Ephesians

I am committed to praying daily the prayer for America I receive…but what more am I called to do in this spiritual battle for the soul of America?

The 2 minutes daily I commit to calling out for your help with fellow Prayer Warriors is critical, but I believe there is more required of me is this struggle against the prince of darkness. Show me Your will.  Am I called to battle for the unborn…for the children in our schools…the darkness in my community?  How can I serve…volunteering, giving, organizing a prayer warrior round table…how can You use me?

Joining this battle against the evil which at every hand seems to be gaining strength against Your truth…I cannot do everything…I can do more…show me, I am willing!

AMEN

Scripture: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10

In America today it is easy to rage at the injustice in the land and the brutal attacks being aimed at our children.

I must be careful to remember my battle not against flesh and blood but against the prince of darkness. Help me channel my anger into productive and meaningful responses.

I want to be an effective voice speaking against the evil and the rampant lies so prevalent in our social media and our mainstream press.

May You count my anger as righteousness in the spiritual battle being waged against the innocent across this great country. Help me have the wisdom, the courage, and the platform to carry Your banner into the battle that is being fought for the very soul of America.

AMEN

Scripture: “If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day.” Ephesians 4:26

In America it is nearly impossible to spend any time on social media, entertainment, or the listening to the news without being bombed by offensive language. Communication not designed to advance any logic or make any point of fact, but rather to intimidate.

Both sides of society are guilty of fouling the airwaves and desecrating our communication with words intended only to shock and silence attempts to address the issues or add a dose of reality. This has even invaded our pulpits. We are without hope of healing our divisions if we cannot lower the volume of our conversation and listen. The “Well, they…” approach will not suffice.

Father, we cannot heal our country’s divisions without You. Start with me…help me respect others, listen first and speak with grace and love.

AMEN

Scripture: “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29

Today is a day we set aside to tend to issues of the heart. I’m grateful to report that my heart is in the hands of the most accomplished cardiologist in the universe…my Creator and my boss.

I’m grateful You have made extraordinary efforts to make my heart tender, forgiving and compassionate. I know I haven’t always made it easy. Thank you for reminding me how valuable every person I meet is to You. They are worthy of my respect, my time and my attention.

America today has turned Your priorities up-side-down…we love things and use people. Forgive my callousness and my “me-first” attitude. We need heart transplants all across this land. Send Your Spirit to repair the sclerosis of our hearts. Continue to work on my heart.

AMEN

Scripture: “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him.” Ephesians 4:18

Thank you for the music…beautiful music stirs our souls…it lifts our spirits.  There is something about magnificent music…every instrument and every voice working in unison to produce a message of uncommon commitment to a worthy cause that is found nowhere else on earth.

The enemy knows this power.  In response, we hear from the darkness, discordant, jarring sounds and angry lyrics, screeches that attack our peace and disturb our hearts.

Teach Your children how to make beautiful music together and the beauty and the hope of our song drown out the sounds of this world. May the beauty and power of our orchestra overwhelm even the most glorious solo.  May the joy of our melody shine Your light into the darkness.

AMEN

Scripture: “When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.” Ephesians 5:19

When You rebuke me, Your words are bold…but gentle. You lead me without vitriol or crudeness. You are teaching me to learn to speak without cursing or using Your name in a vain attempt to magnify the impact of my words.

In America, across every form of communication, swearing and cursing are commonly used to turn our words into weapons. Our vulgar conversations are appalling and childish.

Our coarseness is required to:
get a cheap laugh
to batter our opponents into submission
to cover the weakness of our position.

My father taught me…”Only uneducated folks swear…intelligent people know how to speak forcefully without cursing.”

Lord, help me to control my speech and the thoughts behind my words. May my speech always be truthful, gentle and God-honoring.

AMEN

Scripture: “Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.” Ephesians 4:29

I am blessed to bask in Your love and peace that surpasses all understanding.

I am confounded by the way the enemy distorts our language and defines the idea of real love. Our public debate has be defiled by coarse and vile language.

Volume has replaced reason and personal attacks have replaced facts and logic. It is called “hate speech” to insist there are only two genders…to define promiscuity as counterproductive and counterfeit “love”…to understand that compassion sets healthy boundaries. The truth…a loving mother does not subsidize her child’s drug addiction. A loving parent does not submit their preschool child to gender-altering surgery. True love trains and restrains and YES disciplines the object of its love. Unleash Your Spirit among us and teach us how to truly love one another.

AMEN

Scripture: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

When I see the immorality and degradation of our culture on display in our headlines: shared on our social networks and mainstreamed in our educational institutions, I’m sickened at what we’ve become.

Then I see my own fallen state and how much You have forgiven me and I am deeply ashamed by how I am complicit in our fall by choosing to remain comfortably remote rather than risk backlash by speaking truth to this madness.

Violence…grooming…hedonism…corruption are NOT okay…yet I haven’t engaged the enemy from my knees as I should.

Help me remember our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the prince of darkness. My best strategy is to put on Your spiritual armor; drop to my knees; seek Your help; forgive those lost in this darkness and stay faithful to Your call.

AMEN

Scripture: “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father…” Ephesians 3:14

Your word says it is possible to be angry without sinning. I lift this prayer to You angry in my soul for the injustice and corruption overtaking America.

Injustice surrounds me. We have endorsed child mutilation as a solution to gender issues. The AMA has been corrupted by big money to the detriment of patient care. We have chosen violence as our first option to resolve our differences. We have become no better than worshipers of Baal…only our idol is money.

All of this and more has created an unjust society and the resulting pain and heartbreak anger me.

Please temper my anger with wisdom that I might bring solutions not simply hot rhetoric to the public debate. May I learn to speak lovingly at the moment of my greatest anger.

AMEN

Scripture: “Be angry, yet do not sin. Do not let the sun set while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27

You have destroyed every tool in the enemy’s arsenal to intimidate me to silence.

When Christ conquered the grave, His kids were set free from the tyranny of fear’s greatest weapon.

Why am I so reticent to boldly respond to the lies and deception that are spreading darkness and evil across America? Don’t I know that the silencing of God’s children in the face of the direct assault on the throne of heaven we are experiencing today in America represents a key pillar in the spiritual battle we face?

Do I not know that if I cower in fear before the bullies; the bullies win?

Teach me to be a spiritual warrior filled with Your grace and unmoved by the threats of the servants of darkness. Empower my heart to stand unafraid.

AMEN

Scripture: “So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:13