Today I am reading from Philemon verse 6, “That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.“

It is a curious trait of humanity that we are so prone to being keenly aware of each and every flaw in our lives. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were just as mindful of what is now ours because of the life of Christ within us? What an incredible thought, that what His presence brings is now ours just for the asking. His love, joy, peace, strength, endurance, faith, just to name a few, are now yours. All it requires, on your part, is a recognition of this new life, and an asking that it now be fully realized.

Do you really know what is yours in Jesus Christ? It really is time to pray!

In the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 2 verses 1 and 2 Paul says, “I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?“

You know when I do these devotionals, I do try to be not too heavy; though it’s easy to be so when I daily see this nation and society destroying itself. I suppose the beauty in all of this, is that the people that I am speaking to aren’t the problem, but rather the possible solution. Though you and I are all the weak, and oft struggling of our day; yet Jesus is looking to us, once again, as He always has throughout history to seek Him as our source of light and life in troubled times. You and I can, and will, make a difference in our generation.

It’s time to pray.

Today I’d like you to pray with me as we remember the tragedy of September 11th, when it hit here in New York City and how it affected our entire country. Pray with me that there would never be an attack like that against our nation again.

Father God, in Jesus name, Lord we lift up not only New York City, but all the major cities of this country, we ask you Lord to keep our boarders safe and our cities safe. We ask Lord that you would thwart the plans of any deviant who wants to come and cause harm in our society, cause panic or fear in our streets, and we ask for healing of every heart that has fear because of the past events in our society. God almighty, give us confidence that can only come from your presence being lived out inside of our minds in our lives.

Remember, it’s time to pray!

2 Samuel, chapter 23, beginning at verse 2, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.“

You have incredible power to influence people and events for good when you walk sincerely with God. Like a cloudless morning, the unhindered presence of Christ in you brings light and life into clear view everywhere you go. Don’t let the clouds of worry hide the sunshine of God in you that somebody desperately needs today. Blow those clouds away.

It’s time to pray!

Listen to the voice of God, through the words of the prophet Isaiah chapter 50 verse 2, “Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?“

How strange it is that, often, when a nation is in trouble, God’s own people can no longer hear Him calling out to them. You ask me about our day, and you say could this be true in our time? Well, I say, let the empty prayer meetings speak for themselves. Without doubt we are in trouble as a nation; and without any doubt Jesus is calling us to prayer. Not just for ourselves, but also for our families, for our friends, for our neighbors, our co-workers, and even for our enemies. I believe that God is willing to awaken our nation spiritually. He’s calling out to a people and simply waiting for us to ask Him.

It’s time to pray.

2 Samuel chapter 22, beginning at verse 47, “The Lord lives. Blessed be my rock. Let God be exalted, the rock of my salvation. It is God who avenges me and subdues the peoples under me. He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up, above those who rise against me. You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, I will give thanks to You Oh Lord among the gentiles and sing praises to Your name.“

There is so much to be afraid of today. Society is filled with angry voices, and the daily news brings word of some new threat or some new act of violence. Though hearts may fail for fear, not so of yours, you have the unshakable promise that God will always keep, and will never fail you. Thank Him for this today and learn to trust him anew.

Remember, it’s time to pray!

The book of Proverbs chapter 20, and verse 28 says that, “Mercy and truth preserve the king, and by loving kindness He upholds His throne.“

Now God’s kingdom is a kingdom of truth. It has, and always will stand because of it. The one who created us would be just in destroying us because of the falsehoods that we as a society have chosen to embrace.

Yet, He also stands above us, in spite of our condition, with a heart willing to be merciful and to show kindness. Remember the words of Jesus when he was dying on the cross he said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.“

I hear that cry in the heart of God, I hear this willingness in the Son of God to forgive us, and to put us back on a straight path and to help us and to give us strength for the future.

It’s time to pray!

Every Tuesday night at 7PM, we have our Worldwide Prayer Meeting and receive many requests for prayer. Today I am asking you to join with me in praying for Steve from Virginia. He sent in a prayer request, it was a text. “Please pray for God to heal me of drinking and repent and obey Him in Jesus name, Amen.”

Lord Jesus Christ, today we just stand with our brother Steve and we ask you God, to give him a desire for living water. Take him away Lord, from alcohol that perverts the mind and the heart and addicts the body, and give him a heart Lord God to want truth and to want to obey truth. You promised this man that out of his inward part would flow a river of living water; no longer the smell of alcohol on his breathe, but the fragrance of Jesus.

It’s time to pray!

2 Samuel chapter 22 beginning at verse 4, David says, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies. When the waves of death surrounded me, floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me, in my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God. He heard my voice from His temple and my cry entered His ears.“

There’s an old saying that says, there’s nothing to fear but fear itself.  The fear of something happening can last longer and have deeper affect than the actual event itself. Today I want to challenge you, give your fears to God. As King David did, go to Him in prayer and let Him fill your heart and mind with peace. This and not fear is your inheritance. Take knowledge and take courage today, God has everything under control.

It’s time to pray.

The book of Proverbs chapter 20 verse 25 says, “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something is holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.“

As a nation we have had great moments where we bent our knees to the reality and the rightful lordship of Jesus Christ. With suddenness, and often in times of our greatest need, presidents, throughout history, have called us to prayer. Churches have filled up, once again. Great preachers stood in our pulpits, confessions of wrong doing in the sight of God were made, restitution was made with fellow man. People promised, that in all their ways they would honor God. But we have today, is a people that reconsidered those early promises. Some say that we’ve strayed too far as a nation to return. I don’t agree, I believe God answers prayer.

It’s time to pray.