in the church. Well, we should pray for it [which most don’t]; but don’t talk about it, make a stand regarding it, or try to influence it.” Persuading a church to take time in a service for more than a perfunctory prayer for or mention of government, elections, laws, etc., is like trying to raise the dead. Getting pastors to make a public stand on BIBLICAL issues being ruled on by the government, such as the termination of life, marriage, gender issues, and more, is even harder.  Most in the church don’t acknowledge the overwhelming amount of Scripture involving government, preferring to ignore it instead. They conveniently hide behind man-made laws designed to silence us. Rather than honoring God, many leaders are ruled by the fear of man. Fear of dividing or offending also silences many pastors. The result of this decision is that most believers are ignorant of God’s Word on the subject.  As a result of the church's withdrawal, America hangs in the balance of life or death.  Hope I’ve said before that regardless of the church’s abdication, God will save America through the prayers of a remnant. I still believe this. But I also believe our salvation and turnaround could have occurred much more quickly - and without the present shaking - had a larger percentage of the church been speaking out, praying, and taking action. The pain we are experiencing isn’t over and could have been avoided. Those of you who are praying - thank you, and please persevere. Your prayers WILL save America. Pray with me: Father, in Christ’s name, on behalf of the church in America, we ask You to forgive us for not representing You and Your ways as we should. We have been deceived, complacent, willfully ignorant, and fearful of speaking out against the promotion of sin and evil. Awaken the church to the fact that we are Your voice, the speakers of Your Word and truth on the earth. Revive this truth in us. Send Your fire to the pulpits of America again. Send repentance to preachers in America for watering down Your truth, for ignoring portions of Your Word, and for operating under the fear of man.  You said in Your Word that we could close doors to demonic forces, not with human strength, but with the authority of our words. So, in the name of Jesus, we call America back to You. We release Your Kingdom authority and bind demonic, evil plans, releasing the power of Holy Spirit to oppose them. We release Your revival and awakening. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that deception and lethargy in the church are being removed and replaced with revival fire! Click on the link below to watch the full video: _______________________________ “Strong's Hebrew: 7287. רָדָה (radah) -- reign, have dominion, rule.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7287.htm . Accessed 15 July 2024. “Strong's Hebrew: 4910. מָשַׁל (mashal) -- to rule, have dominion, reign.” Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4910.htm . Accessed 15 July 2024.

My Prayer Mentor, Ike In November 2023, I had the great honor of participating in Intercessors for America’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. No ministry has done more to generate prayer for America than this great ministry. As I pondered IFA’s role in my life, one of my fondest memories was learning to pray at Christ For the Nations Institute (CFNI) in 1977. Each student was required to participate in an outreach or serving ministry on a weekly basis. My initial choice was Intercessory Prayer, not because I was an intercessor or knew much about the subject. Truth be known, I could barely pronounce it. But I wanted to learn more about prayer, so I enrolled. Our prayer guide each week was a bulletin provided by a ministry I had never heard of. Yep, Intercessors for America(IFA). One sheet of paper, front and back, with timely issues and government leaders listed for prayer. Thus began my journey of learning to pray. I want to honor another link in the chain of my introduction to prayer at CFNI (Christ For the Nations Institute). I’ve always felt one of the best ways to learn something new was by watching and emulating someone better at it than me. Of the 1,200 students at CFNI, I chose Immanuel Ike, a student from Africa, complete with tribal markings - three scars on each cheek. I believe Ike, as we called him, was Nigerian. When Ike prayed, the room shook. I think he was fire incarnate. During the last six weeks of the school year, students were encouraged to gather an hour before chapel to pray in the main auditorium. This wasn’t united, corporate prayer; it was a time for students to seek God individually in an atmosphere fueled by several hundred hungry, passionate people also pursuing Him. We were encouraged to gather on the large platform, and/or scatter throughout the auditorium - on our feet, knees, faces, or walking - it didn’t matter the position. I chose the platform, kneeling at one of the chairs right behind the piano…because that’s where Ike was. I prayed for an hour each morning, with one eye closed, one open, watching and listening to Ike. When he bound, I bound; when Ike loosed, I loosed. Soon after beginning, he would grab the side of his chair and begin rocking back and forth. I, too, held on and rocked. Ike would start in English, shift into his African dialect, then “machine gun” his prayers in tongues - I think. Maybe it was his African dialect on steroids. All I know is that Ike had now lost all connection to earth and its earthlings; we no longer existed. Tears. Groans. Pleadings. Decrees. Worship. Ike was in heaven’s throne room, then traveling the planet with Holy Spirit, tearing down strongholds and birthing Kingdom realities. And I was riding his coattails! What is it they say? “Better caught than taught.” My prayers were mostly, “Lord, give me at least some of what this man carries.” I think I received a small degree of Ike’s mantle. “Wherever you are today, Ike, thank you.” My heart and world also expanded through the influence of other guest ministries that came through CFNI every week. Literally. That was the plan: every week, a different person from a different ministry taught all students in a united session at 11a.m., Monday through Friday. They, Ike, and prayer ministries like IFA taught me to move beyond my own needs, not praying only to generate money for school bills, rent, clothes, etc. They challenged me to transcend caring only for my own future ministry and success. For the first time in my life, I found myself praying for nations and travailing for souls. I called out the names of senators, representatives, judges, laws, bills, and court cases. I began to realize I was called to more than personal success, something bigger than a congregation or a traveling ministry of my own. I was invited into the realm of an eternal Kingdom with a worldwide cause. My heart grew and expanded. I take no credit. It was the influence of others, great teaching, exposure to different ministries and organizations every week, and an atmosphere of passionate worship, prayer, and faith - every day. And Ike, of course. I’ve never looked back. The cheetah survives on the African plains by running down its prey. The big cat can sprint seventy miles per hour. But the cheetah cannot sustain that pace for long. Within its long, sleek body is a disproportionately small heart, which causes the cheetah to tire quickly. Unless the cheetah catches its prey in the first flurry, it must abandon the chase. Far too often, Christians seem to have the cheetah’s approach to prayer. We start fast and with great energy.  We are robust and excited. But lacking the heart for a sustained effort, we falter before we finish the job . Most intercessors don’t need more speed or emotion; they need more staying power, which only comes from a bigger prayer heart. Rees Howells was an intercessor with a large prayer heart. In 1924, Howells launched the Bible College of Wales, which always had a huge emphasis on prayer. During World War II, however, Holy Spirit burdened Rees’s heart to intercede at even greater levels for the Allies, and for the deliverance of the world from Hitler’s Third Reich. Every day, anywhere from five to ten hours, sometimes more, Rees and the students labored in prayer over the war. He challenged the students to not allow the soldiers at the front to labor more than them. Rees Howells and his 100 students no doubt played a huge role in saving the world from Hitler’s demonic assault. I know many of you who follow Give Him 15 also have hearts that will never quit praying. Thank you! Lock arms with others at this time and determine that we will not quit, we will not falter, and we will not fail. We will see the earth in full-fledged revival. Having put our hands to the plow, we will not look back. Victory is ours through Christ, and we will see it come to pass. Pray with me: Father, it is appropriate that we honor ministries like Intercessors for America, and people like Rees Howells and  my friend  Ike. All of our successes are in part built on the work of others. We ask for Your abundant blessings on them. For those still here with us, multiply their effectiveness, anointing, and provision. For others - like Rees Howells - well, tell them we said thanks. Today, we ask You for bigger prayer hearts. We want hearts so expansive that they embrace Your worldwide Kingdom efforts, and run prayer’s race without growing weary. We pledge to persevere in prayer for a worldwide harvest. We will continue to lay hold by faith of a restored America. We will never stop representing You as Your Ekklesia, enforcing Your victory on earth. This is the hour of deliverance for millions. This is the season of their entrance into the King’s family, their day of salvation. We declare over them that the veil is lifting; the spirit of revelation is invading the territory. We loose them from darkness, deception, oppression, and bondage. Manifest signs and wonders, raise up powerful evangelists anointed with the level of power Stephen, Phillip, Paul, Peter, and others  demonstrated in the book of Acts. We decree revival now. And we do all this in the name that guarantees victory, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Christ’s large prayer heart is being imparted to His Ekklesia. We will not falter. Click on the link below to watch the full video:

A Day of Thanksgiving The pilgrims first celebrated the holiday Americans call Thanksgiving after their first harvest in 1621. History says it was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. The gathering lasted three days. In 1789, our first President, George Washington, issued a national proclamation of “Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.” (1)  Abraham Lincoln issued another proclamation in 1863 and made it a national holiday, referring to it as “A day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” (2)  In their proclamations, they refer to God as the: Almighty God (three times); that great and glorious Being; beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; the great Lord and Ruler of the Nations; Most High God; and beneficient Father. So much for the myth of separating God from America’s government. Washington’s and Lincoln’s proclamations are reverential and God-honoring . I won’t read them, as the verbiage and style of the day are a bit different than ours, but I have included them as an attachment at the end of today’s post for those who do wish to read them. The following is a proclamation and prayer for us to offer today; please agree with me as I read it: Heavenly Father, we in the U.S. pause today to acknowledge Your gracious and omnipotent hand. America was Your idea. You had in Your heart to form a nation of nations - Native Americans, Asians, Europeans, Africans, Latinos, Middle Easterners, and more. Though our journey included the inevitable challenges associated with human frailties, including evil actions, Your sovereign power overcame our flaws and formed the United States of America. We are very aware tha t this miracle was  not just for our blessing and benefit; we were called to a covenantal partnership with You to release Your redemption from sin’s horrible curse. We acknowledge and agree with the words of Robert Hunt at Cape Henry in 1607: “The gospel of the kingdom will go forth from these shores, not only to this land, but to all the nations of the earth.” We agree with the words from Holy Scripture inscribed on the Liberty Bell: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof,” (Leviticus 25:10). This is our destiny and great honor.  We are thankful, Father, for the covenants our Christian Forefathers and Founders entered into with You. They sacrificed much in order to fulfill Your will, knowing they were drawn here – not just to enjoy liberty – but to accomplish Your divine purposes. W e are grateful for their sacrifices made so long ago, and the incredible prosperity we have enjoyed due to their covenantal partnership with You.  May they be forever honored and always see righteous fruit from their labors. Thank You for preserving us in times of war, disease, sin, and rebellion. In the war of our birth, we were saved through appealing to heaven; in the horrific Civil War, we fought one another and lost half a million sons, husbands, fathers, and brothers, yet You kept the dream alive; in two world wars, You preserved us from evil despots intent on ruling the world. Through all the difficulties and trials of four centuries, YOU have been faithful to preserve us. “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). You have blessed this nation - of You, through You, and to You are all things. Thank You, gracious and beneficent God! Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, on this day, we as a nation thank You for Your great sacrifice in becoming one of us - a member of the human race. Thank You for experiencing the gnawing pangs of hunger, for feeling the heartbreaking pain of a loved one’s death. Thank You for walking dusty roads to heal diseased bodies, taking detours to redeem thirsty hearts, and spending sleepless nights in prayer. Thank You for exposing the wiles and hatred of the serpent, the destructive power of pride, and modeling true love. Thank You for revealing the Father to us once again, and creating the way for us to reconnect with Him as our Abba, our Papa. Thank You for paying such an incredibly high price: the incarnation, the beatings and lashing, Gethsemane, the mocking, the crown of thorns, the wrath of Hell, the hideous Cross, the stain of sin, and sting of death. Thank You. Gracious Father, wonderful Savior, and blessed Holy Spirit, though we as a nation have dishonored, rejected, and even mocked You, Your love endures. We have worshiped idols, embraced false religions, shed innocent blood, defiled Your marriage covenant, and expelled You from our schools - yet Your mercies endure. Our government has risen up against You in pride and rebellion, rewritten Your laws, legislated murderous and immoral rights, and declared that You are no longer welcome in their functions and procedures - yet You have demonstrated amazing grace and patience. And while the church should have been Your instrument of preservation from these ills, she became lukewarm, complacent, and ineffective.  In spite of these and many more evils, You have promised to save America, healing our brokenness, returning our hearts to You, and preserving our destiny. Thank You, gracious Father. Thank You for the restoration occurring in the church; thank You for the army of intercessors You have raised up here and around the world - we owe them so much. Thank You for the awakening that has begun in America, regarding both our spiritual condition and the horrible fruit this has produced. Thank You for the overthrowing of evil in our government that has begun. Thank You, in advance, for the greatest worldwide outpouring of Holy Spirit in all of history. Because of Your mercy, America will once again be a strong voice for the gospel of the Kingdom throughout the earth. For all of this and more, we give You thanks. And I thank YOU for being part of Give Him 15. Together, we are making a difference! _______________________________________ President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be - that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks - for His kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation - for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war - for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed - for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted - for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us. “And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions - to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually - to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed - to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord - To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us - and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. “Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.” (George Washington) (3) __________________________________ President Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation: “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. The population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union. “In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed. “Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth. By the President: Abraham Lincoln.” (4) Click on the link below to watch the full video: _______________________________ https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw8a.124/?q=1789+Thanksgiving&sp=132&st=text   http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm   https://www.mountvernon.org/education/primary-sources-2/article/thanksgiving-proclamation-of-1789/ http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm

We Must Play Hope's Song People sometimes refer to their difficult times as “winter seasons.” There is a powerful picture associated with this in Ezekiel 47. The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of the River of Life. The river produced life and healing everywhere it went. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “river” in the passage is nachal , and it means “a stream, especially a winter torrent.” (1) (italics mine) Some streams and rivers dry up during certain parts of the year. They are refilled, however, when there is rain or, as in this case, the spring thaw melts the snow and ice on the mountains. Tiny rivulets develop, coming together to form larger flows, then streams, and eventually, becoming nachalim  (rivers). (2) Though Ezekiel’s “winter river” began as a trickle in verse 1, it eventually became a mighty, unfordable river by verse 5. Indeed, God’s healing river often begins as a trickle. We can be confident, however, that it will deepen; God will use the snow and ice of our winter season to bring to us a deep flow of His healing power. Our season will change.  For those who are confused and disillusioned… For the heart grieving from pain and loss… For the faithful but weary soldier whose streambed is dry… For those who have lost their first love connection to Him… For the rejected of the world who are heartsick with hope deferred… …your season is changing! The warmth of spring will do its work, and summer is coming. Thank God winter seasons don’t last forever. The river of healing will flow to us, and we will drink of its healing power.  As the following story states, there is a song of hope inside you, and you must sing. One night a discouraged man in London was on his way to drown himself. At that moment, his life did not seem worth living. As he walked along the street, he stopped and looked at a painting in a shop window. It was George Frederic Watt’s Hope  - a woman, blindfolded, sitting on top of the world, holding a lyre with but one string. Yet still hoping and believing the instrument will make music, she is ready to strike it. The man, as he stood looking at that painting, said to himself: “Well, I have one string - I have a little boy at home.” So he returned home to his son. (3) When you feel there is nothing left, look again. The prophet Habakkuk said the flock might be dead and gone, there may be no fruit in the orchard, and the hillsides might be bare. But still, “I will exult in the Lord,” he said. “I will rejoice in the God of my salvation”  (Habakkuk 3:17-18). There was music possible yet! And there is still music in our nation. We must play hope’s song, even in the dark night of the soul. Job, in his hellish suffering, said the Lord “gives songs in the night”  (Job 35:10). David, during his time of exile, said, “His song will be with me in the night” (Psalm 42:8). Paul and Silas, beaten, bleeding and in chains,  “about midnight…were praying and singing hymns of praise to God” (Acts 16:25). There is hope in the night, and there is music in our broken nation. Don’t give up! A passage in the Song of Solomon speaks of the end of a winter season: “My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. ‘For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!’” (2:10-13) Working Things Together for Good Psalm 51 was written by a man experiencing hope deferred. King David had lost his first love connection with God, which resulted in sin and a winter season. The following prayer he offered was answered:  “God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life…Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!”  (vv. 10, 12, MSG) God wants to do that for America and for you. A fresh start…a Genesis week…out of exile…a fresh wind - that’s what He wants for us. A well-known verse in Romans speaks of God taking our pain, hurts, and destruction and bringing good from them. It is actually one of the most famous verses in the entire Bible: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”  (8:28). This verse packs an even greater power than most people realize. The phrase “work together” is from the Greek word sunergeo , from which we get the English words synergy and synergism . Synergism is “the working together of two or more to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.” (4)  In choosing this word, God is promising He will take all of the bad, all of the pain, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy our faith - “all things” - and then put Himself in the mix, infusing the evils with His miraculous power.  I will synergize with them,  He says,  and the good in Me will overpower the bad in them.  Amazing! Disappointment, plus pain, plus loss, is used for something good when God’s river of healing enters. Believing in this truth is part of restoring hope.   When complimented on her homemade biscuits by Dr. Harry Ironside, the cook responded, “Just consider what goes into the making of these biscuits. By itself, the flour doesn’t taste good; neither does the baking powder, nor the shortening, nor any other ingredient. However, when I mix them all together and put them in the oven, they’re transformed. They come out just right.” Much of life can taste bad. But God is able to combine these “ingredients” of our life in such a way that when He is finished, the result is good. (5) God is going to send His nachal  river to America. It is rising, even now. He will heal, save, and restore. Keep your appeals strong - they are saving our land. Pray with me: Father, grief does not contradict or negate faith. We pray for Your comfort to those experiencing unspeakable pain. And though we grieve for our broken nation, we believe You are coming to release Your river of healing. Yes, we have been in an icy winter. Without a doubt, there is no hope for us but You. However, You are merciful and do not abandon people or nations in their times of wandering. Your heart is always to redeem, and our hope is in You.  As many well-meaning people today formulate plans and discuss ideas to try and fix America, we are keenly aware that unless You build the house, they labor in vain. Bring the awakening we cry out for. Convict millions in America regarding our rejection of You. Help them see that our sick condition is due to this, and that the only cure is to return. Bring Your warmth and thaw frozen hearts until the winter in America is over and the river of Your healing flows with its full force.  Strengthen the intercessors. Keep them strong, hope-filled, and full of faith. Remind them that You bring good even out of evil and can even use the plans of evil people to do so, just as You did for Joseph. We draw on You for strength, and we will persevere in our prayers. We ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the level of God’s healing river is rising, and He will heal our land. Click on the link below to watch the full video: Today’s devotional was taken from my book The Power of Hope (6)  (no longer in print) . _________________________________ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. s.v. OT:5158, “nachal.” James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. s.v. OT:5158, “nachalim.” Oden, Marilyn B. 100 Meditations on Hope. Upper Room Books, 1995. p. 72. “Synergism Definition & Meaning.” Dictionary.com , https://www.dictionary.com/browse/synergism . Accessed 16 July 2024. (Accessed October 2, 2013). Adapted from Edward K. Powell, Fresh Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching . Baker Book House, 1997. p. 118. Sheets, Dutch. The Power of Hope: Let God Renew Your Mind, Heal Your Heart, and Restore Your Dreams . Charisma Media, 2014. pp. 70-74.