Increase Your Faith

Father, I bring the needs of our government before You and ask You to bless our nation through godly leaders. I magnify the Name of Jesus and declare that He is Lord over this nation.

Father, I pray according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3 which says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”

I pray, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, for our president, the vice president, all the Cabinet and the chief justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court to receive the wisdom of God, to act in obedience to that wisdom and for the power of God to flow in their lives.

I pray for the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to find Your peace and direction, and for these men and women to act and lead according to Your Word. A house divided against itself cannot stand, therefore, I pray for them to be unified in righteousness for the sake of the nation.

I pray for Your protection to cover all our law enforcement officers and the men and women of the military. I ask for godly counsel and wisdom for judges across this land. In the Name of Jesus, I pray that You and our kingdom of righteousness be manifested in the hearts of all those who are in authority in any way.

Father, Your Word says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because those who love Jerusalem shall prosper. Lord Jesus, because You love Jerusalem and wept over it, I love it also. I pray for Jerusalem to receive the Shalom of God, which brings wholeness—nothing missing, nothing broken. I pray that no leader of our nation will make any decision that will harm Jerusalem in any way. And in the Name of Jesus, I pray that You reveal Your perfect will to all the leaders of Israel. I ask You, Lord, to reveal Yourself to each person. Thank You, Father, for hearing my prayers that are in accordance to Your will. I receive the answers, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Source: Kenneth Copeland Ministries

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Are You Thankful? By Sharah LaGail Wyatt

Little children are often taught by their parents to say “thank you” whenever they receive a gift or when someone says something nice to them. As people grow up, sometimes they forget these lessons of “thankfulness” which they have learned.

Being thankful isn’t just a polite thing to do. Giving thanks is more than saying “thank you”. Thankfulness is an attitude of the heart. True thanksgiving comes from being grateful for what we have and for every blessing we receive. Maybe we don’t have everything we need right now. Maybe we don’t have everything we want. What we do not have is no excuse for not being grateful for the good things we do have.

If we focus on all that we don’t have, it will usually make us feel really unhappy. But whenever we choose to be thankful to the Lord for His Goodness and for the good things He has done for us—it will produce joy in our heart.

It has been said that a thankful heart is a happy heart. It is true. Thankfulness leads to joy. Colossians 3.15-17 says, “Let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be thankful… With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the Name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of Him” (CEV/ NKJV).

Thankfulness is a powerful force that works with our faith (our trust in God). When we live by being thankful, it helps our faith to be strong so that we can receive more blessings from the Lord.

Thankfulness also improves how we act, and makes us enjoyable to be with. People usually don’t want to be around a person who is unthankful, because being unthankful makes them selfish and have a bad attitude. But when a person is thankful and appreciates others, it causes them to have a good attitude that blesses those around them.

Thankfulness is all about walking in God’s commandment of love. Jesus said that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—and that we should love others as we love our self (Matt. 22.37-40).

Perhaps your friend or family member gave you something that you didn’t like—is that any reason to hate them? No! Perhaps God didn’t answer your prayer in the way you wanted Him to do—are you going to hold a grudge against Him?

Being thankful is really not about the things we do or don’t have. It is not a feeling. Being thankful is a choice that we make, regardless of our circumstances.

Jesus laid down His Life and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could have Eternal Life. That alone should be reason enough for us to be thankful every day of our life.

Yet, Jesus has done so much more for us. He has blessed our life with so many good things and has prepared unending blessings that we have not yet even received.

Let’s take up the challenge and live in thankfulness more than we ever have before—every day.

Ask yourself—Am I thankful? And then reply—Yes, I am thankful!

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Come, Lord Jesus by Kenneth Copeland

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

Hopelessness. As this age draws to a close, that’s a feeling that’s going to be more and more common among the people of this world. But, you know, it’s something we as believers never have to feel! Because no matter how much pressure comes on the earth, no matter how dark the natural circumstances around us are, we know that we have hope in the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we forget that. We get our attention focused so intently on the natural things of this life that we lose that hope and get caught up in the hopelessness around us. But we don’t have to let that happen.

A friend of mine once met a born again Arab woman in the Middle East who was living proof of that. The woman was caught in a life most of us would consider almost unbearable. She was living in a war zone that had been torn up by violence. She faced the danger of bombs and bullets every day.

Now that Arab woman had no hope in the natural. Her country was being destroyed around her. She had to go to Israel to work and get money for her family because there were no jobs where she was, no way to make money. Things around her seemed to be going from bad to worse, but she told my friend she had hope because she knew that Jesus was coming back for her. And that hope kept her going.

So, if you’re feeling hopeless, get your eyes off this world and get them on the soon return of Jesus. Not only will that raise your spirit, the Bible says it will purify you. It will cause you to live uprightly, to separate you from the sin and failure of the world around you. It will lift you into the joy and victory of God.

Think about this. When this old world comes to an end, you and I will just be getting started. We’ll be stepping into the most glorious life we’ve ever known. The people of the world may look back wistfully and wish for better days gone by. But for you and me, the best is yet to come. So we can shout hallelujah in the midst of trouble and say with the Apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Come quickly

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For Another By Kenneth E. Hagin

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4).

When a Spirit-filled relative of mine couldn’t seem to grasp certain important Bible truths, I prayed the Ephesian prayers for him every morning and night, inserting his name in the appropriate places:

“Lord, I’m praying this prayer for ‘Joe.’ God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give unto ‘Joe’ the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of ‘Joe’s’ understanding be enlightened; that ‘Joe’ may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

And I continued on through both prayers. I prayed these prayers for him morning and night for ten days. Finally he wrote me, saying, “It’s amazing how things have opened up to me. I’m beginning to see what you’ve been talking about.” No human teacher had talked to him about spiritual matters.

People frequently want to know how to pray for friends and loved ones. Some people just pray, “God, bless them.” But God has already blessed them with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). They just don’t know it, so they can’t take advantage of it. Pray these Ephesian prayers for your friends and loved ones. Stay with it morning and night, and more frequently if you can.

Confession: (Pray the Ephesian prayers for someone you desire to walk in the truth.)

Source: Faith Food Devotions by Kenneth E. Hagin

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All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 (CEV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

I believe wholeheartedly in Proverbs 2:6. Let me first establish that. All Wisdom certainly comes from God. However, I have a bone to pick with, not only this translation of the verse, but several other modern translations of it as well.

The point of contention for me is the use of the phrase “common sense” as opposed to knowledge. Nothing that God gives is common because He is a holy God. The word common is synonomous with impure, unholy, unclean, and defiled.

The Lord gave Peter specific guidance in this regard. He said, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:15b NKJV) Moses also gave Aaron and his sons, the priests, instructions in line with this too. He said, “You shall make a distinction and recognize a difference between the holy and the common or unholy, and between the unclean and the clean; (Leviticus 10:10 AMP)

Anything that comes from the Lord is uncommon, pure, holy, and perfect. You are not common because “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 NKJV) Therefore, nothing God gives you to be successful in this life is common, to include your sense.

Stop referring to your mental faculties as common sense. The world may have that, but you have the precious knowledge from Heaven.

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There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. Proverbs 30:12 (ESV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV)

That He [Christ] might sanctify her [the Church], having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, (Ephesians 5:26 ESV) Emphasis added

There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. True enough, but that’s not you! You were born from above and washed in the precious Blood of the Lamb.

Additionally, Christ Himself has cleansed you by the washing of water by His Word. You are special; you are clean; and you are holy! So, conduct yourself accordingly. For this is the will of God, your sanctification…God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:3b & 4:7 ESV)

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For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

The Father is the source of all Wisdom; He and He alone gives knowledge and understanding. As a matter of fact, the word “father” means source. Consequently, there is no where else to go for Wisdom, or for that matter, knowledge and understanding.

That’s why the Apostle James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.” It’s that simple; He is the only source. The Apostle Paul also recognized this. While conveying his prayer focus for the church at Ephesus, he said, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

Don’t waste your time seeking for Wisdom in books or from teachers, whether spiritual or secular. They are not the source of what you need. Seek God, the Father with all your heart. He will surely bless you with a generous amount of Wisdom.

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“We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.” Colossians 1:9 (CEV)

16So I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers. 17I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. 18My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people. Ephesians 1:16-18 (CEV)

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Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 (NLT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

To see today’s verse from the proper perspective, we must start by defining the word “grace”. Scriptural grace has several definitions and applications, but one that really sticks out and ministers to me personally, is that grace is God’s Divine ability revealed IN us. In short, grace is the supernatural ability freely made available to human beings; it’s God’s ability mixed with our own.

For more clarity, let’s review 1 Corinthians 15:10 in light of what we have established. The Apostle Paul said, “But by the grace (ability) of God I am what I am: and His grace (ability) which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace (ability) of God which was with me.” Let’s also look at 2 Corinthians 12:9. Here the Lord Jesus told Paul, “My grace (ability) is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” In the context of these verses, we can clearly see a definition and application of God’s grace or Divine ability.

In Proverbs 11:2a, it says, “Pride leads to disgrace…” The prefix “dis” means the same thing as the prefix “un”. In English, they both convey the meaning of “not”. So just as the word untrue means “not true”, the word disgrace means “not” grace or no Divine ability. The Spirit of Wisdom conveyed to King Solomon that pride leads to no manifestation of Godly ability. In other words, the prideful are on their own; they are limited to natural abilities and can never tap into the supernatural strength made available to us all.

A proud person from a Biblical perspective is one who holds God’s Word, His way, and His Wisdom in low regard; they despise Him. They seek their own way and neglect God’s truth. That’s why they can never tap into His ability because His ability, or power, is in His Word. The proud are on their own when facing satan and his army of darkness and they are no match for them at all.

1 Peter 5:5 states,”GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD (those who despise Him), BUT GIVES GRACE (Divine Ability) TO THE HUMBLE (those who appreciate the Wisdom in His Word and way of doing things).” Part B of Proverbs 11:2 tells us that humility brings Wisdom on the scene; humility and Wisdom go hand in hand. Coupled with 1 Peter, we can see that Wisdom produces God’s powerful ability (grace) to us when we humbly seek Him.

Now that we have established these things, let’s exegite today’s verse: Pride (no regard for God or His Wisdom) leads to disgrace (no access to Divine ability), but with humility (appreciation for God’s Word) comes wisdom, which is God’s strength! Amen!

As a final note, let’s take the Apostle Peter’s advice found in 1 Peter 5:6:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God (His Word), that He may exalt (promote and strengthen) you at the proper time.

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