NDP 2021 - PRAYER BASED ON PSALM 18

Most Merciful Father in Heaven, You are the Source, Giver, Sustainer, Redeemer of all Life. We worship, adore, reverence and magnify Your Most Precious and Holy Name.

Father, we come to You on bended knee as Your children, washed by the Blood of the Lamb, seeking Your guidance, wisdom and direction as to the ways we should focus, or refocus our spiritual hearts to where You would like us to be.

Lord from the radiance of Your presence, the clouds flee, Moses turned his back, the stars fall before You, the thunder rolls and the lightning - they all declare Your awesome power. Even the waves cease their turmoil when Your Son commanded "Be still"!

There is none like You. Still in Your awesome Majesty, You reached down from heaven and pulled us out of the deep. The currents of sin were drawing us down into the depths of the pit. Yet You, oh God, in Your mercy, grace and long suffering, confronted the enemy and became our Support, our Help, our Salvation, our Sanctifier, our one True Hope and for that, today, tonight, always and forever, we are eternally grateful.

Father, embed Your Word in every fiber of our being.

Enable us to walk upright day after day, in a crooked and perverse generation.

Excite us daily in the joy of the journey with Jesus.

May we extol the virtues of the Savior in thought, word or deed.

May we examine also our hearts daily to see if we are indeed in alignment with Your Will.

May we eagerly serve one another as Christ came to serve.

May we elevate the Name of Jesus above every other name.

May we earnestly keep short accounts with You, that little sins do not turn into iniquity, and then rebellion which will cause harm to our families, friends and our Testimony to a sceptical and evil world out there.

Lord, may we remain faithful through thick or thin. Because to the faithful, You prove Yourself Faithful.

May we remain innocent in Your Holy Eyes, because to the pure, You prove Yourself pure.

May we pray our enemies into Your Mighty Hands, because to the crooked, You prove Yourself shrewd.

Lord, this week, we pray protection over the helpless that You be a refuge and a hiding place to them.

We pray perseverance to the saints all over the world and here in north American since You promised to be a Mighty Warrior to those who harm Your saints.

We pray provision for those who need Your lovingkindness and the hands and feet of Your Kingdom - Christians - to reach those in need.

Let our feet be as swift as the feet of a deer as You secure us on higher ground and may Your Mighty Presence - the Holy Spirit - Who lives in us, Your redeemed, draw us even closer, day by day, into the wonders of You, in Jesus' Strong Name, I pray, amen.

A VERSE AND A THOUGHT: PSALM 24:7 - "OPEN UP THE GATES...OF YOUR HEART"

Photo Credit: Gray-Grant Communications

Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in....(Psalm 24:7)

THOUGHT:

In ancient times, up to the Middle Ages, these huge things called “portcullis” hung over the entrances to towns, castles and other such fortifications. This word is hardly used now and neither are the "gates" they were, except in some medieval type movie. It is derived from a combination of French words "porte" (gate) and “coleice” (sliding, flowing etc…source: Dictionary.com).  The portcullis is basically a vertical sliding gate, made of metal and/or wood, latticed and run on metal tracks which allow for lowering and raising, as the case may be. These portcullises provided a second layer of protection for cities or towns or castles, many hundreds of years ago. You may have seen them in some movie about King Arthur, or the Knights Templar or something like this.

While some castles and fortifications had double portcullis, for double protection as well, some also had massive wooden gates. In ancient bible times of 3000 years ago, this would be the case in the old cities of Israel around 1000 BC, when King David ruled during the best days of the Holy Land.

David, God’s instrument used to pass on the inspired words of the Psalms, was responsible for the Ark of the Covenant of God. The Ark represented the very Presence of God. The Ark is a copy of the one that is in Heaven as we know from Revelation 11:19. But this copy is still filled with the Spirit of God and He was literally present wherever the Ark was, just like Jesus was present in the Pillar of Fire by night and the Cloud by Day, that led Moses and the Israelites during the Exodus.

Psalm 24:7 tells the gatekeepers in Israel to be on the alert as the Ark is coming through!  David shouts ahead “throw open the gates of the city…..raise the other one….the portcullis…because THE LORD, THE KING, THE ALMIGHTY (via His Ark) is coming into the city!”

ACTION:

Many people, especially including those calling themselves Christians, wall themselves off from the comforting and transforming Holy Spirit of God. Some may actually be saved, but keep telling the Spirit of Jesus that He can’t go here, or “I will handle this one myself” or “I was too hurt by XYZ situation and don’t want to hear ‘what the Bible says’”. There are church-going people who actually talk this way. If you or someone you know – a “friend of a friend” – is in this situation, where the comfort of Scriptures is ignored, it is time for some soul-searching. Do this three-step heart check:

• Does Jesus have access to every corner of my life?
• If not, where have I closed off to Him and why?
• Then, I must look in the mirror of my soul, pray Psalm 51, repent and open the gates to let the King in!

PRAY FOR.....PROTECTION

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

No one has to remind us that we are surrounded by evil. No one has to point out that the times are evil and the wicked rule the world.  We just have to wake up in the morning and walk out the front door. Evil is all around us, and for some, even in their own homes.  Idolatry is worse now than it was from the days of the Philistines and their monster god Dagon to Christians engaging in New Age activities or Eastern Mysticism. There is even an oxymoron called “Christian Yoga” (oxymoron because yoga is Hinduism with its gazillions of ‘gods’ and Christianity only has Yahweh, the Triune God of Heaven). So the existence of evil is something we will live with until the End of the Age, and the Return of Christ.

But God, knowing all of this, has already prepared the way for us to be able to handle and again – it comes back to Prayer.  There is no other way to communicate with our Heavenly Father than through prayer. Singing worship songs in an emotional way, going on retreats and meeting in small groups to talk out life’s problems and even bible reading are all good facets of the Christian life.  However,  if all of this is done without application and supplication we will be one deserted sad population.

The Truth is God has literally shown us in His Word how we are able to and have the right to pray for His protection. He says "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them" (Psalm 34:7). The more we know His Word, as given in the Bible, then spend time discerning and learning how to interpret and apply, the easier it becomes to believe His promise and claim them as our own. He Who says in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 that “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one”, will send His same angels to watch over us. (See video clip below for illustration).

Why are we able to do this? Because Scripture proves that “… are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). God has said and I believe it that He is “my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies (2 Samuel 22:3-4).

We pray thus: "Heavenly Father, we thank You that You send Your angels to guard over us so that we may not dash our feet against the sharp rocks and stumbling blocks out there. Thank You for keeping us from danger from things we never even saw or expected but Your Hands of protection covered us from danger.  

When Your Holy Spirit of Power directed us away from a certain area at the right time; when He kept us away from potentially bad situations and people; when He opened this door and shut that one, because it would have been detrimental for us to take what looked good at the time but was not from You; when Your Spirit guided us into the path of all Truth that we may not sin against You. When You and Your Holy Spirit from Heaven, Whom You embedded in my spirit kept us m from lust, evil and temptation that would have destroyed lives and families – when You did all that and more, Oh Great God of Heaven, Yahweh Shammah – You were there for us- THANK YOU! Thank You for Your Loving Arms of Protection. 

Thank You for fighting for us, for delivering us from all evil so that absolutely no weapon formed against us will prosper or even stand. Even the times You allowed us to go through deep dark and dangerous valleys, You were with us. We were never alone. So Father now, in complete gratitude we adore and worship Your Holy Name and pray that You will continue to go before us, to defeat the daily demons who threaten to depress/disgust and defeat us. Go before us, oh God and then spread Your Wings that not just us, but our families, loved ones and friends will be drawn under the Shadow of Your Mighty Countenance, in Jesus’ Strong and Mighty Name, Amen.

(Photo Credit Here)

PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE SERIES: THE BOOK OF GENESIS #1

THE FIRST PRAYER OF THE BIBLE

13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”  15 And the Lord said to him,  “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. (Genesis 4:13-15)

The very first prayer in the Bible was the end result of a rebuke from God to the first murderer in history. Cain had just killed his brother Abel, when worship and sacrifice to God went awry, due to jealousy. Cain also lied to the Father insisting he did not know where Abel was, using those immortal words "Am I my brother's keeper". Because of his vile actions, God banished him, cursed him and sent him on his way to roam the earth as a fugitive, who will even a hard time growing his own food.

This shook Cain to the core.  He obviously had not thought of the consequences of his action and in shock, sorrow, fear and sadness, Cain offered the very first prayer of the Bible from a human. From the tone of this prayer and the very fact that Almighty God heard, listened to and responded to it, it does appear to be a prayer of repentance. Looking at this prayer closer, we see the following:
- Cain accepts his punishment but it dawns on him it is more than he can possibly bear. (Verse 13).
- Cain then grasps what being cast from the very presence and protection of God really means....that is, the Hand of God will be withdrawn from him, thereby leaving him in real danger . (Verse 14).
- Cain experiences the grace, mercy, compassion, blessing and protection of our Heavenly Father, when God chooses Cain as one of his elect and gave him a new life away from farming. Cain built a city and started a family. (Verse 15).

This is just an amazing situation, right off the bat. When we get to the very next prayer of the Bible, the Prayer of Noah, we see things get even worse...and not too long after God had cleansed the earth of evil and bad people in the Great Flood.

The Fall of Man led to ungodly conduct even in service to God. Abel was killed because he revered, loved and honored God more with this offering, obedience and willing heart of sacrifice where he earned the love and favor of God. He did not give what was left over from his earnings, or paycheck or after he had taken care of his own needs, as most Christians do today. Abel was a perfect example of a man of God whose faith is counted to him as righteousness. He even made it in the Great Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith - "By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks" (Hebrews 11:4).

But God is a good, good Father, that's Who He is. He is a gracious God, full of mercy, patience and long-suffering. Even though Cain shed innocent blood out of pure jealousy and hatred....even though Cain dishonored and slighted the Father, God listened to the first recorded prayer in the Bible and turned Cain around. He then proceeded to give him a life as the builder of cities and even His Hand of protection. The lesson here for us is that human beings in can be like Cain.

We can use words and conduct unbecoming a man or woman of God to hurt others. Words and actions can destroy another's life. Still there is forgiveness if there is a repentant heart and the willingness to make things right with those whom you have hurt, if you just turn it over to God. He is a just and loving God and stand with open arms to love His prodigal children.

(Photo Credit Here)

PRAYER FOR AMERICA, PART 1

These are some of the darkest days, for the greatest country in the world to ever exist.  America and Freedom, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, are under literal assault from the forces of hell worldwide. Now, almost hourly, we receive news of more violence against military personnel, embassies and while the corrupt American mainstream media will not publicize it - Christians are more in danger around the world than ever before.

So what are God's people on this continent - in the US and Canada - to do? After we get riled up at the video on TV or the internet of the rioting, mayhem and more, we go to the Lord. Abba Father. We cry out to Jehovah Nissi, our Standard Bearer. A Standard Bearer goes before us in battle, carrying the flag (or banner or standard) and tells those who are our enemies, who we are. When God the Father, is your standard bearer, we have the added benefit of knowing WHOSE we are! Amen!

Therefore, in Jesus' Holy Name, we begin praying the Imprecatory Psalm 35 into these times. King David, under the Power of the Holy Spirit, prayed this to the LORD and He heard David's plea and answered Him. Pray this in your own way and cry out to God for the country, our families, our children's future and the US Military. Remember those who are currently in leadership. Pray for them as well. Remember while praying, that enemies are both outside of this country and there are those who wish harm on the people of God, inside the country as well. I will not tell you how to prayer this first portion, but I am replacing the personal pronouns "I and me" with America and "our" etc, to help us press in at this time. The text is from the New King James Bible.

Psalm 35

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord the Avenger of His People

A Psalm of David.

35 Plead America's cause, O Lord, with those who strive with America;
Fight against those who fight against America.
² Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for our help.
³ Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue us.
Say to our soul,
“I am your salvation.”

⁴ Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after American life;
Let those be turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot our hurt.
⁵ Let them be like chaff before the wind,
And let the angel^[a] of the Lord chase them.
⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery,
And let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
⁷ For without cause they have hidden their net for us in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for our life.
⁸ Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.

⁹ And America's soul shall be joyful in the Lord;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.   We will again say, as our founders did, “In God We Trust !”  

(All Scripture is from Bible Gateway)

THIRTY DAYS OF PRAYER - DAY 26

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 26
GOD IS EL SHADDAI


Whenever you see the word "EL" used as a prefix before another Hebrew word in the Bible, it is there for a reason. Those two letters mean God and come from a root word whose meaning is "power, might and strength"!


God is saying this about His Own Name: "you in the world have all your pagan gods but I AM THE ALL POWERFUL, THE ALL MIGHTY and THE ALMIGHTY GOD....and I can and will do anything I want!" When you read through the Old Testament, this is how the way it was....and still continues today...and will be through eternity!


Some examples of how the letter EL are:
El Echad - THE ONE TRUE GOD
EL Hanne'eman - THE FAITHFUL GOD
El Emet - THE GOD OF TRUTH and so one.


Just briefly, today EL SHADDAI means "The All-Sufficient God ALMIGHTY"! In Genesis 17:1 God says to Abraham " When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty (El SHADDAI); walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly".


The word Shaddai is a combination of "Sha" (who) and "DAI" (enough). In other words, God is saying He, and He along is sufficiently powerful enough set up the system for Abram (Abraham), in the passage above. He is saying "I am all powerful" but I can do just whatever I want...and I am choosing to make this Abrahamic Covenant with you, Abram".


This Almighty God can do the same for you and I today as He did for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 4000 years ago! He is still in the business of Salvation, Protection, Provision and Nourishing us - those who believe in Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. 


El Shaddai has given us the past 2000 years and until He comes, to get things in order, not just for our souls if we repent, make peace and are saved by Him. But He also gives us our Daily Bread and health and everything we have. We did not get this on our own. We may be the ones who earn the paycheck. But He got us that job. The house we live in, did not get here accident or the safe travel on the highway to and from work. That was all God. So pray with me right now....


Father in the Name of Jesus, what do I have that You, in Your Power and Strength did not give to me?  The very clothes that I wear...the very food that I eat...the very car that I drive...the very home I live in...the very job I work at...the very spouse and children in our home... they are ALL from You, Abba Father.


You are the Maker, Provider and Sustainer of all things.  You ordain, create and then nourish all things and all people. You gave Grace to the humble, but You also give good things to the entire world and especially those who do not believe in You and may even blaspheme You! In Your Power and Grace, You have mercy on the World, prospering and blessing them with good things, that some may be saved. Lord, they continue to deny Your very existence, but I know You, oh Lord!


The time is coming soon, when all this will end, when the world systems will be destroyed under the Power and Might of Your Word and when the Lamb returns to deal with those who have misused Your gifts of life and temporal happiness.


But Lord, I, choose to thank You, knowing where my very existence and provision come from - You...and You did because You could and wanted to. So this day, I bless You, in the Name of Jesus. 

May I bless others as well, from my own family and our children and if You allow it, my children's children. I bless them like the blessing of Jacob in Genesis 49. I bless that mightily - "up to the bounties of the everlasting hills" (verse 26) and may that blessing be upon their brow....and may this blessing extend to all who read this and all my extended family.

Lord, I only do this because I have been touched by You, called by You and loved by You to serve and anoint others with Your Goodness. El Shaddai, oh God Most High, I love You, worship and I adore You, now and forever more, in Jesus' Name, amen.

TOMORROW: GOD IS FATHER (ABBA)