Daily Archives: January 5, 2016

God’s Foundational Purpose for America

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12274474_1059837174079389_2259098459216603194_n“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

God is very purposeful. He has foundational purposes for America. Our forefathers stepped onto these shores with a Godly purpose.

We can pray for their fulfillment in these days. We have God’s authority to pray His purposes over America. May we pray in unity for God’s plan for this nation to come to pass. It is time to enlarge our vision and see His heart to touch the nations with His light and His glory. It is time to see with the eyes of our heart the reality that the earth will be filled with His knowledge and His glory as the waters cover the sea.

I lived on a missionary ship for years and when we were at sea, we saw how vast and endless the ocean was. God’s light and truth and power will reach the world to that extent. May God give us revelation of this truth so that we may pray it into fulfillment. It will happen as the intercessors arise in holy determination and fiery intercession until the breakthrough comes.

The Foundations of America

The following are the foundational purposes of America as expressed through the U.S. presidents and the godly leaders of this nation.

George Washington (Founder of our country) – “Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy son, Jesus Christ.”

Patrick Henry – “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Abraham Lincoln (16th president) – “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to won their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”

56 men signed the Declaration of Independence and each one knew, when they signed their name, that they were risking everything, including their lives. Will we not stand for truth that it might prevail and that God may become King and Ruler of America?

Bill Bright says, “From the days of Columbus on, God used great care in forming the United States of America, creating us to be a worldwide influence.” The New England Confederation proclaimed in 1643 said:

“We all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely, to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When the Jamestown settlers stepped ashore, they immediately planted a cross and claimed the land for Christ. Governor William Bradfore in referring to the pilgrims’ mission in the new world said this:

“They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good founda-tions, or at least making some ways toward it, for the propagation and advance of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.”

The Mayflower Compact of 1620 declares that the Pilgrims came to advance the Christian faith for the glory of God. They believed they were part of God’s plan to raise up a nation from which they and their descendants would not only enjoy the blessings of a new land with religious and political freedom, but also touch the world with the Gospel.

The Puritans had made a covenant with God and understood the powerful significance of this. Winthrop said, “Thus stands the cause between God and us. We are entered into covenant with Him for this work. We have taken out a commission . . . But if we neglect to observe those articles, and dissembling with our God shall embrace the present world and prosecute our carnal intentions, seeking great things for ourselves and our prosperity, then the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us, and be avenged of a perjured people, and He will make us know the price of such a breach of such a covenant.”

God’s blessing comes with a purpose. “We as a nation seem to have forgotten that life is more than a series of causes and effects. Just as there is a goal, a destination to which God is ultimately leading each individual, God also has a specific and definite goal for each nation. Throughout American history, we see dramatic evidence of God’s hand molding and shaping this nation into a vessel He can use.”

Like our forefathers, we must fight for our nation and claim it for God. We can no longer let the devil take our country. It is time for intercessors to arise in believing prayer and take back this nation for God. We need to cry out that His destiny for America will come to pass. We need to pray that we will be a blessing to the nations of the world.

A Prayer for National Revival

“Father, in the name of Jesus, we pray for the great sleeping giant, the church, who even now has begun to shake herself from her sleep. We pray she would awake to righteousness and holiness in every denomination, in every body of believers, and slumber no longer. We pray we would begin to unify under the blood-stained banner of the Cross and preach the gospel of the kingdom clearly and boldly in every highway and byway of our nation. We pray that we will not only stand up and speak up but that we will begin to reap a great harvest in our nation, bringing multitudes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. May the revival of the saints be so all-encompassing that it affects the spiritual complexion of our entire nation and influences our politics, our economy, our media and our entire society.”  Acts 3:9, Eph. 1:15-23, 3:14-21.  From Pray For Our Nation

“From its beginning America was a nation of vision and destiny. We were created with a mission grounded in a specific covenant between God and the people of this nation – a sacred contract that would form the core of what we were to become. The history of America is the story of God’s preparation of a people to touch the world with the love of Christ. In a drama that began many years ago, we have been carefully molded, disciplined, and guided by God as a nation set apart for a special mission. Although America has changed in many ways and though we often struggle against great darkness, our mission has not changed.” Bill Bright

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Silent Contemplation in Prayer

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12289700_1061498247246615_393757766484629366_n“Silence in prayer is often not something we orchestrate; rather, it is a gift that can come upon us quite unexpectedly. Instead of rushing to fill the gap, we learn to embrace the gift as the better part of our time of prayer.” Quotes by Wesley and Stacey Campbell 

In learning about prayer, silence and contemplation is a special dimension that very few of us have grasped. One of the reasons for this is because we have been influenced by the noise and busyness of our present-day life style. And in the midst of a whirlwind of activity that we have so often misunderstood as important or necessary, we have missed the beauty and necessity of learning the discipline of silence. We so often miss out on the life of contem-plation.

Recently as I sat silently looking out of the window watching the snowflakes fall, I realized afresh how wonderful it is to be quiet before God in silent meditation. Take time to be silent before God. I do this on a regular basis, and find that it adds a wonderful dimension to my prayer life.

The Bible says that we must be still in order to know God. Silence is a necessary art if we want to really know God. It is a gift from God. So if God is quieting down your activity or stopping you in some way right now, perhaps He wants you to learn this most important discipline. God is wooing you to Himself. He is removing all the barriers of true communion with His spirit. This is a gift to you, so embrace it with all your heart. The Bible says in Psalm 46:10a:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” 

“In silent contemplation, a supernatural drawing occurs. Having come to the end of words, we simply stare in silence at the person of God. One of the most apt, and most beautiful, descriptions of the essence of contemplation that I have heard comes from a simple farmer: ‘Think of the wonderful description given by that unlettered farm laborer at Ars who used to remain for hours in stillness and silence gazing at the tabernacle and when the Cure d’Ars asked him what he did there, simply replied: I LOOK AT HIM, AND HE LOOKS AT ME.’”

The Benefits of Silence Contemplation in Prayer

  • God fights on our behalf when we are silent – “You and I are very weak. If you, in your weakness, attempt to attack your enemies, you will often find yourself wounded. There is another way. In times of temptation and distraction, remain by faith in the simple presence of Jesus Christ. You will find an immediate supply of strength.”
    “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” (Exodus 14:14).
  • We find God in a deeper dimension – In silent prayer, we develop the art of looking at God.
    “’You will seek me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:13-14).
  • We grow in the art of meditating on Scripture – Exodus 34:6-7 is filled with the divine attributes of God.  Meditate on these two verses for a long period of time.
    ”And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7a).
  • We learn to shut out external activity – We discover the art of external simplicity and inwardly learn to dwell in God’s presence. “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple (Psalm 27:4).
  • We learn to meditate on God’s nature – It is good to start with meditating on one aspect of God’s nature in a single verse of Scripture. For example, meditate on God’s holiness adorning His house for endless days as found in the following verse:
    “Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord” (Psalm 93:5).
  • We grow in our love relationship with God – “What we are really after is the ability to live out the first commandment – namely to love the God who loved us first, with all the passion and strength we possess. Therefore, words become unnecessary when their purpose has been fulfilled.
    ”At the deepest personal level possible, an interchange of love is occurring. And although contemplation usually starts with a person pouring out his or her emotions for God, often one is swept up into a realm where one is overtaken by feelings from God.”

I pray that each one of us will learn the secret of silent contemplation. This is where we take the time to commune with God heart to heart and spirit to spirit. It will not happen by chance, but we must give time for this and understand its’ value. I am challenged by St. Francis and his example of silent contemplation before God.

“With face turned to heaven, and hands and eyes lifted to God, in complete surrender and with the warmest of devotion, he prayed, saying: ‘My god, my All’ These words he groaned out to God, with copious tears again and again with solemn devotion until dawn: ‘My God, my All’ – and no more.”

“Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him . . . when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord . . . Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abounds”
Psalm 4:3-7.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Health and Healing in Scripture

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12376254_1070125296383910_3441194080106287692_n-2“The words you speak are vital to your health and well being. I believe there are some diseases that will never be cured unless people learn to speak the language of health that the body understands. God’s Word is infused (engrafted) into you by giving voice to His Word with your own mouth, and this is the language of health to your body.” Charles Chapp

 I encourage you to pray Scriptures of healing and health for yourself and those who are sick. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I began to pray many Scriptures regarding health and healing over my situation.  Almost every day I would pray the Bible over my body. It helped me so much, and although I did have surgery, I am now cancer-free.

God can heal in many different ways. He can use doctors, He can heal miraculously, He can heal through nutrition, He can use the prayers of the elders in the church, and He can heal through counselors. I find that you cannot put God into a box. He can heal in various ways, and He can do it quickly or over time. We have to be open to all His ways of healing. Each one is a miracle in its own way. He is the God who heals.

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” Malachi 4:2

Bible Verses Relating to Health and Healing

The Bible talks so much about health and healing.  Don’t be hesitant to pray the Word of God over those who are sick. People appreciate it when you do. Praying the Word of God out loud is powerful. There are many verses that speak about healing and health. There are many verses relating health to right living and what Jesus did on the Cross relating to our sickness and infirmities. The following are a few good verses you can use that someone sent me when I was sick.

  • Exodus 15:25-26 – “He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
  • Matthew 8:16-17 – “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.’”
  • Ezekiel 34:16 – “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak… I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
  • Proverbs 4:20-22 – “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.”
  • Psalm 107:20-21 – “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.”
  • Jeremiah 33:6 – “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
  • Isaiah 53:4-5 – “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

As you pray Scripture over yourself or someone who is ill, always keep in mind that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is important to take care of it the best you can through right nutrition, exercise, nutritional supplements, proper rest, etc. There is a need to obey God in taking care of His temple.

May God help us all to eat and live healthy for His glory. We have been bought with a price.

 “Do you not know that your body is a temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you, whom you have received (as a gift) from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price (purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own). So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC