Debbie Jansen - Author / Speaker / Mentor / Minutes of Faith / Praying for America

Day 14  A grateful heart  1 Thesalonians 5:16-18  "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Day 15  Perfect your vision  Psalm 146:8  "The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed dow, the Lord loves the righteous."

T-A-R is an acronym for "Things Are Rough"  You can survive when things are rough.  Do not be afraid!  Do not be terrified!

Deuteronomy 31:6-8  "Be Strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you  Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.  The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Ron and I were hospitalized.  He was not expected to live.  God had a different plan for then and for our lives going forward.  

We need prayer for America.  We need God to help us move forward.  

America is suffering.  Violence, suffering, discouragement, fear and an overall feeling of doom has captivated America.  The Christian does not fight with a sword, we fight with prayer, good deed, compassion, honest information and the power of God's love.

Psalm 144:1-2  "Blessed be the Lord, ,my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;  he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge."  

You can't build anything on a lie.  It's like trying to nail jello to the wall.  It will fail.  Adolf Hitler murdered over 6 million jews and almost conquered Europe because of his lies.  He said, "If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed."

Luke 21:14-15  "Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.  For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict."

If you are feeling anxious or depressed today, I promise, there is a path to peace.

Psalm 23  "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

While thousands of books have been written on prayer, Debbie will discuss how God looks at our prayers and why some receive a "yes" and others received a "no". 

1 John 5:14-15   This is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

Jesus was not kind to the Priests and Pharisees.  Are we supposed to label sin or to look the other way?

John 8:44 (Jesus talking to the Pharisees)  "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Discouragement can bring anyone down.  Encouragement will lift your spirits and help you to succeed.

Philippians 4:8  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  

Building your life on a lie is the same as trying to nail jello to the wall.  It will not work!

Matthew 10:16  "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."