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We pray because we desperately need Him.

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2)

“May He defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!” (Psalm 72:4)

“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

If you love God then you pray as a form of worship –showing Him that you trust His sovereignty over governance.

“For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our King; He will save us.” (Isaiah 33:22)

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“That’s great and all that, but still eww. I hate the government!”

Imagine how Israel felt after they were taken into captivity by Babylon! They were instructed to pray:

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

When you understand the context around Jeremiah’s message, God is telling the Israelites that He will bless their enemies for Israel’s sake. He wanted Israel to understand that praying for peace and prosperity for their enemies means peace and prosperity for them as well.

We are sojourners here on earth, but tasked with a purpose. We have a heavenly responsibility to seek peace and justice in the cities and towns we live in through intercession.

We pray for leaders’ hearts to align with God’s.

“Give Your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern Your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this Your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9)

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Pray specifically: For leaders’ wisdom and integrity.

Be consistent: Set aside time daily or weekly to pray for local, state, and federal governments.

Join others: Praying collectively can have an amplifying impact.

Pray with trust: Be confident God hears and answers.

Leaders need our prayers!

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Prayer underpins humility and gratefulness and wisdom to be God-granted.

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will.” (Proverbs 21:1)

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Dear Heavenly Father – It’s unpleasant for us to think about the wickedness that prevails in our government. It’s tempting to walk away. It’s tempting to ask You to destroy it all!

But, we know that You want us to pray for the salvation of those hostile to You and Your ways. Holy Spirit, we ask that You provide us the fortitude and diligence to pray for our governing body.

Father God, we plainly need You. In every capacity. Your children long to see justice prevail. Our hearts cry out for the broken and lost. We witness horrors that shake us to the core. We seek You to end the depravity, the darkness, and the devilry.

How high must the evil deeds reach before it is brought down? Those who love You are hurting tremendously. We are disheartened and impatient, and we need You to provide us strength so that we may endure waiting for Your intervention.

Right now, Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask for radical changes of hearts in those in governmental positions. We ask for You to remove those who are children of the father of lies; and we ask that You place those with fear, reverence, and love for You in leadership positions.

We ask for lies and corruption to be exposed to Your refining Light. We ask for Your peace and prosperity to prevail.

For those leaders who humble themselves before You, we ask for You to grant them Your wisdom, discerning truth from untruth. Help them remember the worth of each individual they work for, keeping their hearts humble and thoughtful.

We pray for our governing bodies to be resilient against temptation to stray and cause harm.

We believe and expect You to move on behalf of those who love You and are calling out to You to intervene. We know that our Creator, the One Who breathed our galaxy into existence, is concerned with every aspect of our lives so You hear us, You see us, You know us, You love us. You are with us.

Thank You for the changes that are about to happen –the heavenly intervention to protect and help Your children. Thank You for establishing Your purposes within the hearts of leadership in our local, state, and federal governing bodies.

We pray to You in the precious name of Jesus.


James 1:5
Psalm 82:3

Hello December!

Hello December!
The 12th and final chapter. The final curtain call.

Here are some things to ponder this month.

As we begin the last month of the year, make this month a season of letting go of things you refuse to bring into the New Year.

Reflect on those things that brought success as well as failures. Both are excellent teachers.

Never forget the hard stuff you went through this year, it was meant to build you, not destroy you.

It’s never too late to start over…even in December.

Always look up, dream, keep hoping, never lose that child like wonder as you press into Jesus this month. And if you live where it snows, don’t forget to examine a single snowflake, it will make you smile as you take in God’s gift of winter.

Found this is my journal. I didn’t write it but I must of thought it was worthy to record it and come back to.

“Raw dependence on God is when you feel under qualified, overwhelmed, uncertain, and trust Him anyway. This is exactly where God wants you because this is where He performs His greatest miracles”

May this month bring you joy, and miracles as we close out this year, celebrating our Savior’s birth.

Blessings,
Paula

““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11

Testimony Tuesday

If you belong to God and His Spirit resides in you, you are His ambassador. You are automatically enlisted into His army.

Having a relationship with Christ goes far beyond than just getting into heaven.

You are a walking billboard for Christ. As a born again believer we are possessed by the Holy Spirit, and with that we have the ability to encourage and influence others around us to make a difference just by our actions.

The following video is about making a difference in someone’s life.

When I was growing up, our family lived next door to a pastor and his family. It was the wife, Miss Judy that made a difference in my life.

I never heard the gospel until I met her. I was about nine years old then. She took me to Sunday school with her. I joined the Pioneer Girls (a Christian version of Girl Scouts).

I heard songs I’ve never heard before. One in particular that has stuck with me since. It’s an old hymn, but I remember so clearly the melody. The song is “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” —have you heard of it? There was a sweetness in that song that continues to waft in my memory every now and then to this day. (I’ll post my favorite version of this song below.)

It was because of Judy, that I am a believer today. Although, I wasn’t saved until several years later. God watered those seeds that Miss Judy planted. Years later she passed away. One day I’ll see her again, and tell her how much she made a difference in my life.

Take a look at this video of a young man who discovered a family that made a difference in his own life.

https://youtu.be/b1bSlS6OWTs?

Lyrics to Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer:
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my yielded heart to Thee.
Let me know Thee in Thy fullness;
Guide me by Thy mighty hand,
Till, transformed, in Thine own image
In Thy presence I shall stand.