Do you love our nation? Do you love your state? Do you intercede for our nation and your state? I have been a part of IFA’s Texas State Group for several months now and am always blessed to see how God answers our prayers. I decided to share an answered prayer and encourage you to connect with your state group. There is power in prayer, especially when we agree. 

One problem that burns in the heart of our Texas group is for safety in our land, specifically concerning the southern border. The influx of illegal immigration impacts Texas greatly. 

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Answered Prayer for IFA Texas

Our state co-leader, Jane, messaged the group chat with a praise report. She shared that Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared the Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua” (TDA) a foreign terrorist organization and Tier 1 gang. TDA has been in the news for some time. According to the Department of Treasury, Tren de Aragua focuses on human smuggling, trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion. Governor Abbott commented that their violence and murder pose a threat to Texans. Most recently, in El Paso, TX, a hotel was shut down after reports the Venezuelan gang took over it. 

The Texas Department of Public Safety is creating a database that will confirm members of the TDA. This action allows the Department of Public Safety to allocate resources to target the group. “Texas will use the courts to halt their operations, use civil asset forfeiture to take their property, use enhanced criminal penalties to keep them in jail, behind bars for longer periods of time,” Governor Abbott said. The terrorist and Tier 1 designation will enable coordinated law enforcement as well as greater penalties for crimes the gang members commit.

The governor’s action is a direct answer to our prayers. We have been praying for our borders to be secured and for justice in reponse to the TDA criminal actions. This action will benefit Texans and possibly other states where the TDA operates. 

Another answered prayer came when we learned of a pipeline explosion in La Porte, Texas. Jane messaged the group asking for prayers once she learned of the news. Schools were nearby, so we prayed for the children, families, and everyone affected. 

The Texas prayer group often prays for safety, specifically for protection over our power grids, pipelines, nuclear and power plants, waterways, ship channels, and whatever the Lord reveals. This explosion happened near a college and some schools. Some homes were destroyed, cars were damaged, and residents were temporarily without power. Miraculously, all the people were evacuated safely, and although four people were injured, no deaths were reported. 

After reading the reports, we realized that this explosion could have been much worse had intercessors not faithfully committed to praying for our state’s safety. 

Behold the Power of Your Prayer

The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power] (James 5:16 AMP). 

This article is by no means written to brag but to encourage you to consider joining your IFA state group. God is working! If you have no one to pray with, I hope this encourages you to join a state prayer group and pray for His purposes and His will to be done in our nation. 

Maybe you’ve seen the local news and watched as God has answered your prayers for things in the region you prayed for. Perhaps you are new to Intercessors for America and are looking for a place to connect. It’s not by accident you are reading this. God looks for intercessors who will stand in the gap on His behalf (see Ezekiel 22:30). 

Now is a time to ramp up our intercession like never before. No revival has ever come to any nation without unity, repentance, and prayer. The church can become complacent and powerless when prayer meetings and gatherings stop. God doesn’t want business as usual; He wants to awaken His church. He is raising houses of prayer for such a time as this. 

I believe that we are about to see growth in prayer movements and gatherings. If you are already connected to a prayer group, that’s wonderful; stay the course. If not, we want you to be a part of what God is doing and join your prayer shield with us.

It has long been said, “To the victor goes the spoils.” Intercessors, we are the victors due to our position in Christ. We don’t pray for victory because we are on the winning side. We pray from victory. We are positioned in Christ. We are seated with Him in heavenly places. Spoils are what is recovered from the enemy by force. Answered prayers are the spoils of intercession. 

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (see Matthew 11:12).

While reading commentaries on this well-known verse, I noticed it mentions suffering violence. This was referring to the spiritual warfare surrounding Jesus’ ministry. As believers, we will also face spiritual warfare as long as we are faithful to our assignment. Satan hates intercessors. Through our intercession, we are taking the spoils by force.

The Enduring Word Bible Commentary on Matthew 11:12 says, “The kingdom is making great strides; now is the time for courageous souls, forceful people, to take hold of it.”

The kingdom of God is not passive, nor has it ever been. Jesus was not passive when he cast demons out, healed the sick, or raised the dead. His zeal for God consumed everything He did, even his praying. It’s time for the church to ditch passivity and put our hands on the plow. In other words, stay faithful to what God has called you to do (see Romans 12:6-8). 

What does your heart burn for when you pray? Is it education, government, the church, abortion, sex trafficking? Whatever it is, do what God calls you to; that’s your part. The answered prayers are His part. Despite what we have seen or may see, as long as our eyes are fixed on the Lord, we can and should continue to hope. I write this to stir up hope and encourage you. I write this for every intercessor, wondering what I can do. Do my prayers matter? I assure you they do. Prayer is powerful, and more prayers equal more power. 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2 NIV).

Do not be slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:11-12 ESV).

Let’s Pray

Father, we praise You for every answered prayer. Thank you for allowing us to partner with you as we intercede and pray for your will to be done in our nation. I pray for those who are barely discovering IFA or any prayer group. Help them to find their place and lend their unique voice to prayer. I lift every weary intercessor who feels so worn down from personal battles that they have stopped praying like they used to. Let the joy of the Lord be their strength again. We pray for a second wind. Blow Your mighty breath, God. 

Let your watchman on the walls take their place and awaken any who’ve fallen asleep. Let the gatekeepers arise in our churches, schools, government, and wherever you desire. Give fresh revelation strategies and vision to know how to strike the mark in prayer and recover the spoils. 

We say no to passivity and yes to passion and purpose. I surrender my plans and say yes to Your plans. Consume my prayers and everything I do with zeal for the Lord. 

I will be your mouthpiece. I will not focus on the enemy’s plans. Instead, I will use my mouth to decree and declare your word over my state and nation. Wake me up in the night hours so I can pray about what You are showing me. Here I am, Lord. Align my heart with you to do and pray Your will, in Jesus’ name, amen.

How have you seen any specific answers to prayer? Share in the comments and encourage one another. 

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast.