I Prayed 703 have prayed
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. (Ps 139:23 MSG)
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Many are praying about what the Lord is saying for this year and in this hour. There are several things the Lord has spoken to my heart.

This is a serious time in which we need to be sober, pray, and take heed. But also we must not fear. How do we not fear? When we do justice and righteousness.

Ezekiel 33:16 refers to justice after someone who has committed an injustice or sin turns from it, when God sees and says, “None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he will surely live.”

We are to do justice and righteousness. We are to live holy as He is holy. That means we need to clean our “house.”

I will judge each of you according to his ways. (Ez 33:20)

This is to each of us individually. Each of us will give an account individually to the Lord.

The word “judge” in that verse is the word: shaphat. It actually means more than just to judge. It means “to govern” and encompasses the areas of executive, legislative, and judicial actions of government. It has both positive and negative meaning: for those who practice justice it means to avenge and defend. For those who practice unrighteousness it means to pronounce sentence and punish.

This is both a time of restoration (justice given) and judgment (also justice given) depending on which side of the pendulum you are on. This is a call for holiness and repentance.

I heard the Lord say THIS YEAR. This is not a futuristic word. It is an imminent word. And it will begin with the shepherds (leaders) and the prophets.

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord. (Jer 23:1)

We know that judgment begins first within the Church, although I believe this is also a word for others in leadership. We have already seen over the last several years the Church shaken with those who have fallen. But for those who are still leading a double life, leading sheep astray, abusing, they will be broken…suddenly. I don’t believe this is just a word for the shepherds of the Church. It is for the shepherds (leaders) in our nation as well.

This is a call to holiness and repentance.

But let the sheep be fully aware, that this call to holiness is to them as well. God deals with leadership first…and then he deals with the sheep. Do not think He will deal with one and not the other.

HOWEVER, this is also word of hope and encouragement as He says to His people:

“I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer nor be terrified, nor will any be missing, declares the Lord” (Jer 23:4).

“I will feed them in a good pasture. I will feed my flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God (Ez 34:14-15).

So while we are not to walk in fear, it is urgent that we each make sure we have our lives and our house in order. One of the areas we need to begin is in the area of pride. Pride comes in so subtly, that often we don’t even recognize it.

In the midst of the tense relations with Iran right now, I sensed the Lord say, “There is a pride in America that they are untouchable. They are not.” Pride makes us touchable. We have to remove it.

We cannot put our hope in our military might, in our strength, or that we are a “Christian nation” and so we cannot be touched. To do so is pride that opens a window to our downfall. Our hope and trust must be in God.

This is also a call to humility. Let us remember, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chr 7:14).

 

Karen Hardin is an intercessor, author, minister, and literary agent. Her work has appeared on USA Today, World Net Daily, Intercessors for America, Charisma, CBN.com, The Elijah List, etc. For additional information, you can contact her at www.prioritypr.org or www.karenhardin.com.

 

 

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Mari
January 9, 2020

It is time, high time, for churches that do not offer a mid-week prayer service to begin to do so. “My House shall be called a House of Prayer.” “LORD, teach us to pray.” Out of fourteen churches in my local area, only two offer a prayer meeting . . . . and we wonder why the country and the world is in the state that it is in.

    Betsy
    January 9, 2020

    Yes!!! Growing up we always had midweek prayer services but then churches wanted to be trendy and they thought the prayer services were only for “old folks”. But in cutting off the prayer services they cut God out of church. Let’s rise up and fill in the gap where the church has left off. Let’s pray even though churches do not.

      Mari
      January 10, 2020

      The problem Betsy is that it was the “old folks” who really knew GOD who taught me how to pray all those many years ago. Who is there to teach the younger people how to pray the scriptures if all the “old folks” have no prayer meeting to attend? How necessary to have a weekly Prayer Meeting–one that is open to everybody even to none church-members who may be just passing by and see the church sign: “Prayer Meeting Tonight at 7:00pm – 9pm. All Welcome!”. The time is NOW because the world is becoming darker by the minute, so let’s see how we can encourage pastors to obey The LORD’S declaration!

    karen secrest
    January 11, 2020

    I felt the call on my life to come into a new season of prayer and Intercession for our nation but also for myself and my family. What the Father is asking flies in the face of worldly ideas which means I’m mocked frequently for the way I live.
    The Lord led me to Ezekiel 34 msg last night which is sobering but also appropriate for the day.
    The Lord reminded me I didn’t get there except through solitude and prayer.
    “Hear Me Now says the Lord GOD ALMIGHTY. I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST. I WILL HAVE NO OTHER gods before Me. Heed My Word. Look to your Spirit to see what each needs to do to confront the idols in your life and Tear Them Down. Hear Me Now. Holiness is my desire. Be Aware of the fire that awaits those who wait. NOW IS THE TIME. HEAR MY VOICE.
    CLEAN HOUSE!”

    Larry Unger
    January 21, 2020

    His Word rings out truth today: 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24, NIV

Karen Hardin
January 9, 2020

Amen!

Gina Jacobs
January 9, 2020

Agreed! Pride has no place in our lives as followers of Jesus/Yeshua.

We are not invincible as people or as a nation. However, God’s power IS invincible!

May we as individual followers and as a nation of the one true living God come to our knees in humility and repent for our pride.

May we yield all to the King of kings and Lord of lords, finding out that only in God lies our true strength and power for victory in every area of our lives and for our nation/world.

Lorena Ayala
January 9, 2020

Thank You For This Words We Need To Hear An Exortation It’s like A water To Our Bones Amen.

Joseph Serpico
January 9, 2020

Amen. The last few days I’ve been so unsettled by all the evils of the liberals, and the Muslims, I’ve actually found myself getting angry in a ungodly fashion. I need to not let the enemy get the best of me. Hs will use it to compromise my relationship.
God has it all in hand.
I pray Lord that you give me, us, wisdom and courage and boldness and restraint and discipline and tenacity in these matters. That the demonic powers which are manipulating those who are against you, and us, have no authority and power over you Lord, and us. That we are of your joy and peace even in the darkest times, and we stand firm in our faith, even unto death, if need be.

Gloria A Robles
January 9, 2020

These words justice and righteousness have been on my heart very much as well. The Lord has indeed been uncovering much. We are seeing it in our government, leadership,and even in the church. I have even had dreams about what is going on in his church and awoke very heavy hearted, but driven to pray. What you share is so true and needed. We forget that judgement begins in the house of God. It’s a sobering word, we never hear or talk about because it offends. Father make your church ready. Give us eyes to see what you are showing us. Give us ears to hear the wake up call you are giving to the body of Christ. Give us your heart to respond appropriately. As we see much uncovered in our govt, church,among leaders in the church let us not become haughty, let us humble ourselves in prayer and repentance. Father cleanse your church from pride, perversion, immorality,corruption,double living, pride, mammon,compromisers,and being lovers of this world more than lovers of God. Forgive us for trampling on the blood of Jesus. Restore the foundations of justice and righteousness to your church oh Lord.
Let us walk and live worthy of the call on our lives.(Ephesians 4:1) Let us examine ourselves and be presented to Jesus as a bride without spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:27) in Jesus name. Thank you Karen for this much needed word.

Verna
January 9, 2020

God, I pray you heal Your Church. Bring us true shepherds who are bold to preach Your word. Open the ears of the sheep to hear and obey.

S Medd
January 9, 2020

Amen!

Betsy
January 9, 2020

Yes Lord. Remove false Bible teachers or bring repentance to them. Bring Saul-to-Paul type conversions on Bible teachers who are speaking against our President and speaking against our country. Remove those lying teachers from their positions so they have no more influence. Replace them with people of integrity who pray blessings on Trump (just like Your Word instructs us to pray).

Glenn Freeman
January 9, 2020

Amen

Lamentations 5:21

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