Every American citizen should be deeply grateful for God’s gift of this blessed nation and be willing to do whatever they can to ensure it stays true to the vision of the Founding Fathers.

I have just finished reading the book Rees Howells Intercessor, and was particularly encouraged and inspired by Chapters 33-36, detailing the prayers during World War II by Howells and the students and staff of the Bible College he founded in Wales.

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Their prayer meetings affected the outcome of many battles, decisions by Hitler, and ultimately the war. It came at a significant cost to the people who committed themselves to pray. I saw several instances where their circumstances were similar to our current situation, and we can learn from them.

“This same principle of faith was to be seen in operation on many other occasions in his life. In pursuit of some great aim which the Lord had given him he would, en route, SEEK AND ASK AND BELIEVE FOR SOME PARTICULAR DELIVERANCE OR PROVISION, which he would obtain, but not in the exact form in which he asked for it. To those who were watching from the outside, this would often appear a failure or mistake, provoking much criticism. But the effect on him–and those on the inside with him in the battle of faith -–was just the opposite: it only strengthened him in the pursuit of the main objective of faith until he had obtained it. He would regard a temporary disappointment en route not as a failure but as a stepping stone–rather like a climber who scales a peak mistakenly thinking it is the summit, only to find higher ones beyond and to find his determination increased to reach it.” (p. 198)

This seems applicable to the Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the Texas case. The Ekklesia thought this would solve the election fraud and were praying into that outcome.

I believe we should continue wholeheartedly to pray for justice to be accomplished in the 2020 elections and the true winner inaugurated as President of the USA, but this rejection by the Supreme Court should be regarded as God showing He has a superior plan for victory.

“Mr. Howells explained like this: ‘You are always getting a death on a point that is not really essential, and then receiving a better thing for it.’ ” (p. 197)

In the battle for Ethiopia, the College was praying and fasting from April 24 – May 5 that Mussolini’s army would not enter the capital of Addis Ababa, but at 4pm on the fifth the Italians marched in.

“It was the first lesson for many in the College of what we have seen a number of times in Mr. Howells’s life, namely, the death in an intercession which has to precede the resurrection, and the test on the intercessors as to whether they can walk through their valley of humiliation, of apparent failure, with an unmoved faith. The very thing they believed for did not come to pass. . . .

The Director has more light on intercession to show us–that unless we had interceded for those in Ethiopia, we would never have suffered with them; and if our prayers were of faith we have only had a setback and not a failure as the result of unbelief.” (p. 212)

There were one hundred missionaries who fled Addis Ababa when it was captured, and it seemed the cause of the Gospel was stopped. The Emperor of Ethiopia was a refugee in London during the remainder of the war, but at one time he visited Rees Howells at the College because he had heard of their intense prayers on behalf of Ethiopia. His private chaplain and his son-in-law were students at the College for a period of time.

The final result of their prayers?

“God’s answer was perfect. The expansion of missionary work in the country since the expulsion of the Italians has been by far the greatest in its history. Just as it was to be later in the World War, so now the answer to the intercession could not have been complete until the aggressor had been so dealt with that he could not rise up and menace the country again: and when the missionaries returned, it was reported in the Walamo district that they could not account for the revival which had been actually going on during the Italian occupation when some 500 converts had increased to 20,000!” (p. 215)

I believe God has a great redemptive plan for America, and we must keep praying and building our faith in Him: His goodness, power, and wisdom to establish His Kingdom.

(Used with permission from Rochelle Smith. Photo Credit: Unsplash.)

Share your thoughts on this powerful word from this intercessor in the comments below!