+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.
Reading: Psalm 70:2-4 (NLT)
May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!”
Reading: Joshua 5:13-15 (NLT)
When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”
“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”
At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”
The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.
Reading: Luke 11:21-22, 24 (NLT)
For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe — until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.
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“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’”
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My Prayer:
Protecting Father:
+ Keep watch over all who seek You; fill us with joy and gladness in the Holy Spirit.
+ Keep our feet on the narrow path that leads to life, abundant and eternal.
+ Deliver us from those who would do us harm and expose their evil, wicked ways.
Conquering Son:
+ Humble us before Your holy presence and Your mighty power.
+ Fill us with an awareness of the eternal significance of the spiritual battles before us.
+ Train us and send us into the fray as confident soldiers of the cross.
Liberating Spirit:
+ Free us from bondage to the forces at work around us, that would squeeze us into this world’s mold.
+ Show us how to pray when we can’t find words to express the passion and longing in our hearts.
+ Fill the empty places in our lives with Your love and light, that deceit and darkness will have no place to reside within us.
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“Holy Ground” – Sandi Patty
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Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Protecting Father, in the name of the Conquering Son, and in the name of the Liberating Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.
Reading: Psalm 7:9 (NLT)
End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.
Reading: Zephaniah 3:13-15 (NLT)
Christ the Redeemer Rio
The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another. They will eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid.”
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.
Reading: 1 John 4:18 (NLT)
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
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My Prayer:
Righteous God: You look deep into our hearts and minds.
+ Deliver me from all evil and wickedness that still resides within me.
+ Fill me with Your Spirit and transform me after the likeness of Your Son, Jesus.
+ End the evil and wickedness being displayed by provocateurs on the streets across America.
+ Defend those protestors who are honestly expressing their dismay at the election results.
+ Use these changing times to fill empty, restless hearts with the peace that can only come from You.
Lord God: You moved Your people from the pews to the polls in unprecedented numbers.
+ Now, come and live among us; display Your presence and power; show us Your glory.
+ Fill us to overflowing with Your perfect love and drive away all fear and anxiety.
+ Transform us into living witnesses of Your mercy and grace.
+ Send us out into our chaotic world to love and serve You through the people we meet today.
I ask this in Jesus’ name.
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“Ye Servants of God” – Washington Choral Society
Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim, and publish abroad his wonderful Name; the Name all-victorious of Jesus extol: his kingdom is glorious; he rules over all.
God ruleth on high, almighty to save; and still he is nigh: his presence we have. The great congregation his triumph shall sing, ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.
Salvation to God who sits on the throne! Let all cry aloud, and honor the Son. The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim, fall down on their faces, and worship the Lamb.
Then let us adore, and give him his right: All glory and power, all wisdom and might, all honor and blessing, with angels above, and thanks never ceasing and infinite love.
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Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Protecting Father, in the name of the Conquering Son, and in the name of the Liberating Spirit. Amen!
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The people of God will have nothing to fear at the Day of Judgement.
Opening Prayer:
Lord God of all the ages, the One who is, who was, and who is to come, stir up within us a longing for your kingdom, steady our hearts in time of trial, and grant us patient endurance until the sun of justice dawns. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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“Only King Forever” – Elevation Worship
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Malachi 4:1-3 (NLT)
[Those who uphold God’s name need have nothing to fear when the world ends.]
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.
“Unto You That Fear My Name Shall the Sun of Righteousness Arise with Healing in His Wings” Thomas Moran (1837-1926)
“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 98:5-9 (NLT)
Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.
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“Psalm 98 (Sing Unto the Lord)” – Shane & Shane
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A Reading from the Letters: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 (NLT)
[A condemnation of laziness.]
For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 21:5-19 (NLT)
[St Luke writes about the end of the world and the second coming of Christ, with words of reassurance for disciples of the Lord.]
Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
“Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”
The Triumph Of Christianity Over Paganism Gustave Doré (c 1868) Art Gallery of Hamilton, Ontario.
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
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“The King Is Coming” – Newsboys
Empty hearts are filling up | Wicked ways are coming undone | Every eye is looking out for You | City lights are burning out | Freedom’s song is ringing loud | Dead men waking up to the sound of You | And all our hearts can sing | All our hearts can sing is
Make a way for | Make a way for | Make a way for the King | The King is coming
Split the sky with your glory | Bring to life an awakening | Burn away everything that’s not for You | Hear our voices crying out | We won’t stop ‘til heaven’s come down | We won’t stop ‘til every knee bows to You | And all our hearts will sing is
Open up the doors | Open up the doors | Lift your eyes to see | Our King is coming
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Intercessory Prayer:
Sovereign God, You rule heaven and earth with truth and grace. And one day, Jesus will come again as the righteous judge of the living and the dead. Hear our prayers as we await that glorious day.
+ For people who live in fear, that they may be filled with Your perfect love and do what’s right…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who feel hopeless, that You may open new ways for them to experience Your mercy and grace…. Lord, hear us.
+ For a peaceful transition within our government, after the presidential election, that we may come together “as one nation under God”…. Lord, hear us.
+ For perpetrators of violence and chaos in our streets, that You may restrain them and deliver us from evil…. Lord, hear us.
+ For victims of crime and violence, that they may see Your justice done on earth as in heaven…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our loved ones who have died in Christ, that they may be raised to life on the last day…. Lord, hear us.
Lord our God, You rule the world with justice: help us in all our needs, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Days of Elijah” Robin Mark
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Benediction:
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.
Reading: Psalm 46:1-2 (NLT)
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Reading: Nahum 1:2 (NLT)
The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies!
Reading: Mark 5:1-13 (NLT)
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
Jesus casts out demons Tapestry by Russian artist of applied art Andrey Madekin
When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
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When you speak to me in dreams or visions, when my heart is drawn to others, when I hear the call that says, ‘Come close to us, and help us!’ is my heart so hard that I would turn away?
Will I not say, ‘Prepare me, Lord, in every way’ that when I hear You call me, ‘Come away!’ I will go and be Your voice, Your feet to stand, Your heart to care, Your coming in love with blessing that can stay.
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“Break Every Chain” – Jesus Culture – Live From Chicago
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Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Protecting Father, in the name of the Conquering Son, and in the name of the Liberating Spirit. Amen!
At the outset of 40 Days of Prayer for America, I acknowledged that I was a partisan Donald Trump supporter and, while trying to be reasonably fair, prayed accordingly.
I am obviously elated at the outcome of the election, and truly believe that God answered the prayers of his people. I believe, as does Franklin Graham, that God showed up and moved His people from the pews to the polls in unprecedented numbers – driven primarily by two issues: “the right to life” and the appointment of new Justices to the Supreme Court.
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Largest Evangelical Turnout in History Helps Donald Trump Defeat Pro-Abortion Hillary Clinton by Micaiah Bilger | Nov 9, 2016 | Washington, DC (full article click here)
Christianity Today reports four in five white evangelical Protestants voted for Trump on Tuesday “at their highest margin since 2004.”
Evangelicals strongly identify as pro-life, and the two top party candidates’ positions on abortion appears to have had a strong sway on evangelicals’ votes.
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But there was also another dynamic underlying the turnout in this election – Donald Trump gave “deplorable,” hard-working, ordinary Americans a voice. He became our champion after every member of the ruling class had abandoned us.
He was really our only choice from the beginning – every other candidate was bought and paid for by the ruling class and their backers. All they wanted was our vote, but they were tone deaf and indifferent to our real needs and concerns and would have reneged on their promises as soon as they were elected (“Fool me once, shame on me….”).
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(BTW: Romney never even bothered to meet with ordinary people when he visited South Carolina in 2012. He didn’t need us; he had the donor class backing him and flooded the state with TV ads.)
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Ordinary people, like me, could see it all happening, but we were powerless to do anything about it. We were the “unprotected.” No one cared what we thought and, if we dared to venture an opinion, we were ridiculed and demeaned. And then, along came Donald J Trump.
This blog is subtitled: “My view of life from the cheap seats.” That is literally true, in that I live in a great, planned, community near the beach that is affordable to middle-class Americans. I really couldn’t live as cheaply anywhere else. The people in my neighborhood are mostly retired or second-home people preparing to retire.
We come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, mostly from the Northeast and Midwest, and have worked hard all our lives, raised our kids, played by the rules, and are now enjoying the fruit of our life-long labor. We generally hold Judeo-Christian values and fly American flags on holidays. We have been through a devastating wildfire that totally destroyed many of our homes, as well as damaging hurricanes. And we have taken care of each other – even saved lives. Our personal futures are relatively secure. Mostly, we worry about the futures of our grandchildren.
I mention this because our local Precinct voted 75% for Trump, our County voted 67% for Trump, and our State voted 55% for Trump. My point is – when people like me, viewing life from the cheap seats, saw our chance to have our say and make a difference, we took it. And I suspect that we represent millions of voters who turned out to vote for Donald Trump.
I believe that God did show up in this election and surprised everyone – except those of us viewing life from the cheap seats, and those of us who prayed for our country. God heard the cries of His people and graciously gave America another chance for Redemption. Will America accept God’s rule and reign and become “one nation under God” again? That remains to be seen.
Redemption is not automatic. We can’t vote it in, and Donald Trump can’t dispense it. It’s up to God’s people to show and tell their friends and neighbors what God has done for them in Jesus Christ. Now the real work of “witnessing” begins – giving a reason for the hope that is in us, and pointing to the election “miracle” that preserved the right to life and the U.S. Constitution grounded in Judeo-Christian values as proof that God answers prayer.
40 Days of Prayer for America is over but the work of prayer (and it is work) continues.
President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence are going to need a lot of help and they will continue to need a lot of prayer. I pray that President-elect Trump will surround himself with godly men and women to help advise and counsel him as he leads the nation. My prayer is that God will bless America again!
– Franklin Graham
Thank you for joining me in this prayer venture for America. May God bless you and your family.
+ In the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Franklin Graham on Facebook –
Did God show up? In watching the news after the election, the secular media keep asking “How did this happen?” “What went wrong?” “How did we miss this?” Some are in shock. Political pundits are stunned. Many thought the Trump/Pence ticket didn’t have a chance. None of them understand the God-factor.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians from across the United States have been praying. This year they came out to every state capitol to pray for this election and for the future of America. Prayer groups were started. Families prayed. Churches prayed. Then Christians went to the polls, and God showed up.
While the media scratches their heads and tries to understand how this happened, I believe that God’s hand intervened Tuesday night to stop the godless, atheistic progressive agenda from taking control of our country.
President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence are going to need a lot of help and they will continue to need a lot of prayer. I pray that President-elect Trump will surround himself with godly men and women to help advise and counsel him as he leads the nation. My prayer is that God will bless America again!
The Peanut Gallery 