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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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