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Holy Spirit, Our Battle Partner 1 Chronicles 12:32: “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” First Chronicles 12 is the account describing King David’s great army of soldiers. Verse one tells us “These are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war.” Verse 38, at the end of the chapter, repeats the fact that these were David’s “men of war.” These “mighty men” have been considered by some historians to be among the greatest fighting forces to ever exist. Some of their feats, as recorded in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11, seem almost impossible. These soldiers were no doubt assisted by Holy Spirit, just as Samson was. The Holy Spirit is the most neglected source of help in the world. He is actually called our Helper (parakletos)(1) in Scripture (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) and is our source of power on the spiritual battlefield (Acts 1:8). The Amplified Bible actually uses seven words to translate parakletos: Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby! The Greeks provide a great picture for us of Holy Spirit’s help in spiritual warfare. In history, “Greek soldiers went into battle in pairs so that when an enemy attacked, they could draw together, back-to-back, covering each other’s blind side. One’s battle partner was his paraclete.”(2) Holy Spirit is your battle partner - that should bring some comfort! Back to 1 Chronicles 12 and the children of Issachar. An interesting thing happens three-fourths of the way through this chapter. In verse 32, God shifts temporarily from describing battlefield prowess to intel. It turns out that those from the tribe of Issachar weren’t known for fighting with swords and spears, but with their spiritual ears! They were David’s prophetic corps. The phrase “understanding of the times” doesn’t mean they were historians or observers of present-day trends. The word used for “understanding” is biynah,(3) and means discernment and wisdom. It is what God gave Daniel, enabling him to understand dreams and visions (Daniel 1:20, 9:22, 10:1). Solomon was also given this gift (1 Kings 3:1-15). Biynah would be the equivalent of “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” mentioned in Ephesians 1:17. “Time” is the word eth(4), meaning an appointed or strategic time, much like the Greek word kairos.(5) Issachar likely had an anointing to discern general times and seasons as well, but the context here is specifically for times of war. David’s “mighty men” included “discerning men!” Imagine that! David was able to go to one of his military units and ask, “What is Holy Spirit saying about this battle? What are you discerning?” And Issachar was able to respond: “Here’s what God is showing us, and the strategy He has given.” Now there’s some intel!!! Based on 1 Corinthians 10:6, we should assume from David’s example that prophetic insight - as well as spiritual power - is critical in order for us to win spiritual battles. The questions: “What is Holy Spirit saying about this situation? What is His strategy?” are nonnegotiable if we are to be “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Ignoring Holy Spirit’s help occurs when we make Christianity a religion instead of a relationship. Our walk with God is not supposed to be based on religious rituals and doctrines, and Holy Spirit didn’t lose His voice when the Bible was written. He wants to communicate with us! When God created Adam and Eve in Eden, He created His family, not a religion. Family is what was lost at the Fall and what Yeshua restored at the Cross. And Jesus said to call God “Father” (Matthew 6:9). Get to know your Friend, Holy Spirit. He was sent to teach us (John 14:26), guide us into truth, and show us things to come (John 16:13). He was also sent to make us overcomers, those who reign in this life (Romans 5:17), not just the world to come. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for sending Holy Spirit to be our Helper. Just as Jesus was filled with, led, empowered, and anointed by Holy Spirit, we have been promised the same help. We ask You to bring a fresh infilling of Your Spirit to the Ekklesia; sharpen our discernment and mature us to be led more accurately by our Helper, and more effective in revealing Christ on the earth. We trust You, Holy Spirit, as our great Paraclete. We know You are our protector and strength in battles. You make us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and cause us to always triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). We ask for greater levels of this, not just for ourselves but for our leaders. Give the spirit of wisdom and revelation to our government leaders who have placed their faith in You. Defend them in their battles, and lead them in their decisions. Awaken in them the same awareness of their need for Your help that our Founders had when writing our Constitution. They called on You for help at the start of EVERY day, and You answered. You will do the same today. We ask especially that wisdom and revelation be given to them at this time regarding Iran. Satan’s subtlety is his greatest weapon, and he endeavors to infuse this ability into those aligned with him. We bind his ability to deceive our leaders and ask that Holy Spirit’s discernment be given to them. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will not neglect the support of our great Helper, the Holy Spirit. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3875. Gordon Dalbey, Healing the Masculine Soul (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003), p. 124-125. James Strong Concordance, ref. no 998. Ibid., ref. no. 6256. Ibid. ref. no. 2540.

“Escape from Freedom” From Exodus 14:8-12: “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. “And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” And from Exodus 16:2-3: “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. “ It has always baffled me how these Israelites could still doubt God and His leader, Moses, after the many miracles performed to lead them out of Egyptian slavery. And it has certainly amazed me how they could prefer slavery - because of the regular provisions they received - to freedom. It turns out there’s a name for this, actually more than one. When I asked the experts hiding in my web browser if there was a term for it, the internet gave me three and actually began its response by referencing Scripture! Here is a summary of the explanation: When people prefer the “predictable security” of oppression over the “terrifying risks” of freedom, it is most commonly referred to by the following concepts: 1. The "Fleshpots of Egypt" Syndrome Deriving directly from the Exodus narrative itself (specifically Exodus 16:3, where they pine for the literal pots of meat they had in captivity), “Fleshpot Syndrome” describes the tendency of an oppressed group to look back at their period of bondage with romanticized nostalgia because their basic physical needs (food, shelter, etc.) were guaranteed by their masters. 2. The Comfort of the Known Cage Psychology uses the phrase “loss aversion,” saying that humans feel the pain of losing essentials like security or predictable food twice as intensely as they value the potential gain of something abstract like freedom. They also speak of it as a “System Justification Theory”: A psychological phenomenon where people will defend and prefer a broken, oppressive status quo simply because it provides a predictable framework for survival. To these people, freedom requires greater mental stress and frightening uncertainty; slavery, while it can be brutal, eliminates all decision-making. 3. Escape from Freedom (How’s that for an oxymoron!) In 1941, the psychoanalyst and philosopher Erich Fromm published the famous book Escape from Freedom(1) that addresses this exact human crisis. Fromm argued that true freedom brings to some intense anxiety, isolation, and the terrifying burden of personal responsibility. When people cannot handle that anxiety, they often seek out authoritarianism or submission to a ruling power to feel safe again. The Israelites were experiencing the sudden shock of de-institutionalization. When you have been conditioned for generations to have your survival managed by an external power, the immediate instinct upon facing a crisis in the wild is to flee back to the predictable, even if the predictable is a whip. Interesting. But as real as these feelings may be, God didn’t consider them as justification for the murmuring and unbelief of the Israelites. In 1 Corinthians 10:9-11, Paul warned the early church to avoid the rebellious attitudes of the Israelites in the wilderness, specifically mentioning their grumbling and the resulting consequences. Hebrews 3:7-11 quotes Psalm 95, reminding us of the rebellion in the desert when the Israelites angered God by their constant complaining. The passage goes on to say this rebellion kept them from receiving their inheritance. And Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, recounts how their ancestors rejected Moses and turned their hearts back to Egypt during the time in the wilderness (Acts 7:39-41). God held the Israelites responsible for their attitudes, showing us that these weaknesses can be overcome. Our Founding Fathers Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams spoke to the “loss aversion” crowd of their day - the “even if it IS broken don’t fix it” cowards, and “fleshpots of Britain” lovers - stating their disdain for these mindsets. In his famous defense of the Revolution, Patrick Henry said: “There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable - and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come…Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”(2) And, of course, there was the inimitable Father of the American Revolution, Sam Adams: “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”(3) Sounds like Sam, like God with the cowardly Israelites, had heard enough! Choose life. Choose freedom. Choose to pay the price. Pray with me: Father, encourage believers today who refuse to crouch down and lick the hands of government officials who contend that our rights come from them. Give us brave hearts to resist those who tell us we must accept immoral and unrighteous laws, and the courage to speak out against those desiring to muzzle us. We don’t want the fleshpots of Egypt, and we certainly don’t want to “escape from freedom.” Awaken Americans to the realization that liberty can be lost, that great nations can become entangled, trapped, and destroyed by the webs of fear and complacency. Restore passion and love of freedom in America, and awaken in us once again the DNA of our roots. And we ask You to mix these traits with passion for Your holy destiny on this nation; that our love of freedom be mixed with a love for You and the cause of Christ. Remind believers that it is okay to love America, that it is acceptable and appropriate to be Christian patriots. And now that our nation has been rededicated to You, fan the flames of revival in - and from - our land. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that we cast our vote with Patrick Henry: we will never accept peace at the price of chains and slavery. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://archive.org/details/escapefromfreedo0000from_t4o5/page/n5/mode/2up https://www.whitehouse.gov/patrick-henry-speech-give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death/ https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2001/11/03/samuel-adams-advocates-american-independence-1776/

“Consecrate the Court” In 1988, I heard Holy Spirit say, “Study the watchman concept of prayer.” I had studied the subject prior to this, taught on it, and was pretty familiar with the concept. Yet I had a strong, immediate impression that I was missing something. I obeyed Holy Spirit’s prompting and, indeed, there was more to the subject than I had previously seen. I discovered that the watchman concept of prayer is not just defensive and protective; it also has an offensive or aggressive aspect. I found that the Hebrew words for watchmen are also translated “to lay siege, blockade,”(1) “spy,”(2) and “ambush,”(3) in order to conquer cities or people (see Judges 1:24; 2 Samuel 11:16; Isaiah 1:8; Jeremiah 4:17; Psalm 56:6; 71:10). The reason these words are used in this manner is because all of the actions involve “watching.” When I saw this and began praying for greater insight, I heard Holy Spirit say the following: “I am about to release revelation to the praying church that will enable them to deliver individuals, cities, regions, and nations for Me. New strategies, concepts, and movements will emerge; discernment of satan’s strongholds will be given, and prayer sieges will begin that eventually end his hold over nations, regions, and people. “This will be broad in scope, with strategies and actions disseminated through many different ministries/organizations. I will give an assignment to one person or ministry, while simultaneously assigning another part to others. At times, they will not even realize they’re part of a larger strategy. I will orchestrate all of the efforts in order to lay sieges in the spirit realm, cutting off satan’s ‘supply lines’ - sins and iniquities that have given him access. I’ll close these entry points, cleansing from sins that have enabled him to hold places in captivity. Through the anointing of Holy Spirit, My intercessors will discern strategies and conduct prayer sieges of cities and nations.” In 1988, very little was known or spoken of regarding solemn assemblies, prayer walking, prayer journeys, spiritual mapping, identificational repentance, reconciliation ceremonies between races and people groups, etc. I am sure understanding of them existed in a few people’s thinking, but most of the body of Christ had never heard of them. I am relatively certain that some of these concepts weren’t spoken of at all. At the time, I knew of only a couple of ministries that existed primarily for prayer purposes, and there weren’t many books on the subject of intercession. Since then, however, literally millions of believers around the world have come to understand these aspects of prayer, and have learned to pray more effectively. The learning curve in the prayer movement shot up exponentially: Dozens of prayer ministries have been launched, thousands of prayer groups have formed, and millions of believers are interceding effectively. Dr. C. Peter Wagner, one of the leaders and fathers of this movement in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, once happily stated, “The prayer movement around the world is out of control.” Certainly, we have not yet “arrived” in our understanding of prayer, but we’ve moved forward at a rapid pace. This understanding and related activities are due to the revelation God began releasing to the church at the end of the 1980s. While much has been accomplished, we must always remember that prayer sieges for cities and nations can take years, even decades, to accomplish their purposes. Perseverance is non-negotiable. The prayers we release are part of dismantling centuries-old, sometimes millennia-old, strongholds of darkness. Also, millions of hearts and minds - traditions, cultural paradigms, even religious beliefs - must be changed. Spiritual transformation doesn’t occur simply because God “finally decides” to create it; it occurs when people’s actions and the conditions in a region make it possible. And those conditions are created, in part, through prayer sieges. Our prayers are accomplishing much; they’re absolutely shaping history. Blockades have been placed in the spiritual realm against satan’s activities; sieges are occurring and accomplishing their purposes. The Courts One of the places where this has occurred, and continues to take place, is the Supreme Court of America. Millions of believers in America have been part of this prayer siege; I began praying for a transformation and turnaround of our Supreme Court in the 1990s. We have made progress. Another individual the Lord has called to focus on the Court is my good friend, Phillip Jauregui, president of Judicial Action Group. Though living in Alabama, he spends a substantial amount of time in Washington, D.C., reviewing, researching, and working to place only the best judges and justices in our federal courts. Phillip has worked on hundreds of judicial nominations over the past 20 years, including several United States Supreme Court justices. Not only is Phillip an attorney, but he is also a man of prayer. For years, God has motivated him to pray for the Supreme Court’s transformation. In 2017, the Lord began speaking to Phillip in a unique way regarding the Court, comparing it to the prodigal son in Scripture. That download from heaven has now become an incredible book - written in layman’s terms, not legalese - filled with insights regarding how we can pray for the Supreme Court. It was my great honor to write the foreword to this book, The Parable of the Prodigal Court. Phillip also hosts a prayer gathering in D.C. for the High Court each year, on the first day of its new session. The Lord gave him the phrase “Consecrate the Court.” I join him each year for this very strategic gathering, which will take place this year on October 5-6 at The Museum of the Bible. It is my honor to be the keynote speaker at the dinner on Monday night. I encourage you to join us this year as we continue the prayer siege and consecrate America’s Supreme Court to the Lord. (Go to JAGF.org and click on EVENTS for tickets and more information. Tickets are required, and seating is limited, so get your tickets today.) Pray with me: Father, we turn our attention today to the Supreme Court of America. Through this institution, our nation has rejected You, life, the covenant of marriage You established, and more. We have arrogantly rebelled against You, and have paid for this rebellion with the loss of tens of millions of Americans. Today, we repent and ask for Your mercy. The blood of Jesus was sprinkled on a “Mercy Seat,” and we ask for this mercy. We also join our prayers today with the prayers that have been offered to consecrate this Court to You. YOU birthed America and our government. YOU instituted all government. Bring the Court back under YOUR plans, purposes, precepts, and laws. We dedicate the Supreme Court to YOU and ask that You change all that needs changing. Fill this branch of government and its building with Your presence once again. We ask all of this in the holy and all-powerful name of Yeshua. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Supreme Court of the United States is being reconsecrated and rededicated to Almighty God, Creator and Owner of all the earth. Portions of today’s post were adapted from my book Watchman Prayer, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard, rev. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1990), p. 1752. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990) ref. no. 6822. Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, p. 1787.

Remembering D-Day “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges, as we enjoy, forget in time that men have died to win them.” (Franklin D. Roosevelt)(1) Tomorrow, June 6, is the anniversary of D-Day, the very costly but successful turning point of WWII in 1944. The Allies’ invasion on the coast of France, codenamed Operation Overlord, remains the largest amphibious assault in human history, and marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. Before the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches, an estimated 50 to 55 million people had already died from the war worldwide. This massive toll—representing roughly three-quarters of the entire war’s casualties—resulted from direct combat, systematic genocides, mass starvation, and disease. And up to this point of the war, the Nazi’s had murdered between 4.5 and 5 million Jews. Though the cost of D-Day was great, the world was changed for the better on that bloody day, and it is appropriate that we honor the sacrifices made. Compiled with some help from AI, here is a synopsis of this historic day. The Strategic Significance of D-Day To understand why D-Day was so monumental, we must realize that Nazi Germany had controlled mainland Western Europe since 1940. While the Soviet Union was engaged in a gargantuan struggle against the Germans on the Eastern Front, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had long been demanding that Great Britain and the United States open a “Second Front” in the West to split Germany’s military strength. Doing so produced 3 immediate and significant results: By successfully landing in France, the Western Allies forced Adolf Hitler to fight a massive two-front war, drastically thinning out German resources, armor, and manpower. It shattered the myth that Europe was an impenetrable Nazi fortress, severely degrading German morale, while providing an immense psychological boost to Allied citizens worldwide. It established a western foothold that allowed American, British, Canadian, and Free French forces to rapidly pour troops, vehicles, and supplies into Europe, ensuring that Western European democracies would be liberated by the Allies (and not fall under Soviet control post-war). The Master Plan: Operation Overlord The overall plan for D-Day was a complex undertaking, coordinated by Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Before the operation, the Allies had to mislead the Germans about where the invasion would hit. The shortest route across the English Channel was from Dover, England. The Germans, naturally, fortified this area, which the Allies capitalized on via Operation Fortitude. They constructed an entirely fake army under General George Patton in southeast England, deploying inflatable tanks, wooden airplanes, and dummy landing craft, along with fake radio traffic. The amazing deception was so flawless that even after the real landings began in Normandy, Hitler still held back vital tank divisions for weeks, believing Normandy was just a diversion! The Execution Phase The overall plan relied on a highly synchronized, three-pronged assault at five locations combining airborne, naval, and amphibious forces. 1. The Airborne Drop (Midnight - 2:00 AM): An incredible 11,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion. In the dark early hours of June 6, over 18,000 paratroopers from the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, alongside the British 6th Airborne Division, jumped behind enemy lines. The paratroopers’ job was to seize key bridges, destroy German artillery batteries, and block roads to prevent German reinforcements from rushing to the beaches. Heavy clouds scattered some troops miles from their targets, but the chaos actually confused the German command. 2. Naval and Aerial Bombardment (5:00 AM - 6:30 AM): An astonishing armada of over 7,000 naval vessels—the largest naval force ever assembled—opened fire on the German defensive positions along the Atlantic Wall. Simultaneously, thousands of Allied bombers dropped bombs over the coast. While the bombing was highly effective on the three beaches attacked by British and Canadian forces, heavy cloud cover caused bombers at Omaha Beach, assaulted by American forces, to drop their payloads too far inland, leaving German fortifications completely intact. This proved to be terribly costly. 3. The Amphibious Assault (6:30 AM onward): Landing craft dropped their ramps into the freezing surf, releasing waves of infantry—195,000 in all—and tanks into intense enemy fire. Soldiers faced a deadly gauntlet of mined obstacles, barbed wire, and heavy machine-gun crossfire from concrete bunkers. The experience across the five beaches varied drastically. At Utah Beach, the U.S. 4th Infantry Division landed slightly off-target by accident–which proved to be a blessing, as it was a less-defended area–enabling them to move inland with relatively light casualties. The British and Canadian forces at Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches faced stiff resistance but successfully utilized specialized tanks (“Hobart’s Funnies”) designed to clear mines, bridge ditches, and smash concrete walls, allowing them to push inland by afternoon. The Americans at Omaha Beach, however, suffered a legendary bloodbath. Due to the weather-related failure of the aerial bombardment and rough seas that sank most of their tanks before they reached the shore, the U.S. 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions were pinned down at the water’s edge by elite German defenders. For hours, the invasion at Omaha teetered on the edge of failure. Only through small, improvised groups of Army Rangers heroically scaling the steep bluffs, supported by destroyers scraping dangerously close to the shallow shore to blast bunkers at point-blank range, did the determined Americans finally break through. The Aftermath and Legacy By the end of June 6, the Allies had achieved the impossible: they had cracked the seemingly impenetrable Germans’ Atlantic Wall. Though none of the first-day objectives were fully met, a permanent foothold had been established. The cost was staggering. The Allies suffered roughly 10,000 casualties on the first day alone, with over 4,000 confirmed dead. German casualties were estimated between 4,000 and 9,000 men. Yet, within less than a week, over 300,000 troops, 50,000 vehicles, and 100,000 tons of supplies were ashore. In an engineering marvel, two massive artificial harbors, called Mulberry Harbours, were towed across the English Channel and assembled on the Normandy coast, turning a barren beach into one of the busiest ports in the world overnight. Both were fully operational by mid-June! Less than eleven months after the first troops hit the sand on June 6, 1944, Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally, vindicating the incredible risk, planning, and sacrifice of D-Day. Take some time tomorrow and consider the sacrifices of those who helped secure our freedom. (Perhaps see the new incredible movie Pressure, about the difficult task of choosing when to conduct the assault. It’s awesome.) Never forget them. “There are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.” (Ronald Reagan)(2) Pray with me: Father, probably all of us could do a better job of honoring the sacrifices of others on our behalf. We know You place a high importance on honor and gratitude. In Your Word, You placed great emphasis on David’s Mighty Men, honoring their loyalty and skill. You also include the accounts of several battles and wars. War is horrible, but You stated that it is necessary at times, in order to defeat evil (Ecclesiastes 3:8). We thank You for the freedom and blessings we enjoy in America. Help us to never take for granted the price others have paid for our liberty, but to always have grateful hearts. Tomorrow, we honor the lives of those who died in WWII, liberating Europe and ensuring our freedom. Help us to walk worthy of their sacrifices. Give our citizens the willingness to persevere in efforts to stop Iran’s evil plans. Remind all Americans that the temporary price we pay now will be worth it for the future of our world. Remove the influence of self-centered and unethical politicians who work against our President in order to further their careers. Expose their hypocrisy and vindicate the efforts to stop Iran’s evil regime. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We determine to live lives of humble gratitude, remembering the sacrifices others have made for us. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/126428-those-who-have-long-enjoyed-such-privileges-as-we-enjoy https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/ronald-reagan-normandy-speech-point-du-hoc/

Introduction I have walked in relationship with Lou Engle since the early 1990s. He and I covenanted together years ago to work together in the mission of seeing America restored to God. When Lou was asked to share and pray at Rededication 250 on May 17, he told the organizers he wanted me on stage with him, and that is what happened. It is nearly impossible to overstate the significance of the May Rededication of America to the Lord. For Lou and me, it was monumental. Shortly after the gathering, The Briefing, an informative, prophetic intercession publication written by Cheryl Amabile and aligned with Lou Engle’s ministry, released the following report. It is very encouraging. (If you don’t receive the publication, you may want to consider subscribing at: TheBriefing.us) Rededicate 250 Nationally, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Just weeks earlier, on May 17, 1776, the American colonies observed a nationwide Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer proclaimed by the Second Continental Congress. The proclamation called the colonies to repent of sin, seek God’s mercy, and pray for divine wisdom and protection in the ongoing struggle for liberty. This past Sunday, May 17th, 2026, a day-long prayer rally with a similar focus was initiated by President Trump to rededicate America to God. The worship gathering on the National Mall was facilitated by a collection of church leaders and government officials alike. Some critics disapproved of the event, arguing that it blurred the lines between church and state. Others questioned the sincerity of the government’s motives. Yet for many who have watched and prayed over the nation for decades, this was a dream fulfilled. Twenty years ago, something happened in our little prayer room on Pennsylvania Avenue that has helped frame for us the significance of Sunday’s rededication. Our ragtag company of young people was praying day and night leading up to the midterm elections. During that season, we were joined by a humble but fiery intercessor named Dai May, who had traveled alone from Malaysia to pray for our nation for three weeks. She was a welcome addition to our team. A day or two before the elections, Dai May had a profound encounter with the Lord during prayer. In broken English, she explained how the enemy had intended to swallow America whole. “Not bite, bite, chew, chew,” she said, “but WHOLE!” She then heard the Lord declare, “ENOUGH! I have heard enough of the prayers of My people!” Dai May was shown four things God would do to rescue America from the mouth of the enemy: He would release a repentance campaign in the nation. He would intervene to protect America’s borders. He would raise up a champion to defend each state. A president would come into office who would welcome God back into America. Almost simultaneously with this prophetic word, Lou Engle was led by God to resurrect the ministry of TheCall. It seemed a fulfillment, at least in part, of the repentance movement Dai May had foreseen. TheCall has gathered hundreds of thousands in stadiums and arenas across the nation for solemn assemblies marked by repentance and applying the blood of the Lamb to the doorposts of our national guilt. Meanwhile, America has witnessed the construction of a 452-mile wall along portions of the southern border, along with the implementation of new policies and surveillance technologies that have significantly strengthened border security. At the state level, many believers have held corporate intercessory Communion gatherings to pray for protection and spiritual shift over their regions. Then in 2024, Chuck Pierce shared a vision in which he saw 51 angels being assigned–one to each state in the Union, including Washington, D.C. It is possible this corresponds to what Dai May saw in the spirit. The fourth part of this prophetic word brings us directly to this event [two weeks ago]. President Trump’s authorization of the rededication of America to God represents a significant reconnection to the nation’s spiritual heritage. This bold and historic declaration may well reflect what the Holy Spirit was revealing in 2006. During Sunday’s gathering, Lou Engle and Dutch Sheets led the crowd in prayer and repentance just before Speaker of the House Mike Johnson prayed the formal prayer of rededication. President Trump had originally been scheduled to address the assembly earlier in the day through a prerecorded video, but organizers shifted the order so that his message aired immediately before Lou and Dutch took the stage. The president read from 2 Chronicles 7, including the well-known promise: “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” In response, Lou directed all of us–whether gathered on the Mall or watching across the nation–to humble ourselves and get on our knees. In reflection on the past 26 years of solemn assemblies, he declared: “This solemn assembly is different than any other solemn assembly, for the President of the United States has called this day. Biblically speaking, it was when the kings of Israel called solemn assemblies, and the people responded, that God shifted the nation and poured out His Spirit. I believe we’re in that moment right now, and what you do echoes in eternity.” Lou cautioned that God’s blessing upon the nation is conditional. He prayed for a “verdict of mercy” and forgiveness for national trespasses, while calling believers to genuine lifestyle changes and renewed affection for God - “not money, not power, but God.” He then proclaimed “The Jubilee of America!” to great applause from the crowd, though Lou immediately exhorted: “Don’t clap your hands unless you’re willing to do what the Jubilee was all about.” Lou explained that in Biblical times, the Year of Jubilee required the Israelites to release their slaves. Applying this spiritually, he said: “The church has held people in slavery with bitterness and unforgiveness, and on the Day of Jubilee you release all your slaves.” He then led the assembly in a prayer of forgiveness using Jesus’ own words from the Cross: “Father, forgive them.” He prayed for a wave of mercy and forgiveness that’s stronger than the accuser of the brethren, then closed by reaffirming covenant with the Jewish people and asking God for mercy upon the nation. Dutch Sheets followed with a series of decrees, proclaiming: “You are extending Your hand of mercy to this nation…We say today is Breakthrough Day, today is Reconnection Day, today is Recovenant Day, today is the day that the outpouring of Your Spirit begins in our nation. We declare a new beginning for America in the mighty name of Jesus.” Remarkably, [Lou Engle’s friend] Chris Berglund had a dream in 2018 that seemed to foreshadow this very moment. In the dream, Lou and Dutch had loaded a sound system into a van being driven to Washington, D.C. He understood that they had covenanted together to lead the nation from captivity into freedom. The license plate on the van read “DSN222.” which stood for Decrees Shifting Nations.” The driver of the van was named “Ruler,” and several sets of keys hung behind his seat. Isaiah 22:22 [which speaks of keys to open and close doors] has long been significant to both Lou and Dutch because of the understanding that God-initiated prayers and decrees carry heavy authority–like keys–to “open and shut” things in the spirit that later manifest in the natural realm. For this reason, we believe the declaration released from the national stage set important things in motion spiritually. Speaker Mike Johnson then led the nation in a formal prayer of rededication, invoking the favor and mercy of God upon America. [We will use the portion of the Speaker’s prayer Cheryl includes below and her closing words for today’s prayer.] “Just as we, in the beginning, dedicated this land to Your most holy name, today Lord, in this 250th year of America’s independence, we hereby rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God. Look upon us with favor as we celebrate this momentous anniversary, and let Your Holy Spirit descend upon this land…I ask this today, Lord. I pray it and believe it in Your holy name–in Jesus’ name. Amen.” (Speaker Mike Johnson) May we engage our faith with these prayers even now, letting them rise as incense from our hearts. Let us believe for a true covenant renewal, visited by the fire of the Holy Spirit, to ignite awakening across America. Truly, the Lord deserves our devotion as one nation under God, unto the glory of His name. Our decree: We decree that a new beginning has begun for the United States of America. You can subscribe to The Briefing [TheBriefing.us], which offers prophetic insight for strategic intercession. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

“Prayer Moves the Hand that Moves the World” “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB) Three Important Words Many people consider this verse only when in difficult situations, using it to inspire hope that God has a plan for their deliverance or recovery. Though certainly including this, the verse has a much broader meaning. “Future” is derived from a Hebrew word that includes the meaning of destiny.(1) The New King James Version at times translates it this way. The word “plans” is taken from a word meaning “to weave, plait, or mix.”(2) It can even refer to craftsmen inventing musical instruments, artistic objects, weapons, and other objects. The concept is simple: combining two or more substances to create something new. When used in reference to the mind, it refers to thoughts mixing together to form plans. God has plans for our future that involve more than rescue operations. They are His all-wise thoughts, woven together into plans before we are even born (Psalm 139:16) that become a hope-filled destiny. We can have confidence that we are more than a meaningless blip on eternity’s radar screen. God has assignments for us to accomplish, people whose lives we are to impact, prayers we are to pray, and more. “Hope” is a word that means more than a pleasant expectation regarding the future; it is also the word for a cord or tether.(3) Fascinating. Hope “connects” us to our future. Conversely, a lack of hope can cause us to give up on life, thereby disconnecting us from our future. Knowing and believing God has good plans and a destiny for us is more than optimism; this understanding and assurance actually connects us to that plan. This hope also forms a path or track upon which to travel. We no longer wander aimlessly, but follow the roadmap God gives us as we confidently seek Him daily (Proverbs 3:5-6). Life becomes a secure, meaningful journey, not a maze of endless dead ends and wrong turns. Governmental Destinies God destines some people to be leaders, including leadership in government. Donald Trump now believes that God saved his life in order for him to play a significant role in saving America. This belief has become a purpose that produces passion, a path that provides direction, and a cord connecting him to God. A belief in destiny, as President Trump now possesses, creates incredible motivation, discipline, and focus. There are others in our government whom I am sure also realize they are there by God’s design and calling. The concept of a “calling” is not limited to the religious world. Adam was called to be a gardener, David was called to be a shepherd and king, Abraham was called to be a rancher. God used these individuals mightily as they carried out responsibilities and pursued careers we would not normally consider “spiritual.” Many individuals in vocations we would not consider spiritual do more to influence the world than those in so-called “spiritual” vocations. Are we to believe God does not “call” people to and equip them for this level of influence in government and other influential arenas? Of course He does. This means we must pray for God’s gifts, anointing, and wisdom to be given them in their assignments. Do President Trump, his cabinet, and his advisors need this God-given help less than Moses, David, Josiah, or other leaders in the Scriptures? Do Mike Johnson and other legislators need this less than Joseph, Daniel, or Joshua? These people today are making decisions that influence the entire world! We need to pray that they will seek God and hear His voice. We should ask that Holy Spirit’s help be given them, as well as that of angels. We ask that revelation of Scripture and insight from dreams be given to them. And, of course, we should pray for their safety and protection from harm, wrong influences, and corruption. We also pray for their families. I continue to feel a prompting from Holy Spirit to pray for President Trump and our leaders as they navigate the situation in Iran, and, of course, as they face other issues here in America. They desperately need Holy Spirit’s and angelic help as they deal with complex circumstances. I do not find it a stretch to believe that some mistakes made by leaders could have been avoided had people been praying for them. I believe some leaders who have fallen into sin could have been spared had people been praying for them. Peter’s ministry and walk with God were undoubtedly saved by Christ’s intercession for him (Luke 22:31-32). Why would we be called to pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3) if our prayers did nothing? We must accept our responsibility to pray for those in government; part of their success in serving us will be determined by our faithfulness to pray. The great preacher and orator, Charles Spurgeon, once made the profound statement, “Prayer bends the omnipotence of heaven to your desire. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.”(4) This doesn’t mean our prayers control God; it means they invite and cause His involvement. Let’s keep Him involved in our nation’s government. Pray with me: Father, thank You for the assurance that we have a purpose, and that our lives were planned by You. You created us with design and intent; we all have a calling and destiny. Teach us to factor this into our decisions and goals, always seeking Your path for us, staying tethered to Your purpose. A purpose we all share is moving Your powerful hand through our prayers. We are honored to partner with You in this way. We do so today by interceding for our government. We pray that President Trump, his cabinet, and his advisors will be given wisdom from You to lead America on a path of restoration. Keep them from wrong decisions and demonic traps. Help them make sound financial, legal, and military decisions. Guide them in their dealings with other nations. Help them reform our nation back to strength and morality. We pray for Congress. Give them the understanding needed to legislate wisely. Give favor to those who honor You and Your ways; remove the voices of those who do not. Deliver us from the political spirit that is so influential and divisive in our nation. We pray for our Justices and Judges. Give them wisdom and understanding. Give us Judges who do not legislate, but who accurately and wisely interpret laws without prejudice or bias. We ask for the removal of those who politicize their positions and who do not honor You. Please continue to cleanse and reform our government and send an outpouring of Holy Spirit to our nation’s leaders. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we are divinely tethered to the plans and purposes of the Lord for our lives. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 319. Ibid., ref. no. 4284, 2803. Ibid., ref. no. 8615. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/559908-prayer-bends-the-omnipotence-of-heaven-to-your-desire-prayer

Introduction I enjoyed being with my brother, Tim, for his conference in Ohio this past weekend. What a powerful gathering! Today’s post is a word Holy Spirit gave him recently, which, as always, is very powerful. The title is: Global Outpourings Pentecost was never meant to be remembered as a single moment in history, but rather a continuing outpouring, an ongoing revelation of Holy Spirit moving in power through generations, nations, and seasons of history. What began as fire falling on a small gathering of believers has continued to echo across the earth through every revival, every awakening, and every fresh visitation of God’s presence. I believe we are standing at the threshold of something even greater: a new era marked by simultaneous increases in both the glory of God and the outpouring of His Spirit. In recent months, while reflecting on the strategic and prophetic times unfolding before us, Holy Spirit impressed upon me that we are entering a season unlike anything the church has experienced before, a synergizing of greater glory and greater outpourings. Powerful outpourings of Holy Spirit are not just for the time in which they’re given; that which He pours out accrues, building toward a fullness to come. Scripture, prophetic revelation, and the stirring of the Spirit all point toward a worldwide move of God. The prophet Joel declared that God would pour out His Spirit upon “all flesh,” and that promise speaks of a global awakening touching every age, ethnicity, religious denomination, nation, and people group. As these truths began to stir deeply within me, a simple phrase kept rising from my spirit: “Global outpourings.” Those words became a prayer and a prophetic declaration. Global outpourings of Holy Spirit. Global awakening across the true Ekklesia of King Jesus. I began praying for churches, apostolic hubs, and remnant believers around the world to become saturated with the presence and power of God. Pentecost is once again prophesying to the nations. It is announcing that wave after wave of Holy Spirit outpourings are intensifying and preparing the church for a historic move of heaven. As I continued to pray concerning this, Holy Spirit spoke the following word: “The Lord says the new and renewed apostolic and prophetic New Testament Ekklesia will now stir themselves. They will be fired by special outpourings of Holy Spirit reserved for this era. End time wells tapping into deep and vast pools are breaking forth upon the earth. These are my artesian wells; there is no need to pump them. They will spring forth propelled by Holy Spirit’s power. Reservoirs of blessings and anointings will be seen erupting in My Kingdom Ekklesias. Spontaneous geysers of power from lakes of boundless glory will activate in this moment at great levels. It will be said the whole earth is filled with My glory, and from My glorious presence the Christ-built Ekklesias, or churches, will rise aggressively, confirmed by miracles and wonders. Miracles, miracles, and more miracles will erupt, Kingdom geysers of spontaneous miracles. Supernatural realms are being opened, miraculous portals of glory. And a glorious church will rise from the corruption of hell's delusional world. The forever loser will lose again. Hell will not prevail. For I have built relentless faith in My radical remnant. Tenacious faith will rise to face entrenched enemies of darkness. My remnant will not run; they will pursue, stand, and display a boldness that confounds the nations. Remnant warriors are rising to their place in the gaps and on the walls. Radical warriors are accepting My challenging call. Yes, smaller in number, but all I need. Know, says the Lord, that unintimidated, fierce warriors of My Kingdom are taking to their posts, special forces trained for such a time as this. Hell has never seen the like. Relentless ones with lion-like hearts, displaying “the eye of the tiger,” carriers of the yoke-destroying anointing of the Lion-King Himself, Jesus. Carriers of the anointing to prevail are posting in their territories to defeat evil schemes, just as in the days of Gideon, Elijah, Deborah, Esther, Jehoshaphat, and David. Spiritual aggression will now be seen in My remnant demanding a harvest and a restoration of the lost harvest. For a cry has gone up from My people: Restore our harvest! Restore our harvest! Restore our harvest! And it shall be restored! Barren fields will be cleared and plowed for supernatural harvest seasons. Behold, Ekklesia, behold and see the supernatural harvest. The Lord of hosts decrees on this Pentecost, “On earth as in heaven.” “On earth as in heaven” includes fruit, fruitfulness, and copious, boundless, plenteous crops in multiple yields. For the harvest of heaven’s Kingdom is not yearly; it is monthly. My trees bear fruit every month. My seeds produce a crop every month. My yield cycles are supernaturally multiplied–on earth as in heaven! Multiple harvests will come in one season as I anoint for increase. Get your hopes up. Get your faith up. Plowmen will overtake the reapers. Harvests will synergize, multiply, and accelerate into the nations. Pull the combines behind the plows. Pull the fruit wagons behind the seed planters. Sink the plows. Plant the seeds. Get in harvest mode. The Lord says to His uncompromising church, a new era of Pentecost will now pour forth, and Kingdom authority will be seen on the earth as never before. Glory presence will fill territories, regions, and nations as glory angels, mighty angels, warring angels, breakthrough angels, government angels, reformation and awakening angels, revival angels, finishing angels, and seraphs on Godhead assignments move in with glory presence upon them. Remnant warriors, know I am commissioning these mighty ones to labor with you in far greater ways. My mighty ones are shifting into a deployment of the hosts, a deployment of the ages, for the outpouring of the ages. They are commissioned to partner with My church. For the intersection of times and seasons, and My purposes will spawn miracles and sudden victories. The strike season of the heirs and the angels now begins, says the Lord, soaked in Pentecostal outpourings and the King’s greater manifest glory. Striking power will be seen in the Name of your King Jesus. Striking power is releasing end-time former and latter rains simultaneously–harvest rains, glory rains, outpouring rains. Hell's power will be struck from an empowered Ekklesia. Strongholds of hell will be struck and uprooted. Thrones of wickedness will be struck and pulled down. Principalities and powers of darkness will be struck and overthrown. My Kingdom Ekklesias will strike with the sword of My Word. And My mighty angels, who carry My breaker anointing to break up, break out, and break through, will activate to assist the power-filled Ekklesias. And the insufficient power of hell's kingdom to stop them will become clearly evident as I pour out My anointing and power to prevail. My conquering remnant will now rise to stand by My side. Know, says the Lord, in this new era of glory Pentecost you have entered a fullness of time, and prophetic words have intersected with their moment. Prophetic dreams and visions are intersecting a divinely prepared era of greater glory and outpourings. I will lead this synergy of movements, anointings, and alignments. History will shift and align with heaven's plan. The forever loser will be dethroned from territorial, national, cultural thrones he has usurped, as the King’s Ekklesia–seated with Him in heavenly realms–influences natural realms. You are entering into the great harvest and the discipling of the nations, says the Lord.” Holy Spirit is calling the Ekklesia to awaken, align, and prepare for a historic outpouring of glory and harvest. This is not the hour for fear, complacency, or retreat. It is the hour for bold faith, fervent prayer, and expectation. The cry of the Spirit is clear: “Get ready for global outpourings.” Pray with me: Father, we thank You for the promise and power of Pentecost, which still flow today. Awaken Your church with fresh fire, fresh boldness, and fresh hunger for Your presence. Pour out Your Spirit upon the nations, causing wave after wave of revival to sweep the earth. Strengthen Your remnant to stand with courage, faith, and unwavering devotion in this strategic hour. Let Your glory fill homes, churches, cities, and nations until the world sees the greatness of King Jesus. And we continue to call forth Your order, Lord, into the Middle East. Do not stop until the prince of Persia is completely disempowered, Iran is ablaze with revival, and the Middle East sees the great harvest spoken of in this word. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done! In Jesus’ name, amen! Our decree: Global outpourings, releasing the glory of God, are occurring across the earth in unprecedented power. Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim here. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction Unfortunately, I think most people see God as harsh and stern, prone to punishing and rendering recompense. Throughout my early years as a Christian, I certainly did. This isn’t true, however. Psalm 145:8 tells us, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” Exodus 34:6 describes Him as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” And Micah 7:18 tells us He delights or takes pleasure in showing mercy. Though there are many examples, the Cross is the greatest proof of God’s grace and kindness. It will stand forever as the greatest act of love in all of eternity, guiding us to the true heart of our Creator. Today’s title is: Take Me to the Cross The streets of London can be challenging to navigate. The city is huge, and its streets meander in different directions. I’ve been there on several occasions, and usually have no idea what part of the city I’m in or how I got there! I just leave the driving to my hosts and the cabbies. There are certain landmarks used by locals that serve as good reference points. One of them is Charing Cross, near the center of the city, well known to most Londoners. On one occasion, a little girl was lost in this overwhelming maze of concrete, rivers, buildings, and roundabouts. A bobby, the informal term for a British policeman, found her wandering the streets. Between her sobs and tears, she explained to the bobby that she was lost. “I don’t know my way home,” she cried. When the policeman asked for her address, she said, even more panicky, “I don’t know what it is.” “What is your phone number?” he inquired. She didn’t know that, either. “Is there anything at all you can think of?” the kind bobby asked the little girl. Suddenly, her face lit up. “I know the cross,” she exclaimed, “Take me to the cross. I can find my way home from there.”(1) The lost have been finding their way home through the Cross for two thousand years. Easy to find yet missed by many, it marks the way to Father's house. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), and down through the centuries, God hid pictures of the Cross in various places and events. The pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle, for instance, were in the shape of a cross. Other representations came not through an object’s shape but from what transpired there. One of these places was a mountain named Ebal. Located across the valley from Ebal was another mountain, Gerizim, and these two mountains became very significant. Mount Ebal was barren and rocky–that’s where it got its name, which means “bare or barren;”(2) Ebal was a stony heap of barrenness. Mount Gerizim, on the other hand, was fertile and lush. Consistent with their geography, Ebal became the mountain associated with the barrenness and curses caused by spiritual death. Gerizim pictured fruitfulness and the blessings of redemption. It was actually on these two mountains that the curses resulting from disobedience and the blessings associated with obedience were declared to the twelve tribes of Israel (Joshua 8:30-35). (The list of these blessings and curses can be found in their entirety in Deuteronomy 27 and 28.) The reading ceremony was quite unique. With the Israelites gathered in the valley (Shechem) between the two mountains, delegates from six tribes went to the top of Ebal, and representatives from the other six climbed Gerizim. The curses rang out across the valley from Ebal, which was a stark picture of them, and the blessings were shouted from lush Gerizim. It would have been quite dramatic for the listeners below as these blessings and curses rang out across the valley. And the message to Israel was clear: the choice of whether you'll be blessed or cursed is entirely up to you. What was not so clear at the time was the picture of the Cross and our redemption hidden in this event. Israel was commanded to build an altar on Ebal, the mount of cursing, upon which they offered sacrifices and offerings to Jehovah. Its barrenness and absence of life represented us humans in our spiritually dead and cursed condition. The altar and sacrifices offered there symbolized Jesus becoming our sacrifice in order to take our curse and spiritual death. He went to “Ebal,” the place of barrenness and cursing, in order to give us the fruitfulness and blessings represented by Gerizim. The New Testament makes this clear: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’—in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14-15) Christ took the curses…to give us the blessings. But there was another part of the ceremony on Ebal that the Lord also used to picture this great truth. The Israelites were told to do more than just build an altar and offer sacrifices on the mountain of cursing. They were also instructed to whitewash the stones and write the Law of Moses on them. This is detailed in Deuteronomy 27:1-8. Why this strange act? Not until the Holy Spirit interpreted it for us through the apostle Paul’s writings do we find the answer: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14) Absolutely amazing. I’m sure these Israelites on “the mount of barrenness and curses” didn’t know they were painting a picture of the Cross where Christ would cancel the curses they wrote and bestow on us the blessings of redemption. But they were. It must have been quite an experience for Christ as He watched this enactment from heaven. Perhaps He winced a little as He watched the sacrifices and listened to the curses shouted from Ebal, knowing the horrific level of pain He would endure when fulfilling these prophetic actions. And yet, He may have smiled when He heard the amazing blessings being read from Gerizim. “For the joy set before Him [Christ] endured the Cross,” the Hebrew writer told us (Hebrews 12:2). Pray with me: Father, as we start our week, I feel that You want to remind us of who You truly are: a gracious God, and a loving Father. Satan, the master deceiver, has convinced many — including many of Your kids — that You are harsh and unkind. Forgive us for ever believing this about You. Many believers actually find it hard to believe that You want to send a great revival and spiritual harvest here in America and around the world. They believe our sins and rebellion have made You so angry that You cannot wait to send fiery wrath. But today, we are reminded from Your Word that You are slow to anger, abounding in love, and delight in showing mercy. We ask for this mercy. Let the love and power of the Cross rain down on us. Send it to our youth, our homes, and our communities. Send it to our government, schools, and military. And send it to the nations: signs, wonders, miracles, and love-generated salvation. All of this we pray in the name of the slain Lamb and risen Lord, Jesus. Our decree: We declare our faith in the power of the Cross, the blood of the Lamb, and the unfailing Word of God. Today’s post was adapted from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Adapted from D. T. Forsythe, quoted in Roy B. Zuck, The Speaker’s Quote Book (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2009), p. 124. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 5858.

Perseverance, the Counterweight to Failure Great leaders always embody great perseverance. I often think of President Trump when considering this critical trait. No leader of our nation has had to endure the level of opposition and mistreatment he has endured over the past 10 years or so. His relentless, “no quit” attitude was seen by the entire world when he stood to his feet after being shot and, with a bloody face, shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” But perseverance is not just for presidents; everyone needs this character trait to experience success in life. Perseverance is often thought of as a sudden burst of heroic energy, but in reality, it is the quiet, sustained, and heart-level refusal to surrender when circumstances demand otherwise. It is the mental and spiritual strength that transforms hopes and dreams into tangible achievements. While talent is important and wise strategy is critical, it is perseverance that gets us across the finish line. The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said, “Through perseverance the snail reached the ark.”(1) Perseverance is the essential counterweight to failure. Human progress is rarely unimpeded or without challenges; it is punctuated by setbacks, valleys, and moments that offer tremendous opportunities for self-doubt. When obstacles arise, our natural human instinct is to seek safety and withdraw. Perseverance overrides this survival mechanism. Courage is not the absence of fear or exhaustion, but the deliberate choice to take another step despite them. History’s most impactful breakthroughs - scientific discoveries, social movements, the forming of nations, overcoming handicaps - were not born from flawless planning, but from the relentless refinement of failures. As the humorous but poignant proverb notes, the oak tree is merely a nut that stood its ground. Churchill’s Ultimate Call to Grit There is perhaps no greater historical case study in collective and individual perseverance than Great Britain during the early years of World War II. Facing the seemingly unstoppable momentum of Nazi Germany, Prime Minister Winston Churchill became the voice of unyielding resolve. While many think of this primarily in the context of his wartime addresses to Parliament and the British people, one of his most potent and direct messages on perseverance was delivered on October 29, 1941, to the young boys at his former school, Harrow. The nation had survived the terrifying months of the Blitz, and Churchill sought to instill a permanent mindset of endurance in the next generation. In doing so, he spoke words that have since become a timeless reminder for people everywhere: “Surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”(2) As well as inspiring us to persevere, Churchill’s words point out that perseverance is not simply blind stubbornness. He allowed for exceptions: “convictions of honor and good sense.” True perseverance is principled and requires adaptability. We must be flexible, willing to adjust tactics while holding fast to our ultimate objective. Psychologists have discovered an amazing ability God gave our brains; they call it neuroplasticity. “Neuroplasticity, also called brain plasticity, is the brain’s lifelong ability to adapt, reorganize, and rewire its neural connections. It allows neurons to form new pathways, strengthen existing ones, or prune away old connections in response to new experiences, learning, or injury.”(3) In other words, your brain is not hard-wired; its pathways adapt. “When you learn or experience something new, nerve cells (neurons) communicate via synapses. Repeated activity strengthens the connections between neurons, making that skill or memory easier to recall.”(4) This means that every time you face a challenge and choose to move forward instead of quitting, your brain reinforces that adaptive response. How about that?! When we face our challenges, adversity ceases to be destructive and becomes a training ground. The power of perseverance enables US–not life’s challenges–to dictate the final chapter of our story. Failure is temporary, but quitting makes it permanent. By embracing the mindset modeled by figures like Churchill–and Trump–we discover that our limits are often self-imposed. When facing hard times and obstacles that seem insurmountable, the path forward will always include Churchill’s adage: Never give in! The beloved prophet of old, Jeremiah, is revered by Jews and Christians alike, yet many do not realize the difficulties of his life and calling. He is often designated as the “Weeping Prophet,” fulfilling one of the most demanding and emotionally grueling prophetic ministries in biblical history. Over forty years, Jeremiah witnessed the final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. Because of his unpopular message of rebuking Judah’s apostasy and announcing its coming judgment after refusing to repent, Jeremiah suffered intensely: He was banned from entering the Temple (Jeremiah 36:5). He was beaten and put in stocks by Pashhur the priest (Jeremiah 20:1-2). His hometown neighbors in Anathoth plotted to murder him (Jeremiah 11:21). King Jehoiakim systematically cut up and burned his prophetic scrolls (Jeremiah 36:23). Under King Zedekiah, he was thrown into a muddy cistern to starve, saved only by the intervention of Ebed-Melech, a Cushite official (Jeremiah 38:6). Jeremiah’s life was difficult! Though his ministry appeared to be a failure by human standards—he converted very few, stopped no wars, and witnessed his nation’s collapse—Jeremiah’s legacy is monumental. His efforts were honored by God; history lauds his accuracy, faithfulness, and perseverance. And…God used him to write a portion of His eternal Word, read and feasted on by millions. Whatever you’re facing in life, persevere! Pray with me: Father, in our prayers and efforts to see our nation restored, we have been offered many opportunities to give up. We’ve had to plow through obstacles, hurdle barriers, navigate detours, and overcome fears. Through it all, You have strengthened our minds, rewiring them to make us more adept at persevering. You’ve strengthened our hearts, making the adversity a training ground. We are stronger from the battle. We ask that the ability to persevere would continue to develop in us. We want to be as tenacious as the acorn, holding our ground until we sit under the shade produced by our efforts. Strengthen those who are facing difficult issues in their lives. Encourage them, we pray. Help them remain flexible and, when necessary, willing to change tactics. Keep them reminded of the prize, the goal, and that they have a great helper in Holy Spirit. We pray also for President Trump and other faithful leaders in our government. They face monumental, unrelenting opposition fueled by spiritual forces. Make their persevering hearts stronger than those who resist them. And cause this to flow down to the patriotic, common-sense Americans. The battle has been long, the swamp has grown deep. Give the leaders, the intercessors, and America’s faithful citizens supernatural endurance. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We declare that the persevering nature of our Creator is embedded in our hearts, and will prevail. Click on the link below to watch the full video. John L. Mason, An Enemy Called Average (Tulsa, OK: Harrison House, 1990), p. 20. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/16489-never-give-in-never-give-in-never-never-never-never-in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity Ibid.

Don’t Go to Sleep on the Job With the astonishing number of attempts to assassinate President Trump, the body of Christ MUST be faithful in our prayers for him, his family, and staff. This post is a teaching on prayer for protection, not only for leaders, but for anyone. PAGA Interestingly, one of the meanings of the Hebrew word for “intercession,” paga, is “boundary” or “border,” the point at which two territories meet or connect.(1) Paga is used repeatedly this way in Joshua 19. For example, Joshua 19:11 states that Zebulon’s “border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to (paga) Dabbasheth, and reached to (paga) the river that is before Jokneam.” This use of paga continues throughout the chapter. When used in the context of intercessory prayer, paga refers to establishing boundaries, perimeters, or walls of protection. Through prayer, we can build shields, boundaries, and walls of protection around people and places. Isaiah 26:1 and 60:18 speak of God’s protection as “walls”: “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security.” “Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.” Zechariah 2:5 speaks of protective walls of fire: “For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” Supernatural protection occurs daily through consistent prayer, but also at strategic times as intercessors are sensitive to the promptings of Holy Spirit. He alerts us to pray for others in critical times of need. These alerts from the Holy Spirit can come in various ways: a sense of foreboding, an uneasiness concerning someone, a dream or vision, or simply by hearing Him alert us to pray for someone. The Holy Spirit speaks of these alerts in Ephesians 6:18, a passage regarding spiritual warfare: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Most readers assume this verse is telling us to pray all the time. However, it is not, nor would that be possible. The word “times” is the Greek word kairos, which means “strategic or opportune time.”(2) God is saying that, in light of the spiritual warfare always occurring on earth, we must be alert for satan’s attacks - both for ourselves and for others. When warned of these kairos, strategically timed attacks, we must pray! When we pray, God will intervene. Hebrews 4:16 also uses this word for strategic timing, kairos, in the context of prayer: “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time [kairos] of need.” Without question, we are welcome at God’s throne of grace at all times, but this verse refers to strategic times of need. The Amplified Translation makes this clear, stating that if we pray at these times, we will “Find His amazing grace to help in time of need, an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment.” The Hebrew counterpart to the Greek word kairos is eth, which also means “strategic time.” Used in Psalm 9:9, God tells us He is “a stronghold in times [eths] of trouble.”(3) This and the above verses tell us to pray at strategic times of trouble or spiritual attacks, and receive the help we need. The late Evangelist, Oral Roberts, told of experiencing this type of the Holy Spirit’s intervention during a kairos-timed attack against his family: “After ministering at a conference over a thousand miles away from home, Oral had gone to bed in his hotel when he was suddenly awakened and heard these words, ‘Your wife and children in Tulsa are in serious danger. Pray.’ He spent time in deep intercession for his family until he finally felt the burden lift. When he returned home to Tulsa, his wife, Evelyn, told him that one night, after she and the children had gone to bed, she heard someone trying to break into their home. Paralyzed with fright, she had been unable to do anything other than to pray for God's help and for Oral to be alerted to pray for them. “Thankfully, the intruder left without ever entering the house. As they compared their experiences, the Robertses realized that Oral had been awakened and alerted to pray at the exact time that Evelyn had heard the intruder.”(4) That is a kairos attack - and a kairos answer - to paga prayer! Walls or boundaries of protection were established through intercession, and God's promise of protection was fulfilled. Never assume that a warning such as this is just your imagination. Engage your faith in God’s protection and pray! Ephesians 6:18, the verse mentioned above that tells us to pray at all kairos times, also urges us to be “watching” for one another. This word (agrupneo) means literally to “stay awake.”(5) Just as “praying always” does not mean we have to pray 24/7, this word doesn’t mean we should never sleep! It is a parabolic way of saying we must remain alert, just as an awake sentry or night watchman would do. We have all heard the phrase “don’t go to sleep on the job,” which means the same thing. This passage in Ephesians is telling us we must be alert, watching for one another. As we do so, Holy Spirit will faithfully do as He said: alert us to the kairos attacks of the enemy. Pray with me: Father, Your Word tells us that if we are alert, Holy Spirit will warn us of spiritual attacks and strategic times when urgent prayers of protection are needed. Of course, we can and should dwell in the secret place of protection daily (Psalm 91), but we can also be alerted to imminent danger to ourselves or others. We ask You for high levels of discernment and sensitivity to these alerts, for our families, friends, leaders, and others. We will be faithful to pray during these times, building walls, boundaries, and perimeters of protection around ourselves and others. We declare that as we do so, no weapon formed against them or us will prosper. This is our heritage as family members of the Most High God (Isaiah 54:17). We pray today for our President, his family, and team. We ask for spiritual walls/boundaries of protection to be placed around them, shielding them from every attack waged against them. Give all the supernatural help needed to those assigned to protect them, and also to those charged with uncovering evil plots. And give us intercessors keen ears to hear when strategic prayer is needed. All this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we will be alert to Holy Spirit’s promptings, allowing Him to use us as sources of divine protection. Today’s post was adapted from my book, The Essential Guide to Prayer, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 6293. Ibid, ref. no. 2540. Ibid, ref. no. 853. Oral Roberts, A Prayer Cover Over Your Life (Tulsa, OK: Oral Roberts, 1990), pp. 10-11. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 69.

Satan’s Plans Will Backfire While praying for President Trump and his team regarding the situation in Iran, including the issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage of Scripture in Exodus. We will go there momentarily. But first, some context regarding the Iranian situation. Some feel that the financial hardships created throughout the world by the Iranians’ shutdown of the Strait, followed by Trump’s decision to blockade it entirely, created a trap for the President. While this is greatly damaging Iran’s economy, it is also temporarily hurting America’s, as well. And though we have all but destroyed the Iranian military and its former leaders, those now in control are in hiding and don’t seem to care how much the economic woes hurt the Iranian people. They believe Trump is trapped in a difficult, no-win situation, and the longer they wait, the more leverage they have. With the midterms approaching, the Dems and liberal media are using these economic woes and the seeming stalemate to hurt Trump and the Republicans as much as possible. Sadly, they hate Trump more than they love America. Now, to the passage I believe the Lord led me to. In the Bible, Baal-Zephon was one of the gods in the Baal “family,” and was also a geographical location that served as the backdrop for one of the most famous events in the Old Testament: the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). Beneath the surface of the story lies a fascinating layer of revelations. Here is a breakdown of what Baal-Zephon means, where it was, and why it matters. The Meaning of the Name Baal means “Lord” or “Master.”(1) Baal-Zephon literally translates as “Lord of the North.”(2) It originates from a word meaning “hidden,” and from this meaning carries a symbolic meaning of “dark.”(3) Baal-Zephon was considered the “master of the sea and storms,” among other things. The geographic place named after him was considered the sacred mountain and home of this Canaanite storm god. Because Baal-Zephon was revered as a protector of maritime trade and a master of the sea and storms, Canaanite and Phoenician sailors established sanctuaries dedicated to him along the Mediterranean coast—even at the borders of Egypt. The Biblical Context - The Ultimate Trap Baal-Zephon is mentioned three times in the Bible (Exodus 14:2, Exodus 14:9, and Numbers 33:7). During the Exodus, in what seemed like a very unwise move, God commanded Moses to have the Israelites turn back and camp by this high place of Baal-Zephon, putting them in a very strategic bottleneck: “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-Zephon,” (Exodus 14:2). By placing the Israelites here, God deliberately made them look trapped. To Pharaoh, it appeared that the wilderness and sea had hemmed them in, and his army cornered them right in front of Baal-Zephon. The Showdown In ancient Canaanite theology, the Canaanites believed Baal’s crowning achievement was defeating “Yam,” whose name means “the sea.” Yam had been known as the former strong god of the sea.”(4) The Canaanites believed Baal-Zephon had conquered him and asserted his lordship over the waters from his seat on Mount Zephon. By staging the climax of Israel’s exodus directly in front of Baal-Zephon's sanctuary, Yahweh was issuing a direct challenge on Baal’s home court. Pharaoh assumed that because the Israelites were cornered by the sea at Baal-Zephon’s doorstep, the “Lord of the Sea” would hand Egypt the victory. Instead, Yahweh split the sea, led Israel through on dry land, and swallowed Pharaoh’s army in the waves. The Lord used this narrative to show that the Canaanite storm god was entirely powerless on his own turf. It demonstrated to both the Israelites and the Egyptians that Yahweh—not Baal—was the true master of the wind, the storm, and the sea. The Lord showed me a parallel between this showdown and what is occurring today with Iran. It appears that circumstances have perhaps allowed the evil powers behind Iran’s leaders to trap Trump and his advisors: end the conflict quickly–even if it means compromise–or lose the midterms. I believe God has other plans, and our prayers for the President can release the Lord’s turnaround, just as He did with Zephon. Psalm 7:14-16, in the NLT says, “The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves. The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.” What a great promise! The Passion Translation explains these three verses: “Look how the wicked conceive their evil schemes. They go into labor with their lies and give birth to trouble. They dig a pit for others to fall into, not knowing that they will be the very ones who will fall into it. Every pit-digger who works to trap and harm others will be trapped by his own treachery.” I believe the Lord wants us to pray these particular verses over the situation in Iran. Civic leaders are not supposed to have to govern in their own strength and wisdom. God helps the righteous. Let’s ask that the trap the enemy has planned for President Trump backfires, that satan’s allies fall into the pit they have dug, and are trapped by their own treachery. Pray that evil powers are exposed in Iran–and the Strait of Hormuz–just as they were at the Red Sea. And ask the Lord to give our President, his negotiators, and all his advisors supernatural insight and wisdom. Let’s do so now. Pray with me: Father, satan and his cohorts are no match for You. You are the Lord of the seas, winds, and storms. Baal is a counterfeit god, an idol. The “prince of Persia” (Daniel 10) is under Your feet. Today, we pray that Psalm 7:14-16 is fulfilled before the world. As this Psalm says, cause evil leaders and the powers of darkness to fall into the pit they have dug. Cause their plans to backfire, and the violence they plan falls on their own heads. Cause them to be trapped by their own treachery. We declare that no weapon formed against righteous decisions regarding Iran will prosper! We continue to believe that You have plans for an epochal revival in the Middle East, and that Iran is to play a significant role. We call for this–and the above turnaround–to come forth in the name of Jesus! Our decree: We decree that every trap of the enemy in the Iranian showdown will backfire, and God will show Himself as the Almighty. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 1168. Ibid, ref. no. 1189. Ibid, ref. no. 6845. Ibid, ref. no. 3220.

We All Need a Barnabas In asking for the Lord’s guidance regarding today’s post, my mind kept being drawn to Barnabas, Paul’s traveling companion for a few years. His given name was Joseph, but he was nicknamed by the church, Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.” It is telling that perhaps the greatest of the early church apostles needed an encourager by his side. Here is a brief summary of Barnabas’ ministry life: He was a Levite from Cyprus, nicknamed “son of encouragement” by the apostles (Acts 4:36). Radical Generosity (Acts 4:37): He was the man who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles to support the church in Jerusalem. He was an advocate for Paul (Acts 9): When Paul (formerly Saul) first came to Jerusalem after his conversion, the disciples were afraid of him. Barnabas risked his reputation to vouch for Paul, introducing him to the apostles and recounting Paul’s conversion experience. Leader in Antioch (Acts 11): Sent by the Jerusalem church to investigate the growing church in Antioch, Barnabas recognized God’s grace on them and encouraged the new believers. He was described in Acts 11 as a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith,” which resulted in many people being added to the Lord. Mentored Paul (Acts 11-13): Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Paul, bringing him to Antioch, where they taught for a full year. The two were sent out by the church in Antioch on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:2-3). Missionary Journey (Acts 14-15): On their mission to Cyprus and Asia Minor, together they faced intense persecution. The Split (Acts 15): A “sharp disagreement” arose between Paul and Barnabas regarding taking John Mark, Barnabas’ young cousin, on a second missionary journey, as Mark had abandoned them previously. They separated, with Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus while Paul took Silas and went elsewhere. The book of Acts continues to focus on Paul, but acknowledges Barnabas’ continued, faithful work. Barnabas, true to his nickname, took John Mark and spent time discipling him. This process was so effective that, years later, Paul specifically asked for John Mark to come and help him, as Mark had matured to the point of being needed by Paul in his ministry once again (2 Timothy 4:11). The Lord chose not to tell us the details of Paul’s and Barnabas’ disagreement. It would seem, however, that it was likely the strength of each one’s gift that prompted the opposing viewpoints. Paul’s intense, pioneer spirit lent itself to a more “no nonsense and less patience with immaturity” attitude. Barnabas’s heart of mercy and willingness to come alongside others motivated him. God blessed them both, however. Each was successful in his subsequent ministry, even after separating for a season. And Mark certainly matured into a very needed person in the church. Perhaps both giftings were necessary to mature Mark: Paul’s stern, no-compromise approach, and Barnabas’ ability to see the potential in others and cultivate it. As we know, all strengths come with antithetical weaknesses, and two different perspectives can both have elements of truth. No one’s gift or perspective is always 100% right. “He who is without sin (or weakness) among you, cast the first stone” (John 8:7) is applicable, not just for the Pharisees in Christ’s day, but for all of us. Ouch! My purpose today is to remind all of us to be grateful for the Barnabases in our lives, and to take advantage of every opportunity to encourage someone. It could be a person who showed you patience when you were not in a place of strength or purity, someone who took the time to nurture or mentor you, or perhaps a parent who faithfully loved and stood by you. I suppose the list could be endless. But God placed such a high priority on encouragement that He highlighted “the son of encouragement” several times in Scripture. We should prioritize it, also. If the Lord brings someone to mind, pray for them today. Perhaps send them a text or card, maybe make a phone call. Remember, no one achieves success without help. It is also worth remembering that one of the meanings of “appreciate” is “to increase in value,” [Webster’s Dictionary] as a house or precious gem might do. Allow the value of others to appreciate, to increase, in your heart. And tell them. Pray with me: Lord, You take note when we demonstrate gratitude and appreciation for those who have encouraged us on our journey; You also do so when we encourage others. Thank You for the example of Barnabas and his desire to lift up others. We thank You today for those who have done so in our lives. The compassionate message, the phone call when we needed it, the “you’re gonna make it” when it seemed there was no way, the smile from a stranger–thank You for them all. Remind us to appreciate–give value to–others. Also, remind us to give grace to those with whom we disagree whenever possible. Help us to look through the lens of compassion and see their perspective. While we are told in Your Word not to tolerate evil, we can still love and pray for those with whom we don’t agree, including our enemies. And we ask You to give us more Barnabases, those who specialize in this wonderful gift of encouragement. The world needs more of them. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We will be an encouragement to others, give honor where honor is due (Romans 13:7), and choose to live a life of gratitude. Click on the link below to watch the full video.