Praying for the Nation Week 14

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV)

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7a).

Intercessors, guard your hearts and minds, pay attention to your thoughts and the directions they go in. Earlier this week, my mind was under a full out assault. Discouraging and disparaging thoughts and anxieties came at me from all directions and it was literally like fighting quicksand to be rid of them and take them captive. One of the directions of thought I fought against was my capability and ability to even want to continue to pray for the nation and speak life over the jars of dirt. I faced condescending, contentious and condemning thoughts regarding my ability to pray, my effectiveness in prayer, my worth, my level of care and compassion, and whether or not any of this really matters at all. At my lowest point, I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide there. This was all on a level I had not dealt with yet and only lacked bloodshed, but there were plenty of tears and sweat. After trying to articulate to myself, my husband and the Holy Spirit what I was feeling, I forced myself into God’s word. Even when I don’t feel like it, there is always something that sticks. This time was no different; it was His Word along with sharing my battle with a few key people that began the turn-around. Looking back, I can see the enemy’s hand at work in my thought life, but I also know that God was right there with me despite how I felt at the time.

As I sat down to write this week’s directives, I had no clear direction for us to go in. This battle has left me weak and almost speechless, but God is faithful. While writing the previous paragraph, He has revealed this week’s directive, and it is one we must pray for all the way until He tells us to stop. Identity. I’ve touched on it before, but we are seeing a major identity crises on a grand scale all across the United States. Our emotions drive our perceptions of our reality and we identify now with how we feel about ourselves, rather than what is true. Groupthink has become the norm and drives society’s acceptance of emotion-driven perceptions. We must stand firm in intercession for the minds of the people of this nation. Our perception of who we are begins in our minds.

Week 14 directives:

• Speak life and love to your jar(s). Do not fail to tell the dirt how much you love it, how much God loves it and declare blessings over the land, the people, and the government. Begin to renounce any curses spoken over these areas in the past, and do not allow anyone to speak a curse. Always, always bless.
• Proclaim Psalm 139:13-18 over your jars.Pray for the people in your state to have surety in their hearts of who they are, of God’s purpose and plan for their lives to be fulfilled. Pray for them to understand their true identity and not who society, people or peers say they are.

  For You formed my inward parts;
  You covered me in my mother’s womb.
  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
  Marvelous are Your works,
  And that my soul knows very well.
  My frame was not hidden from You,
  When I was made in secret,
  And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
  Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
  And in Your book they all were written,
  The days fashioned for me,
  When as yet there were none of them.

  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
  How great is the sum of them!
  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
  When I awake, I am still with You.

• Pray for the government to come into alignment with heaven, for the schemes and plans of Satan to be revealed, for the removal of corruption and for the rising up of Godly leaders who are bold, courageous and desire righteousness and truth in leadership. Remember to pray for the upcoming election – for truth to stand out louder and for God to be glorified in the process.
• Pray for the Church to walk as ambassadors for Christ, to have eyes that see and ears that hear to discern the distractions and diversions of the enemy. The Church has been so focused on calling out sin that she has missed many opportunities to serve and love. Pray for the Church to rise up in love, for when we reach out with kindness and goodness as the reflection of Christ, we will draw others to repentance. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds (Romans 2:3-6). Jesus said we will be known by our love, let us love in action always.

Your faithfulness and watchfulness on this journey with me are appreciated so great! Let us continue to pray for each other. Despite the news we may see and hear, we must always remember God is at work in answer to our prayers.

Blessings, Hugs and Love!

Shalom 🙂