In addition to praying for the physical challenges our governing authorities face at our nation’s borders, we must also correctly assess any spiritual threat crouching at our door. As the government is standing watch at the physical entry points, believers must watch over these gateways in the spiritual realm. Due to physical and spiritual boundaries established by the laws, oaths, and covenants in our nation, our land has been dedicated to God. As watchmen in prayer, we are called to guard and protect our borders from any spiritual forces that seek to gain access for evil purposes.

In Acts 17:26 we are told that God established borders when He first divided nations. In Ezekiel 45:1-6, when the people on the land pledged their allegiance to God and allotted their land to Him, the land became set apart and holy unto the Lord. The borders became physical markers of this sacred relationship. In Psalm 16:5-6 we are told that God delights in establishing our inheritance and making our boundaries secure. Physical borders may determine the allotment of land and the sovereignty of nations, but they also represent spiritual realities to be guarded and protected.

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In addition to the physical threats coming through the nation’s borders, the adversary uses these circumstances to bring in dissension, hatred, immorality, idolatry, and a host of other evil practices. This is where watchmen must rise up in prayer over these gateways to declare God’s promises and purposes for the nation and deny entry to any spiritual foe.

In Ephesians 4:27, we are told to “give no opportunity to the devil.” The word “opportunity” specifically means any place, surrounding portion, or marked-off territory. In other words, we can prevent the devil from going beyond any boundaries that have been set apart to the Lord. This is our charge as intercessors as we remind any spiritual foes of God’s Word over our nation and any previous declarations made over our country. One example is the Pledge of Allegiance:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Through this simple declaration, citizens of this nation have made a promise. We have declared our nation to be one that is under the sovereignty of the Most High God. This grants us the authority in prayer to call any demonic forces into submission to this pledge. Any foreigner (both natural and spiritual) who enters our borders must recognize this pledge and honor this agreement.

Even in the Old Testament this principle of spiritual territory was understood. Though there are many references to aiding sojourners and aliens in the land throughout the Old Testament, there were also dire warnings for those who did not follow Hebrew laws.

Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed. Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Ex 22:20-21)

Israel was well established as a theocratic nation and was a signpost to all the other nations that Yahweh was the one true God. Any public promotion or prayers to other gods or false religions was strictly forbidden (see Deut 17:2-5, 2 Chron 15:12-12). Israel was dedicated to the Lord and any foreigner seeking refuge was fully expected to assimilate into the Hebrew culture and adopt their laws and practices. Their borders were physical and spiritual reminders of their dedication to the Lord.

Today, the spiritual principle still applies as God seeks to both protect His own as well as extend His mercy to those who do not yet know Him. We must continue to pray for the many innocent lives being impacted by the immigration challenges, as well as our governing authorities who have been charged with executing justice and protecting the citizens of this nation (see Romans 13:1-5). But, we must also remember the spiritual implications of the spiritual gateways and pray accordingly.

Here are four simple prayer points to consider as you pray over our nation’s borders.

1. APPLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS over each entry point into the nation.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. (Col 1:19-23)

• For those who live near a border, taking communion at the point of entry can be a powerful tool in reinforcing the power of Christ’s blood. For others, we can apply these Scriptures by faith over each border entry into the nation.

2. RESIST (Renounce any agreement with) ideologies, mindsets, and arguments that are set against the laws of our government and the Word of God.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)

3. DECLARE the Pledge of Allegiance as a reminder of our nation’s foundation.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

4. BLESS those who enter with a hunger and thirst after righteousness.

This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the one who does this—the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.” Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” (Is 56:1-2)

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Join our special, emergency prayer conference call on the border crisis, Friday, April 26, 2019 at 1215 pm ET. Our special guest, White House Liaison Todd Lamphere, will share insider insight on praying about immigration. Call (712)775-7430) to join (no code needed), participate on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/247223139, or join us on Facebook LIVE.