Month: October 2024

#96 Prayer Focus for Today: To keep doing what is right to do:

Bible Base: James 4:17.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17 KJV.

We had a very unpleasant incident that made me review the  unpleasant consequences of procrastinating.

On Sunday, we had a very busy day trying to keep overlapping appointments.

However, we had a short window in between appointments, and tried to squeeze in a very important brief meeting. 

Rather unfortunately,  we got caught in traffic, and could not make that very important one. 

We  were like an hour late and decided to proceed to the next appointment, instead. 

That decision cost us.

We were supposed to drop off our tithe and put it off for the next visit, since we were embarrassingly late!

Well, the next day, we had an incident that cost us exactly the tithe we should have dropped off. 

The bad news is that with more expenses ahead due to that incident, it would have been cheaper to drop off our tithe!

You know how hindsight gives excellent vision, right?

Looking back,  we should have proceeded to that appointment, do the right thing,  and avoid opening doors for the devourer to attack our finances!

Many people who are still wallowing in financial hardships still argue about tithing.  

I don’t, I know better.  I encourage tithing, because I have always enjoyed the benefits of tithing. 

For as scripture says, in 

Malachi 3:10-11 NASB1995

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, 

“if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 

Then I will rebuke the devourer for you…says the Lord of hosts. 

The tithe is evidence against the devourer that your finances, health, family,  etc are untouchable. 

Perhaps like us, you procrastinate about dropping off your tithe. Or you used to tithe, and have stopped tithing, because of ignorant theologians who teach against tithing, today’s prayer Focus is for you. 

Nowhere in the New Testament did Jesus Christ stop tithing. Instead, He encouraged tithing alongside caring for parents etc – read Matthew 23:23

  “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Matthew 23:23 NLT

Let us Pray

#PrayerPoints4Today:

1). Thank God for His loving-kindness and tender mercies, that has shielded you from full blast satanic attacks.

2). Acknowledge what you did not do, that you ought to have done: 

3). Plead the blood of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and cleansing from all unrighteousness. 

4). Command the spirits of error, procrastination,  delay, hardship, dwindling resources, neglect,  distraction, confusions and relatives ,  to leave your realms.

5). Affirm that there is therefore no condemnation to you, for you are Spirit-filled and Spirit-led,  and will always do the right thing at the right time. 

6). Command silence upon all voices of accusations speaking against you from anywhere, and declare that the speaking blood of Jesus Christ has accomplished redemption, restitution and restoration on your behalf.

7). Thank God for the new beginning that heralds financial blessings, supernatural favors, and unlimited goodness.

8). Affirm that God is working in you,  to will and to do of His good pleasure,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️. 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D.,#TheSpiritualWarrior October 15th, 2024.

#95 Prayer Focus for Today: Ability to Listen Swiftly and hear Wisely.

Bible Base: Isaiah 50:4 & James 1:19.

Prayer Goal: Towards better listening skills.

A good listener is able to receive messages and accurately interpret them. 

How can you be effective in your relationships at work and at home, if you are so full of yourself, always lecturing, and never listening?

The Israelites of old had that problem with God. They were full of reasons why God’s ideas were not good enough. The slave mentality was their undoing.

Instead of listening to God’s Word, they only heard the accompanying sounds, became terrified, shut down, and preferred third party communication with God. Read Exodus 20.

When you do not develop your listening skills, and discipline yourself to hear well, you will miss great opportunities  to fellowship with God, and to impact the life of others.

That listening defect contributed to the degeneration of that  generation.

If you do not develop your listening skills, you will open doors for misunderstanding and misinformation to thrive.

You must learn to listen to God and accurately interpret His Word. 

Eve had the problem of not listening well . If she had listened well to God’s Word, or paid attention to what Adam told her, she would not have fallen for the lies of the devil. See Genesis 3.

It is important to learn how to listen to God. Get familiar with your  Bible.  God speaks to us majorly through His Word the Bible.

Stop allowing disinformation, misinformation, false Prophets etc to destabilize you with their understandings. 

If you are born again, you are a royal priest of God, a child of God having the same access to God as that apostle, pastor, or deliverance minister. 

The secrets of God are with those that fear (revere) Him (Psalm 25:14) 

How glorious for God to have your ear- to confide in you!

Do you know also that God does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants ? Read Amos 3:7.

If your heart is not right with Him, and you do not ‘fear’- reverence Him, how can He even share secrets with you?

Today is the day you take your relationship with God to another level. 

Start by reading your Bible in order to hear what He has to say to you!

Let us pray.

#PrayerPoints4Toda

1).Thank God for awakening your ear every morning to listen and learn from Him (Isaiah 50:4)

2). Acknowledge and reject that slave mentality that only hears what 3rd parties are saying about God. 

3). Invite God to help you relate and communicate with Him as His beloved child.

4). Command silence upon all the cacophony of voices trying to bring confusion, fear, terror and destruction in your life. 

5). Affirm that God has given you the ability to hear wisely and effectively in your relationships.

6). Set out regular time for personal Bible Reading or Study.

7). Bless yourself and declare your benefits of salvation. 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior.  October 14th 2024. 

#94 Prayer Focus for Today:

Thanksgiving.

We are to approach God with a heart of gratitude.

When you Focus on what is wrong and what you don’t have,  your heart will become sick with fear, bitterness, feelings of unworthiness, and ingratitude.

The thing is that such a mindset or heart attitude will attract more woes, because likes attract. 

Make that heart decision to always give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God for us Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18

#PrayerPoints4Today:

*Take a  minute for a quick review of your life,  and thank God for where you are at today, for no way do you want to go live in the past.

*Thank God for all the adversities He has helped you overcome.

*Thank God for your family, spouse, support group, and church family, for their unique roles in your life.

*Thank God for all who let you down for it made you stronger and independent.

Finally, thank God for blessing your food, drinks and meds, and for taking sickness away from you and yours,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior October 13th 2024

#93 Prayer Focus for Today: Perseverance Vs Persistence in Prayer. 

Perseverance Vs Persistence in prayer  involves shamelessly asking God for your needs until He responds favorably.

 No matter how long it takes or how hard it gets, you never give up because you know ‘Whose’ you are,  who you are, and you understand the importance of what you are asking for.

Bible Base: Romans 8:32 AMPC:

 “He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”Romans 8:32 AMPC 

With that reassurance therefore, “let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]”Hebrews 4:16 AMP

Before we pray, let’s discuss how some Bible characters  persevered and persisted in 

1). Moses  fearlessly interceded on behalf of the Israelites, when God in anger wanted to destroy them- read Exodus 32: 1-14, and to understand the context, read Exodus chapters 32-34.

2)  Ezekiel presented a strong argument against divine instructions, and God relented and allowed an alternative- Read Ezekiel 4:12-15.

The above discussions between Ezekiel and God, transformed my prayer life, and I’m always prepared with facts about why HE should grant my requests in accordance with His Word. 

In Isaiah 41: 21, it says, “Present your case…Set forth your strongest points…”EHV

Read the full text – Isaiah 41:31-43:13

Read also Isaiah 1:18 where God actually wants us to come and reason with Him!

Remember that if you are born again,  God is your father. I’m sorry if you had an abusive relationship with your earthly father, who perverted fatherliness.

 But God is the best Father you can ever have. (Please don’t even let me start to tell you how loving,  kind, protective, and a disciplinarian God is). With God, you can never lack any good thing.

Finally, in Luke 18:1-8 is the parable of the persistent woman and the unrighteous judge, who because of her perseverance and persistence, acceded to her requests.

Let Us Pray:

Father God, thank You for your unfailing love that is as vast as the heavens, a your faithfulness that reaches to the clouds.

We are grateful that your righteousness is like majestic mountains and your judgments are like the deepest seas.

You,O God, preserves and protects us, and provides everything we need, even before the need arises.

Noone can compare to your excellence. 

Thank you for our world and for not allowing adverse weathering to destroy Humanity. 

We plead the Blood of Jesus for the lost and ask that your goodness will lead them to repentance.

Bless all those who have been reading  these prayer posts. Let your Word gain ascendancy in them, nullify all contrary words against them, and produce excellence in them also, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly,  Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior, October 12, 2024

#92 Prayer Focus for Today: Kindness.

Kindness is a form of love which is seen in generosity, consideration and friendliness. 

A kind person  is not sarcastic, vindictive, malicious or vengeful. 

A kind person gives hope and will always promote peaceful coexistence.

When you are kind, you are graceful with your speech and actions.

I earnestly pray to be that kind person who will try harder to not answer a fool in his foolishness.  

I don’t know about you, but there are times when it’s so hard to be kind with words to stupid people.

That notwithstanding, we must  Resolve to be kind: for it a command and a fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. 

Bible Base:

“ And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you”. Ephesians 4:32 AMPC

“The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness”(Galatians 5:22 AMPC

Let us Pray:

Father God, thank You for the entrance of your Word that illuminates our Soul and dissipates darkness.

We acknowledge that we have been unkind at various times, but hereby resolve to be kinder with our words and actions.

We stand against impatience, lack of consideration for the feelings of others, and hardness of heart.

Thank you Father for your enabling grace at work in us to produce the fruits of repentance.

We affirm that we are quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to get angry, as we interact with others daily.

We will be worthy ambassadors of Christ and will continue to live a life worthy of emulating in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️. 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior October 11th 2024

91 Prayer Focus for Today: Everyone Aiding the Victims of disasters,

Today, we shall be praying for two categories of servers.

1). The frontliners who are physically present to help people.
2). Those who send monetary or material gifts to those affected by disasters.

“For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.” Hebrews 6:10 AMPC

Our prayer is for God to remember everyone of them for good, richly reward their labors of love, and shield their families from all evils, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️

Remember also to thank God for answering the prayers of His people to calm Hurricane Milton and to send additional support to victims of Hurricane Helene, as well as give reprieve to those in war zones.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior October 10th, 2024

#90 Prayer Focus for Today: P.U.S.H.

P.U.S.H means Pray Until Something Happens.

Today, we are continuing our prayers for those affected by Helene,  for the calming of Hurricane Milton and Aldine. 

“Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.”

Romans 12:12 CEVUK

#Prayer4Today:

Father, thank you for your mercy that has been prevailing over judgment, and for calming the storms and comforting your people who are devastated by the effects of the storms, winds, and wars.

We plead the blood of Jesus Christ and command the storms to be still,  and hold it’s peace, and for the rumors of wars, and the wars de-escalate.

We rebuke all the forces of evils and order them to stop taking advantage of these disasters to further distress to humanity.

Father, you are God of all flesh,  full of compassion, and infinite in mercy. Be God in our world,  and draw our people to you again. Remember that we are fragile beings, mercifully intervene in our affairs O God.

Thank you for all the  churches and individuals that you have been using to  bring supplies, encourage and strengthen the faith of our people. Prosper them and remember them for good, and shield them from being stalked by human agents of satan in disguise.

Thank you also for not allowing the government and their agents to become God in this situation, instead, you have made your Word, ways, and works known to the world, and diminished dependence upon govts.

Help your people stay focused on you, as they remove debris, rebuild their lives and their homes, reorder their priorities or resettle their affairs.

Father, thank you for bypassing protocol as you provide financial assistance, to help facilitate emotional and physical healings.

As Hurricane 🌀 Milton makes landfall, let it flatten, die out and return to the seas without destructions to lives and properties.

Show the world that you are forgiving, merciful and have the world and it’s elements in your control.

Frustrate all the predictions that are aimed at promoting fear and destabilizing the people.

We proclaim that we do not function in fear, but have faith in you, to save to the uttermost those who come to you through Christ Jesus.

We plead the blood of Jesus as redemption for all those who are in the eye of the storms or in the paths of the hurricanes. 

Thank you Father, for being our God, father, Helper, restorer, friend and righteousness,  in Jesus name we have prayed. 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior, October 9th 2024

#89 Prayer Focus for Today: The United States of America, & the world 🌎:

At different times in the history of Humanity, God did intervene in the affairs of Nations, because His people prayed and repented.

Hence it is written that, 

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14.NLT.

We, the people of God, have been assigned  the responsibilities of  preaching the Good News, which also involves interceding for those we give the Good News.

God does not desire death of sinners, but that they should come to repentance. 

As the world is experiencing Disastrous times, which affects both sinners and Saints, many are quick to blame God or climate change.

To pray effectively, it is important to understand that God is not to blame for the state of our world, and for human sufferings.

Scientifically,  the 2nd law of Thermodynamics says that “when energy changes…entropy (disorder)…increases” (Wikipedia)

What we are experiencing in our world today is disorder, disaster, decay, and death.

Biblically, the world was in dark disorder after the rebellion of Lucifer (Genesis 1:1-2, Isaiah 14:12-14, 2 Peter 2:4, Revelation 12:7-9).

However, God intervened and recreated the world, and put Humans in charge. And the first Human couple, fell for the lies of the devil, disobeyed God, and successfully activated the “Law of sin and death”, which heralded sinfulness, shame, suffering, servitude/satanic domination, sicknesses,  etc. (Read Genesis 1-5, Romans 8:2)

The earth has been in disorder since the fall, and is degenerating further, through our wrong choices, that releases destructive energy in the atmosphere, through sinfulness. 

Bad News:

The bad news is that this state of affairs will continue until God cleans out the world, and recreates a new heaven and new earth(Revelation 21)

Things will worsen on earth and degenerate further, when humans degenerate further in sinfulness. Sin is all unrighteousness- everything that goes contrary to God’s ideal, is sin(1 John 5:17-21)

 If you must apportion blame, place it on the degenerative effects of sin in our worlds. 

The Good News:

 After the fall of ‘Man’ God sent Jesus Christ as propitiation for Sin, thus activating “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus “ which supersedes the ‘Law of sin and death’ Romans 8:2

Thus giving Humanity the opportunity to live right, and have life in all its fullness through faith in Christ’s accomplishment for the world (Read John 3:16, Roman 5:19-21, 8:2).

If you desire a quick end, or a peaceful resolution of the Human crises,  preach the Gospel of salvation,  lead people to repentance,  build up lives, and stop accepting, adapting or blending with the sinfulness of the world. 

If you are regenerated through a relationship with Christ, and yet live as an unregenerate sinner who partakes in the iniquity of the world, then it should not surprise anyone, if you share in the degenerative effects of sin.

This is to help you reconsider how you are living your life here on earth, and to remind you that there are consequences or rewards for everything.

This is a time for sober reflections and prayers. 

#PrayerPoints4Today:

*Prayerfully follow the order of the opening scripture of 2 Chronicles 7:14:

1). Humbly search yourself whether you are still in the faith or have fallen away and fallen into the world. 

2). Identify who your God is, rededicate yourself, affirm your faith in Him.

3). Apply the principle of 1 John 1:9- Read it for yourself.

Note: It is important to deal with personal sins before interceding for others. To seek equity, you must come with clean hands.

4). Identify with, and name the sins that have caused our nations to degenerate further into destruction, disorders, and decay.

5). Ask God to show us and our nations mercy,  and release to our leaders and the peoples of our nations,  the anointing that brings repentance, as well as the hunger and thirst for righteousness. 

6). Pray for repentance, and restoration of the afflicted, and comfort for those who have suffered losses as a result of disasters.

7). Ask God to help people find their deads, bury them, and have closure.

8). Pray healings on our lands and pray to forestall the degeneration of these disasters into health crises or the epidemic that will further waste human lives. 

9). Pray to be more sensitive and discerning in this season, and affirm never to become a victim by association, but that rather, you will continue to be light and salt in this world till He comes.

10). Pray specially for your family, in order to forestall anything evil that will destabilize you, from happening to them.

11). Affirm Romans 8:2 by declaring that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you free from the law of sin and death. 

Remember that the prayer of the righteous man makes tremendous power available 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior,  October 8th 2024.

#88 Prayer Focus for Today: Confront the sinful Sarcastic Self.

Sarcastic people say one thing while meaning the opposite.

People use sarcasm to hide   scorn or contempt, and to insult, ridicule, hurt, criticize, or diminish someone.

The Bible clearly teaches that we should speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15),  and not to use words to demean, and hurt others but instead to use encouraging and edifying words in order to promote a healthy and nurturing environment (Ephesians 4:29).

It is unhealthy to continue to tolerate or live in an environment riddled with sarcasm, because it opens up doors for conflicts.

Hence the Bible says that when you throw out the mocker, fighting goes, quarrel and insults will disappear. (See Proverbs 22:10 NLT)

And according to our picture post from Proverbs 14:3 NLT

“A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe.” It therefore follows that sarcasm attracts unpleasant consequences.

Sarcasm is one of those sinful behaviors to unlearn.

#PrayerPoints4Today:

*Thank God for the grace of forgiveness of sins and cleansing from all unrighteousness in Christ Jesus. 

*Declare your forgiveness of those who have hurt, insulted, ridiculed, and made you feel less, with their sarcasm. 

*Acknowledge how sarcastic you are, and ask God to help you in your decision to no longer hurt others with your words.

*Command the root of sarcasm in you to disintegrate.

* Command all satanic influencers of sarcasm to get out of your realms. 

*Affirm that God has given you His words of wisdom, so that you can comfort, build up and encourage others.

*Thank God for this eye opening teaching that have brought deliverance to you from the Consequences of sarcasm,  and shut doors of demonic activities against you,  in Jesus Christ matchless name. 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior October 7th 2024.

#87 Prayer Focus for Today: Overcome Hypocrisy.

In order to overcome or be delivered of something, it is important to understand what it is and how you can “work out your salvation” by working sin out of your system. 

Bible Base: 1 Peter 2:1

“Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” 1 Peter 2:1 ESV

As I have explained before, Deliverance is an aspect of Spiritual Warfare, and it has two parts to it -God’s part and yours. 

God’s part is done- “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, and has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and translated us to the Kingdom of the Son of His love” etc (Read John 3:16, Romans 5:8. Colossians 1:13)

Your Part is in “doing”, which involves continuing in the will of God, by getting rid of sinfulness, and presenting yourself daily as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God… Romans 12:1.

How?

*Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19,

*“Put off … and put on -Ephesians 4:22-24. 1 Peter 1:14, 2:1.

*”Do not lie…-Colossians 3:9-10; 

*”Stop being a slave to sin -Romans 6:6; 

*”Walk in the spirit, live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18) etc.

Dear People of God,  it is important “to work out hypocrisy out of your system. 

Characteristics of the hypocrite: 

*The Hypocrite is one who practices double standards and preaches what they do not practice. 

*Like Pharisees, they put up a facade in order to deceive.

Hypocrisy has become synonymous with ‘Pharaisism’.

*Pharisees are religious bigots. They are versed in scriptures, insist on strict adherence to the law, but violate the Law and spirit of the law. (See Matthew 23:27-28). 

Hypocrisy or Pharaisism are contrary to God’s will. 

Hence Jesus Christ called them out as white-washed tombs which are filled internally with decaying stuff but present a facade of piety!

*Hypocrites are ignorant of God’s righteousness. They do not submit to God’s righteous standards, but rather seek to establish their own righteousness (Read Matthew 23:27, Romans 10:3) 

*Hypocrites preach publicly against sin, and secretly practice what they preach against.

*Judgmentalism is also an aspect of hypocrisy which involves judging others harshly without compassion and self examination

 (Read Matthew 7:3-5, Romans 2:2)

Hypocrites Practice spirituality in order to garner praise (Matthew 23:2-3,5-7,23-27; Luke 18:11, Acts 26:5).

You can Overcome Hypocrisy:

In order to overcome Hypocrisy,  we must strive for holiness (1 Peter 1:26), develop an allergy for what is evil, keep doing what is good ( Romans 12:9), and keep praying so that we do not enter into temptations. 

As well as:

*Put Away malice, all forms of deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander, (1 Peter 2:1)

*Learn to be consistent, and truthful. 

Be a person of integrity- walk the talk!

*Enjoy your liberty in Christ. But don’t use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, instead live as a servant of God, and remember that you are accountable to God (1 Peter 2:16, Romans 2:1-5)

Further studies to help you rearrange your life in order to walk the talk and not be hypocritical.

Matthew 6:1,2,5,16,24; 7:1-5, 15, 21-23;15:7-9; 22:18, 23:1-39: Mark 7:7; Romans 2:1,3, 1 Peter 2:1,16, James 1:26 ; Titus 1:16, 2 Timothy 3:5…

Let us Pray. 

#PrayerPoints4Today 

*Thank God for the enlightenment and deliverance that comes at the place of prayers.

*Admit how you have being hypocritical  in judgments, and resolve to be more compassionate in your dealings with others.

*Ask God to help you to grow in knowledge of Him, and to be more compassionate in confronting the perceived sinfulness of others.

*Command the evil spirits of hypocrisy, judgmentalism,  malice, envy, slander, religious bigotry,  pretense, falsehood, inconsideration, self righteousness and related evils, to depart from your world,  and go to the feet of Jesus Christ. 

*Declare or affirm that the anointing of intercession is upon you,  so that, instead of judging others while pretending to be holy, you will self-evaluate, and earnestly intercede for others.

*Affirm  that your spirit, soul, and body, will be preserved blameless, till when Jesus Christ returns.

*Thank God for working in you,  both to will, and to do of His good pleasure,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D.,#TheSpiritualWarrior, October 6th 2024