Month: October 2024

#86 Prayer Focus for Today: Coping with Persecution:

When you are being treated unfairly or cruelly because of religion, tone of your skin, gender, height, or political beliefs, over a period of time, you are being persecuted.

In our world today and in the future, political and religious persecution will increase.

*But, you should not be dismayed, disappointed or heartbroken, when people persecute you because of your Biblical Beliefs. That is who they are, and that’s the worst they can do.

*Be encouraged because persecution indicates that you are a positive non-conformist. And that is a good thing. 

In His days on earth, Jesus Christ was a positive non-conformist. You are in good company.

*Remember also that “all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].” 2 Timothy 3:13 AMPC 

*Refuse to allow persecution to derail you from progressing in righteousness. For it is better to suffer for righteousness sake, than to suffer for wrongdoing. (See 1 Peter 3:17)

*Whatever the kind of persecution you are experiencing,  it is important that you “…see to it that your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].”

 I Peter 3:16 AMPC 

If you have on the “breastplate of righteousness” your conscience will be clear,  and there will be no room for anger, bitterness, resentment, revenge, and related evils in your heart. 

Outcome:

The devil cannot demonize you, your persecutors will be put to shame, and God will avenge you.

For as it is written in 2 Thessalonians 1:6 AMPC,

 [It is a fair decision] since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with distress and affliction those who distress and afflict you.

#MyPrayer4you:

*We identify with and acknowledge the unrighteous thoughts and actions that you were involved in, in order to cope with persecution.  

*We plead the blood of Jesus for forgiveness Of sins and cleansing from all unrighteousness.  

*I stand with you against all the forces of darkness that are inciting people,  and influencing adversities against you, and command it all to be stopped.

*I affirm that Jesus Christ manifested to destroy the works of the devil, therefore the forces of evil shall no longer trouble you, for you bear in your body the marks of Jesus Christ.

*I release to you now, the anointing of God’s Spirit that brings favor, goodness, peace with prosperity,  ease of operations, excellence, and productivity.

*I command all doors that were shut against you,  to open up right now, and the stronghold of unrelenting hardship is hereby destroyed,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

*I pray that God in His infinite goodness will wipe away your tears of frustrations, and put a new song of deliverance in your ❤️ heart,in Jesus’s name. 

Read and personalize Psalm 17:1-3, 6-10, 13, 15 AMPC:

[1]  HEAR THE right (my righteous cause), O Lord; listen to my shrill, piercing cry! Give ear to my prayer, that comes from unfeigned and guileless lips.

 [2]  Let my sentence of vindication come from You! May Your eyes behold the things that are just and upright. 

[3]  You have proved my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and find nothing [no evil purpose in me]; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

[6]  I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me and hear my speech. 

[7]  Show Your marvelous loving-kindness, O You Who save by Your right hand those who trust and take refuge in You from those who rise up against them. 

[8]  Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

 [9]  From the wicked who despoil and oppress me, my deadly adversaries who surround me. 

[10]  They are enclosed in their own prosperity and have shut up their hearts to pity; with their mouths they make exorbitant claims and proudly and arrogantly speak.

[13]  Arise, O Lord! Confront and forestall them, cast them down! Deliver my life from the wicked by Your sword,

[15]  As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

Please remember to pray for those who are affected by disasters in their neighborhood . 

God will keep you safe always.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior ,October 5th 2024

#85 Prayer Focus for Today: Reduction of Distress & Reinforcements of coping abilities. 

Although the flood in Noah’s time was the result of Divine judgment, God didn’t forget to show mercy.

According to Bible records,  when God remembered Noah, the flood waters assuaged. 

Which means that God in His infinite mercy, lessened the intensity of the flood, reinforced the coping abilities of the survivors by gradually easing them into a new beginning. Read Genesis 8.

The news reports from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene are so distressing. Whole communities were wiped out and people are still missing.

 God, please remember your people and grant them relief from the effect of these disasters, in Jesus’s name.  

In a touching video, someone described how they could not evacuate, and watched helplessly, as the flood waters came into their home, rising quickly to their necks. 

Another couple said they thought they were safe because their home was on higher ground.  But they watched helplessly, as half their home went down the mountain. 

Where can you go when God is unto you?

Only His mercy can protect you and prevail over his judgments. 

Similarly, those in war zones described how helpless they were when bombs and bullets came at them.

Even in dire situations,  God still remembered to be merciful.

Have you ever been in such a helpless situation, where you came face to face with your mortality? 

Which begs the question, “Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?” Psalms 8:CEVUK.

 God loves us humans, and never gives up on us. He always seeks ways to gain our attention and help us refocus on Him: so that none will perish.

For some, it takes a near-death encounter before they can be reset and their minds renewed. 

When realization hits that ONLY by DIvine intervention can they survive, then they refocus  and surrender to Him.

We cannot wait to have near-death encounters before yielding to God’s will. It is too traumatic, and not worth all the losses incurred in the process.

Lesson:

It is better to learn life’s lessons by precepts and observations,  than by experience: for experience is a bitter-teacher.

Let us pray :

Read the following scriptures, personalize it, identify with all who are facing disaster all over the world, and intercede for them. 

*Psalms 51:1, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13, 17-18 NLT

[1] Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

[3] For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 

[4] Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

[8] Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.

[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

[12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 

[13] Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.

[17] The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. 

[18] Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

#MyPrayer4you:

I pray that God will remember you for good, ease off the pain of your losses, reinforce your coping abilities, send you helpers, keep you healthy, increase your support network, and work in you both to will and to do, ]His perfect will, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

Stay Encouraged, this too has passed, and affliction will not come again. 

But Reevaluate your life, and realign it with God’s perfect will.

Testimony:

We finally received word from my longtime friend Danelle, after nearly 7 days of not knowing where they are at!.

Although Hurricane Helene flooded them and took out roads, power, and homes, God spared their lives. We are thankful. 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior  October 4th 2024

84 Prayer Focus for Today: Reproaches Turned Into Appreciation & Acceptance.

In Mark 5:25-34, is the story of the woman with an issue of blood. For 12 years, she was an outcast. She was ostracized in the society for a condition beyond her.

For 12 years, she experienced shame, rejection, and helplessness.

Her condition drove her to poverty as she pursued all possible cures!

She tried her best. She fought hard to overcome the condition that made her despised, maligned, and a byword in the community.

For 12 years, she was dying: her life was gradually draining out of her. For Life is in the Blood, as the Bible states.

For 12 years, she bore the inconvenience of something between her legs to collect the blood flow.

For 12 years, she was physically, mentally and emotionally traumatized. 

Despite it all, she never gave up the desire to be healed and made whole!

But one day, it all changed.

  She encountered Jesus Christ and her reproaches were rolled away, and she became the living witness of God’s miraculous healings and restoration. 

#MyPrayer4you:

Today I pray for  you, and declare that your reproaches  are rolled away. 

*This is the season of Divine visitation for you, and your circumstances will change miraculously.

*Those who treated you with contempt will become your praise- singers.

*Those who rejected you will be humbled and attracted to the glory of your rising, and their eyes will look up and have respect for God.

*Because God has favored you, the place of your shame becomes the place of your fame, for everything will turn around for good.

*I proclaim your victory over unrelenting issues, and declare that affliction will not return again, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. 

Read and Personalize 

Psalms 27:7-14 NLT:

“[7] Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! 

[8] My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” 

[9] Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! 

[10] Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. 

[11] Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 

[12] Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. 

[13] Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 

[14] Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior October 3rd 2024

#83 Prayer Focus for Today: Help &  Comfort. 

Many are displaced, some are missing and confused,  and several are mourning the death of loved ones, due to wars and disasters. 

Dealing with loss of any kind can be traumatic. Hence the Father of the Prodigal son was very happy when he was found, and the woman who found her lost coin rejoiced exceedingly.

The first thing to go away in a loss situation is joy. And with that goes strength as well. Then confusion and hopelessness takes over.

And if you are going through these traumatic experiences,  your place of peace and comfort can only be found at that place of prayers to God.

 Only God can comfort, console, and help you make the necessary emotional adjustments, in order to cope with your losses.

Although we may not be near you to offer immediate help, just know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

#MyPrayer4you:

My earnest heartfelt Prayer for you is that God will show up strong for you.

In unity of faith with the praying warriors, we rebuke the forces of evils and place a restraint order that restrict them from taking advantage of your vulnerability. 

I release to you now the peace of God that surpasses understanding, and the enabling grace of God, to help you process this time of troubles appropriately, so that your progress will be swift, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. 

Read and personalize the following verses from Psalm 86:3-8, 10, 13, 16-17 AMPC:

[3]  Be merciful and gracious to me, O Lord, for to You do I cry all the day. 

[4]  Make me, Your servant, to rejoice, O Lord, for to You do I lift myself up. 

[5]  For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You. 

[6]  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and listen to the cry of my supplications. 

[7]  In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me. 

[8]  There is none like unto You among the gods, O Lord, neither are their works like unto Yours.

[10]  For You are great and work wonders! You alone are God.

[13]  For great is Your mercy and loving-kindness toward me; and You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol [from the exceeding depths of affliction].

[16]  O turn to me and have mercy and be gracious to me; grant strength (might and inflexibility to temptation) to Your servant and save the son of Your handmaiden.

 [17]  Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because You, Lord, [will show Your approval of me when You] help and comfort me.”

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior,  October 2nd, 2024.

#82 Prayer Focus for Today: Focus & Fearlessness. 

With all the bad news going around, it is important to remain focused on God and not become fearful.

The Bible says in

Matthew 24:6 that, “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6. AMPC.

Read and Apply Psalm 25 2-8

You can use the KJV, but I have used the AMPC for simplicity and clarity. 

Affirm/Personalize  the scripture verses below:

[2]  O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me. [3]  Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause. [4]  Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. [5]  Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long. [6]  Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness; for they have been ever from of old. [7]  Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. [8]  Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He instruct sinners in [His] way. Psalm 25:2-8 AMPC.

#MyPrayer4you:

I pray that your faith in God grows stronger, and that you will not allow the ongoing world crises destabilize you, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior. October 1st 2024