Carter Conlon | Daily Devotionals

It's Christmas time, and we think of the darkness that wants to engulf the whole land. People are milling about everywhere, wondering what the future will hold. A dominant, anti-God power is taking over the nation and starting to dictate to the people of God what they can or cannot do. It’s a very, very fearful time. 

I'm not talking necessarily about today, although there might be a parallel. I'm talking about the first Christmas, the very first one. Thank God that the heavens opened. Thank God that angels brought messages of good tidings, of great joy to all people. Thank God for the mercy and goodness that shines so brightly in that manger through a little child. 

Let that be your Christmas today. Ask God to break through into your mind and spirit and show you once again the great news of Christ. 

It's time to pray.

Only the prayer of humble individuals can make a difference in our current time. James, the apostle, encourages us to confess our faults and pray for each other. He emphasizes that the fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful for healing. 

An example of this prayer is seen in the prophet Elijah, who prayed earnestly for a drought and later again for rain. Elijah's prayers were rooted in his desire to see God glorified, and the nation turned back to true worship. He recognized that people had been captivated by false ideologies and teachings that promoted material gain. 

Elijah's prayer was not self-centered but focused on leading the people back to worshiping the one true and living God. Let’s follow James's example and pray honestly, seeking God's intervention. In doing so, we can bring about transformation in our nation. 

It's time to pray.

In Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul urges us as brethren to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God, holy and acceptable. This act of surrender is not extraordinary but rather a reasonable response to God's mercies.

It's only reasonable for us to offer ourselves to God and say, "Here I am, Lord. Take my life and use me for your glory." Even though we may feel insufficient, we recognize that in God we have everything we need.

Despite our past failures and present fears, we trust in God's faithfulness and His ability to empower us with His life and His strength flowing through us. We can confidently declare that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Let's embrace this truth today and start speaking again as the Church of Jesus Christ with authority. 

My brother and my sister, it's time to pray.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will 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 heal their land.”

It's not enough for God's people to just pray. As good as that is, we must combine prayer with humility, acknowledging our flaws, and approaching God honestly with sincere hearts. We must seek His intervention and healing for our nation and recognize that only He can bring that change. 

As lawlessness and a spirit of lawlessness prevail in our enemies, they consume everything around us. Let's humble ourselves before God and sincerely pray for His intervention and healing. We can invite God to work in our generation. 

It's time to pray.

I've got a question today: Is there a limit to God's mercy? The answer is obvious. When you look at the scriptures, there is no limit. Sometimes, we struggle with our faith and doubt, but God understands He can give us signs and restore what was lost. Just like how Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, God can change every one of our situations, heal our bodies, and restore our lives. We may feel unworthy, but God's mercy is for all of us. 

Let's acknowledge today that Jesus died for us. He paid the price for our sins so that we could be forgiven and have a relationship with God. Christ is faithful. He can bring us freedom and healing even if we have only a small amount of faith. 

Why don't you join us every Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST at itstimetopray.org? People worldwide gather together to pray and believe for an end-time pouring out of God’s Spirit. 

It's time to pray.

The Epistle of James 5:16 says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Don't let pride consume you. Scripture tells us that God opposes the proud but grants grace to the humble. Therefore, let's not pretend to be something we're not. Instead, let's approach God sincerely and begin to lift one another in prayer. Through genuine connection with God and one another, the Bible promises healing and the transformative power of prayer.

I encourage you to approach God honestly and pray for each other, allowing that healing power to work in each of our lives.

It's time for us to pray.

Isaiah 59:19 says, “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

If you are a son or daughter of God, you are the standard that the Lord says He will raise up. God will use your life to make a difference. You'll have the power to stand against the onslaught of darkness. Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” 

Even though something seems entrenched in society today, becoming almost unmovable, you have God’s power in prayer. The Bible says nothing is impossible when we surrender our lives to God's will. 

My brother, my sister, it's time to pray.

In Matthew 5:25–26, Jesus said these words: “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.”

In this passage, we see that we must quickly agree with our enemy but then advance towards Jesus. Admitting failure or sin is okay, but don't linger there. If we wallow, our adversary soon becomes our judge, and that judgment leads to a prison. 

We must quickly remind the enemy that we are saved as we confess our faults and pray for godly sorrow. God, in His goodness, will bring us to repentance. Don't get trapped by guilt. Bring everything into the light and receive God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. 

Above all else, it's time to pray.

The spirit of lawlessness, perversion, and insatiable lust is driving people through the streets, causing them to seek new and cheap thrills constantly. There's a spirit of false worship and a belief among people that they know what the truth is. This lawlessness is so pervasive in the world today. 

We need God's presence to come again and make a difference. I can't pray that for you or anyone else. The Holy Spirit will only come if you genuinely desire Him and invite Him to take over your life. He's a gentleman and will never force Himself upon you. 

Each individual needs to seek God's presence and pray for the Holy Spirit to come and transform your life into what God intends you to be. Reflect today, pray, and invite the Holy Spirit into your life. 

It's time to pray.

We live in really dark times, and today, we need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit of God. We need His empowerment to impact our generation. I pray for courage and the manifestation of God's glory in our lives. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to break the chains and open doors in our society, schools, and workplaces. 

We can't sit on the sidelines any longer. Let’s ask for a spiritual awakening in our nation and a mighty move of God in our cities and churches. Together, let's actively pursue His presence, surrender to His will, and be a part of God's end-time army. 

Why don't you join us every Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST? Give it a try at itstimetopray.org. People worldwide pray together in real-time. God, give us a spiritual awakening before you come back. 

It's time to pray.