THE SECRET TO PRAYING IN THESE TIMES
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THE SECRET TO PRAYING IN THESE TIMES
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My role at IFA includes gathering, sourcing, framing, and sharing news that “Christians need to pray about every day” for IFA’s HeadlinePrayer. I will be honest, lately, it seems like being a watchman is like drinking from a firehose. There is so much happening. On so many fronts. With so many issues and agendas. And I don’t think that it is going to let up.
We are approaching a monumental election, we are in month 4 of a pandemic, we are facing record unemployment and economic havoc as a result, we are experiencing the sad reality of the racial divide and the violent reactions, we are watching the slow, slow wheels of justice turn in the SpyGate scandal, we are watching neighbor turn on neighbor for simply not wearing a mask, and freedom of speech appears to be gasping for air in our nation. It is overwhelming. Can you feel it?
As I connect dots and pray about these issues, asking God for discernment on what intercessors need to know, I struggled with the thought that there is just too much information to share with intercessors for prayer. Too much for anyone to adequately keep a handle on. You may feel like this too. But I felt like the Lord gave me a phrase, a philosophy, even a strategy to handle watching and praying at this critical time in our nation. “Pray with your eyes open.” Okay, I am pretty sure that God wasn’t indicating a literal “eyes open” prayer time, but He was indicating a posture. To remain engaged. To be ever-aware of the issues facing us. And to seek to see things with a spiritual lens. Keep. Careful. Watch.
Our prayer is to be a constant conversation, as 1 Thes 5:17 tells us, and now is the time when continual prayer with the Father is ever important. Be deliberate about praying into all these heavy issues. Press in. God has placed you and me as intercessors at this time in our nation’s history to be the front lines in prayer for our country and His purposes. We have been called as intercessors “for such a time as this.” Believe that!
The news is just one dimensional (and much of the time not even factually accurate), but as intercessors, we seek to see what is behind what is being reported. There is always more than meets the eye and there are spiritual forces at play. That discernment and insight helps us to be better equipped to pray strategically about what our nation is facing.
Our team will be sharing a lot of information in Headline Prayer–more than our Informer alerts can contain. There are so many weighty stories to follow that need prayer. I strongly encourage you to visit HeadlinePrayer DAILY to get it all. We will do our best to update you, organize information, provide prayer points and perspective, and engage you in this process by asking for your comments. Issues we are facing today are issues that can determine the future of freedom in our nation. Derek Prince, in his iconic book Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting, aptly states that “history is in the hands of the intercessors.” Meaning, the course of our nation is dependent on the prayers and action of those who are praying (or not praying!).
Buckle up. It is going to be a wild, rough, and busy ride for the next 6 months. As things are being brought to light, the enemy is throwing every trick in the book at us. Our nation should not expect to “make our paths straight” without expecting a counter-offensive from Satan. The people on the front lines of these issues who are bringing truth and justice need our constant, fervent prayer. We will be asking you to pray for them repeatedly—they need it.
What a blessing that we have a community of intercessors who can uplift, inform, encourage, and pray for one another. This is important in these heavy days. No time for distraction. No time for putting our heads down. Today, we pray with our eyes open.
Here are 3 issues I think you don’t want to miss praying about that could go unnoticed:
- The Election is looming. Mail-in ballots are being pushed nationwide. President Trump is resisting due to high rates of fraud and abuse. Plans are moving forward in some states, with some mail-in ballots already being distributed. This will be a battle. Read more about that effort here. Find out three ways you can help fight voter fraud from home–click here to get our new Vote Your Values resource.
- Contact Tracing on Smartphones is here. While tech companies promise that these features that are now built-in to phones with the recent updates, there are worrisome reports that more tracking is being done that they admit. Some states are creating programs to facilitate high-tech tracking of COVID results, your location, your contact with others, and even integrate medical results. This is a disturbing development. Apple has long been a stalwart for protection of data–even refusing to participate with subpoenas for information on a suspect’s phone. Now, Apple is leading the way, along with other tech overlords to provide this COVID information to authorities. Read more about what you can expect on your phone by clicking our article here. Find out more ways that we are being surveilled, tracked, and controlled with our Special Report, Big Brother. Click here to download it.
- Pelosi creates Vote Proxy Scheme. The Senate is back to work, but the House is still nearly empty. Speaker Pelosi has created a vote proxy system, that empowers 20 representatives “to control the votes of 220.” This creates a power core, with only 20 handpicked like-minded Democrats who will vote for all other Democrats who can then stay home “for health reasons.” Members of the House GOP are challenging this unconstitutional representation and have filed suit. Due to the other high-profile news stories, this issue has largely been under the radar. It needs prayer. Read here and pray!
(Kris Kubal is IFA’s Director for Strategic Resources and Engagement.)
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Comments
Thank you IFA for your work and keeping us informed and guiding us in our need to pray as watchman. It also helps when your wording describes exactly how many of us are feeling overwhelmed with the onslaught of issues needing intercession. You create an online community of support in holding up each other and that is very comforting. The Lord’s reassuring and hope-filled message to me lately (and I will share) is…remember,
“HE knows…HE hears…HE sees”. I rest in Him.
He will “make all crooked things straight”…Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16; Luke 3:5…Amen!
I tried to set up an account with you but my email would not be accepted. I have other prayer groups that I pray with. Keep up the good work for our Lord. Prayer is the best and only thing that will help. I thank Him that He hears us and is faithful to answer us.
Thank you for this. I feel overwhelmed so often when I read the headline prayers. Your message is a great encouragement, as well as a comfort. I appreciate your work to help us become effective watchmen.
Thank-you SO very much, for all of your hard work, to help keep us informed on issues that need our prayers!! Yes, praying without ceasing, is becoming more of my personal reality, and your article challenges me to mature in my relationship with our Father, in this area! Thank-you, again!!
“Our nation should not expect to “make our paths straight” without expecting a counter-offensive from Satan.”
I truly believe that one sentence encapsulates what is happening right now. I had a thought this morning: Why is it that just days before Pentecost Sunday, riots break out all across the nation with rioters spewing hate and burning buildings to the ground? Revelation 12 tells us that the devil will display great wrath when he knows is time is short. And there are countless stories in the Bible that show us he likes to stir up strife, confusion and fear to subvert the plans of God (the story of Joseph and the dispute between Paul and Peter comes to mind). Well, satan may well intend these events for evil to subvert the plan of God, but I trust God to turn it around for His glory.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Cor. 2:24
When everything went crazy in February and then in March. I heard the Lord say look at what is happening in Israel and especially in Jerusalem. I did understand at that moment so I kept praying. I went to Israel news and Jerusalem news. There was an article about how they wanted to build a second mosque on the Temple Mount. I thought that’s not the second temple. Then I read about the Jews had a sheep with the exact DNA as the sheep they use to sacrifice in temple. Then I read they have an exact replica of the alter the sheep where slaughtered on. I heard in the Lord say it’s later than you think. I then heard keep praying. Keep awake about what is happening world wide. Now the rioting like the 60s in Jersey. Epidemic coved 19. I heard again keep interceeding stay awake. Look at other nations and what is happening there. Pray
Kris, thank you for this timely and informative article. Of late I’ve been feeling like the person sitting on the bench of the dunk tank my kids enjoyed each summer at our Fourth of July Parade celebration! So much is coming at us, however the water is refreshing once you get over the initial shock of falling in! Onward we go as I sing “ It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You!” There is no where we can go where He is not. We’ll keep our hand on the pulse and prayers on our lips. All for His glory. We were born for a time such as this.
Father, We know this is a great war. We fight an invisible enemy that takes many forms, but we recognize them by their intent: to steal, kill, and destroy. John 10:10. Jesus has sent us the Helper, to lead us into all truth. We pledge to be strong and courageous in this war to retake the land for the glory of God. We bow our knees in repentance and ask for You to take hold of us that we would “run the race” and “finish the course”. “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but divinely powerful for the destruction of strongholds.” We lay hold of the sword of the Spirit, the mighty power of the Word of God: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain.” “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” “Is the Lord’s power limited?” “Rise up, O Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Thee flee before Thee.” “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” “Everything you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” Amen and amen! Glory to God in the Highest!
PS (Dave & Kris, lead on. We are ready to take our stand in this very intense hour! From, the army of the living God)
I thank God for all of the IFA staff with their insight and diligence as they lead the Body of Christ into intercession. We lift you up in our prayers as you lift up leaders and issues for prayer. May the JOY of the Lord be your strength. May the fear of the Lord bring you all wisdom. May the eyes of you hearts be enlightened. May your souls find rest in God alone.
Thank you for acknowledging the reality of the times we live in!
I really appreciate the opportunity to see other people’s prayers. Sometimes my mind is so weary that I can’t create a prayer about an issue, but seeing how God has inspired, or the thought someone else has put into what to pray, allows me to agree and join with them by praying their prayer out loud.
I love it that we Intercessors can “spur one another on” by revealing new angles to pray about an issue or scripture that can be applied to stand on God’s word and His will about a situation.
The article about what I can expect on my phone doesn’t seem to work. Is there a way I can get that article?
Thanks for letting us know-the link has been restored.
Thank you Kris for your article. I agree we are being overwhelmed by the information that pours out of the News Sources’ in our nation. It has indeed, come to a point that there is too much to “take in”. However, we know and serve The Lord God Almighty that is unlimited when it comes to oversight and comprehension. Nothing gets past Him and knowing that I put all things into His hands through prayer believing that God is indeed Omnipotent, Omniscience, and Omnipresent. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
Kris, thank you so much for your article. It resonates with me.
I so often feel overwhelmed by so many situations, some beyond my understanding and so much need of prayer.
Thank the Lord God Almighty for his precious gift of tongues when I have no words of my own.
I see too by the numbers of people who read and pray, which situations are of immense importance, and others of slight interest only. Thank you IFA for each and every report.
Let us not be overwhelmed by all the unsettling news and uncertainties, but let us keep in mind that Our ALMIGHTY HEAVENLY FATHER laughs at man’s puny efforts to derail HIS purpose and HIS plans.
What is most important is that we as individuals keep short accounts with GOD, and get right with HIM, and draw closer to HIM each day keeping ours hearts and minds in line with the scriptures, so that we can hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit and pray accordingly.
Great to read this article. I have also been reading a book written by Merlin Carothers “Power in Praise”. The basic premise is to praise God for this situation, as it has brought us to an heightened awareness that in spite of all that is happening, God has never left us and is still in control. We are 2020 years and one day closer to the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Look up for our redemption is close at hand.
O most merciful and gracious God: Bless the leadership of IFA especially at this difficult time of trying to navigate through all the happenings around us! We are grateful that this is one of the ways You continue to speak to us to help us see and watch the real truth and then to be able to ask for wisdom and discernment in lifting up our prayers to You. Thank you for the prayer warrior leaders at IFA who continue to bring us the truth – give them wisdom and insight and stamina to continue this crucial source of support. We ask for increase in the prayer warriors who will add to the voices crying out to You for Your intervention in all things that are divisive to our nation’s health and survival. Lord, we cry out to you to save our nation because of Your children who love You and for those who don’t love You because they don’t know You! Help us to remember these words from Your scriptures:
Nothing holds God back from his purposes. (Proverbs 19:21)
We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
(Philippians 4:13)
As we lean on the Lord, he will faithfully guide us in his ways.
(Psalm 32:8)
God can move mountains. (Mark 11:23)…
And Lord, let us remain steadfast and be encouraged and hopeful with these beautiful words from Psalm 85: 10-11:
“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.”
May God bring peace and hope to our hearts! Amen
The righteous are standing still, deer in headlights, Oh Lord. I pray the the righteous to get off their seats and to get engaged, putting on the whole armor of God, and act swiftly, by the power of Jesus name. Canceling wicked actions and laws and deceptions and lies, unchecked violence, bringing swift justice to all the lawless,
wicked and deceivers, including members of the House of Representatives and the courts. Praying for order and peace to be restored, all in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Oh Kris, thank you, thank you! You have perfectly articulated my heart. Some days I want to ‘run away’ and stick my head in the proverbial sand. The image of overwhelm has me with my hands over my ears singing silly songs so I do not have to hear smother thing. But God! He has equipped us, given us everything we need for life and Godliness. We are not orphans! He is Emmanuel – God with us. And stories of others who were intercessors in dire times, or current persecuted believers, feed and strengthen our hearts. Lastly, Father will show us what our specific lane is in this hour. We must only be faithful. Thank you for all you all do at IFA! I honor you all and am so grateful.
The link to the article on proxy voting is broken.
Thanks for all you do!!!
Should be restored. Thanks for letting us know!
Thank you for keeping us informed. I am so grateful that none of these stories come as a surprise to our Mighty God. Might we also pray that our great country gets down on her knees and seeks forgiveness for all the wrong she has done. We are all guilty. We all have come up short of God’s glory. We have a Savior who died for you and me. Through Him, we can seek forgiveness and truly love one another. Remember, there is only ONE RACE and that’s the HUMAN RACE.