April 22, 2021 Prayer for Our Cities

 Intercessors for America gives us some ways to pray for our cities:

"1) Pray for spiritual awakening in the churches of your city.

Pray the Scriptural prayers found in Ephesians 1:15-21, 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12, 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:10-13, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, 2:16-17, 3:1-5; and Hebrews 13:20-21. Insert the name of congregations and assemblies in your city, asking God to bring the fullness of Jesus’ life into the church.

2) Pray against the spiritual strongholds of darkness over your city.

Ephesians 6:12 teaches of the constant spiritual battle in the heavens where lies actual strongholds that the enemy has over geographic areas. (see also Daniel 10:10-13).

3) Pray for the leadership and authorities in your city.

Such as the mayor, the city council, police chief, school board, etc. ( 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

4.) Ask God to bless your city.

“Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted” Proverbs 11:11. The greatest blessing God can send is Jesus Christ, who will turn people from their wickedness, and bring them salvation Acts 3:26.

5) Pray for the welfare of your city.

“…seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” Jeremiah 29:7 and Psalm 122:6,7.

6) Pray for the people of your city to turn to God. 

Remember that Nineveh (read John 3:1-10) and Samaria did (John 4:39-42).

7) Pray for your city to support righteousness and goodness.

“When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy” Proverbs 11:10.4"

May we see revival among the nations as a result of our intercession for our cities!

“...their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought in the other boats, and soon all the boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.” (Luke 5:6 NLT)

Pray with me:

“Father, we bless our cities in Jesus’ name. They are in great need of You. Open our eyes to see the reality of our cities, both good and bad. Forgive us for not paying closer attention to what is going on in them. We believe You have placed each of us exactly where You want us; You have a purpose for where we live and work. Grant us compassion for the needs in our communities. Give us Your plan for these cities.

"We call the governing structures of our cities into order. We ask for the right individuals to run for city councils and school boards. We decree peace over our cities - protect law enforcement, giving them wisdom to do their jobs of protecting us well and without fear. Let businesses thrive. We ask for answers to any systemic problems. Lord, show us where and what to pray to uproot enemy strongholds in our cities.

"We expect Your great end-time harvest and we ask You to send laborers into the fields which are white and ready for harvest. Use us in the coming revival. Release Your kingdom and power throughout each of our cities with signs, wonders, and miracles. Invade every area of our cities in every mountain of influence. Unite the churches - the size of the catch will be big enough for all houses of worship to participate. Prepare us to disciple these new believers. Strengthen us to see Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ Name we ask these things. Amen."

from Give Him 15:

Nations, including America, are in turmoil. Numerous cities are in trouble. Many have written to us deeply concerned, wanting to know what to do. First, don’t panic. These are typically the times when people are most open to Christ. The nations could not be more ripe for harvest. As we pray for this, however, we must remember to start with our cities. Too often we focus on a nation, forgetting that it is comprised of cities. We’ll never get revival for the whole if we don’t get revival for the part.

There are many apostolic leaders being raised up and mantled with passionate callings for their cities, but every believer must engage in this battle. As individuals we must pray for our city, and the corporate Ekklesia should gather together to push back the darkness and reclaim our cities for Christ.

The following poignant quote from Andrew Murray is very pertinent to the need for prayer in this hour, “The great work of intercession is needed...It is here that the coming revival must find its strength. Let there be, with every minister and worker, ‘great searching of heart’ (Judges 5:16), as to whether they are ready to give as much time and strength to prayer as God desires. Let them...give themselves in secret to take their place in the front ranks of the great intercession host.”1

In his book, With Christ in the School of Prayer, Murray also states, “God rules the world through the prayers of His saints, ...prayer is the power by which satan is conquered, and...the church distributes the powers of heaven”2

Murray is right, of course. Prayer is among the essential disciplines of our faith and practice.

Jon Bunn, a leader in Fort Worth Texas said, “One of the most critical prayer focuses we have is the harvest of souls residing within our city. People will step into eternity with Christ based on our prayer and witness. Jesus tells us in Luke 10:2 in the New Living Translation, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.’ (Don’t be surprised if He sends you as an answer to that prayer.) Prayer shifts atmospheres and transforms culture.”

Amos 9:13-14, again in the NLT, speaks of transforming cities. ‘The time will come,’ says the Lord, ‘when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine! I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine.’

George Otis, Jr., in his book Informed Intercession, speaks of the incredible transformation of Cali, Columbia several years ago.

The Cali drug cartel was considered the largest, richest, and most well-organized criminal organization in history, exporting 500 million dollars worth of cocaine a month. The cartel owned as many as 12,000 properties in the city. Drug money controlled everything, including the banks, politicians, and law enforcement. Crime and murder were rampant with as many as 15 people a day killed by thugs. In the spiritual arena, the church was anemic and divided.

Then God initiated a work of prayer and unity. In May 1995, over 25,000 people filled the civic auditorium and prayed all night for breakthrough in their city. Within 48 hours, Cali experienced its first 24-hour period with no homicides in as long as anyone could remember. The police force was purged of 900 cartel-linked officers. The Columbian government began to crack down on the drug lords and, with a force of 6500 commandos, captured most of the leaders.

Through unity and much prayer, the believers in Cali finally experienced their breakthrough. For years after, they held all-night prayer rallies every 90 days with thousands of people in attendance. Great openness to the Gospel existed at every level of society. Across the board, church growth exploded due to new converts; one church grew to 35,000 members - and (at the time of this writing) is still growing! Denominational affiliation and location had little to do with it. By the year 2000, this marvelous revival had gone on for 36 consecutive months.3

Incredible! Jon Bunn continues to describe the need to pray for our cities. “Our prayers and declarations release His supernatural power, which flows into the city and touches every societal level. Many of us face cities filled with challenges and failures in education, city and county leadership, business, poverty, homelessness, violence, and fear. Without God, there is confusion and an aimless emptiness that, often by default, advances the agenda of evil. We must believe and pray that our cities will encounter God’s life and power. Only Jesus can change our cities and nation. Remember, as you pray for your city’s health and well-being, God will respond.”

1 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29296/29296-h/29296-h.htm

2 https://www.amazon.com/Christ-School-Prayer-Andrew-Murray/dp/1603865314

3 George Otis Jr., Informed Intercession (Ventura, Calif.: Regal, 1999)

4 https://ifapray.org/blog/prayer-points-for-your-city/

https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-22-2021

April 21, 2021 Prayer - Redefine, Realign and Restore

"Father God, let your Ekklesia around this nation and world rise with great fire, passion, and purity. Realign us for a move of Holy Spirit on the earth like we’ve never seen before. Realign us for revival. Realign us to unseat the antichrist agendas and those who represent them, and replace them with the sons and daughters of God - locally, regionally, and nationally. Release Your power into the atmosphere of this nation and transform it. Realign culture and government through Your power. Release angel armies to accelerate Your kingdom. Restore geographical regions and territories to Your defining purpose. Bring new identity and great blessings to the regions.

"Father, accelerate Your grace on Your Ekklesia and validate that Your kingdom is among them. Let Your rule protect them and Your power sustain them. May Your presence fill them and Your glory surround them. We declare we will align and become who we are supposed to be.

"And Father, release miracles of realignment in our nation and in people’s lives throughout the earth. We decree realignment in the destiny of prodigals. Unwind twisted hearts and those who are bound in their souls. Let us see visible miracles and manifestations of Your power. In Jesus’ name. Amen."

We decree that God is redefining, realigning, and restoring His people, His Ekklesia, and our nation!

from Tim Sheets:

“Recently, I have sensed there is a strategy that Holy Spirit wants to emphasize. He is doing something supernaturally that God has planned. The Ekklesia, His body through which He speaks and acts, is here to represent Christ’s base of power on the earth. Seated with Him in His kingdom’s government (as Ephesians 2:6 describes) it arises to affect society, culture, laws, and earth’s government. This is a spiritual kingdom, headquartered in heaven, where Jesus is enthroned to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. His representatives on earth will now function at higher levels of efficiency.

“We occupy the seats with Christ spiritually in heaven’s government, but we can also occupy the seats in the natural governments of the earth. This is a restoration of what He said in Genesis 1 and 2 we are to do as part of the dominion mandate. Holy Spirit is calling some of our sons and daughters to run for seats in government, representing Him without compromising. He is especially grooming the millennials to unseat antichrist rulers. Young Davids are going to replace some Sauls.

“As I was praying into our times,” Tim says, “Holy Spirit said to me, ‘Redefine, Realign and Restore.’ I then began to hear the sound of bones cracking in the spirit realm. I heard the popping of bones and joints coming into place. Upon hearing this, I remembered a story from my childhood.

“My dad, along with local pastors, often conducted healing services. At one of these meetings, a man was pushed into the church in a wheelchair. His body was twisted, misshapen, and slumped to one side. Dad and the other pastors gathered around him and began to pray (see Mark 16: 15-18). As they prayed, I started to hear popping, cracking sounds as the man began to twitch, move and shake. I watched him unwind in his wheelchair as his limbs straightened and his body realigned. I saw what appeared to be a hopeless condition suddenly change. A ‘no way’ became a ‘God way’ as hopelessness realigned.

“After pondering this occurrence, the Lord said to me:

“‘My Ekklesia kingdom hubs will now begin to see miracles of realignment in people’s lives, government, and culture. This will be an era of miraculous realignment. I have planned for My Ekklesia hubs to bring realignment to their regions through outpourings of increased power of Holy Spirit moving upon them and within them. I will realign the twisted, the disjointed, and the misshapen. I will realign government and culture through my power, erupting in My Ekklesia volcanic-like hubs. I will press, I will push, I will pull. I will realign as my Ekklesias activate governing decrees. I am activating angels of alignment to assist the supernatural alignment of regions, states, and nations. Angels of alignment are partnering with the prayers of My Ekklesia to accomplish the order of King Jesus. They are moving in unseen ways, to bring forth in seen ways, realignment with proper purpose, realignment with what I say, realignment with My kingdom’s government and My ways.

“‘For the set time has come for the generation of young reformers to align with remnant reformers of all generations, to reform my purpose and revive My works. Reformers are being formed. Reformers are rising in Holy Spirit power to declare realignment. This will erupt suddenly. I will validate it with explosive energy flowing through the generations of My Ekklesia. There will now come a functioning church in the midst of the disfunction. Multiplied grace is being poured upon it. Bound, twisted souls will unwind. Bound, misshaped hearts will be reshaped, reborn, freed. Twisted destiny will be reformed and aligned with My purpose. Hearts bound in disillusion will awaken and beat with meaning. The blind and the aimless will see with focused vision clear pathways before them. They will be liberated from hell’s bondage as the revival of ingathering now leaps into being.

“‘For the synergized generations, in sync with angel armies, will be soaked in the fresh rains of heaven and will leap forward into great revival. It will accelerate in power, passion, and purity. I will validate it with signs, wonders, and miracles. Notable miracles will leap into your families. Transformation will leap into prodigals. Notable miracles are leaping into your regions. The revival in the womb of My kingdom will leap into being. It’s leaping from those who have been in travail. Leap into your future. Forerunners, run! Run through the doors of opening and into the new era I have planned. Run to align your region with My Word. Generations, run into the outpourings of heaven.

“‘For I am transforming and realigning the territorial domain of My Ekklesia hubs into opportunity zones of My kingdom. The name of their cities in their natural realms will be superseded by a new spirit name of My kingdom’s definition. Deliverance city. Healing city. Miracle city. Resource city. Restoration city. Grace city. Glory city. Mercy city. Revelation city. Resurrection city. Joy city. Compassion city. Wisdom city. Hope city. Redefinition will come to regions rooted with My Ekklesias and I will realign their territories to my defining purpose. I will bring a new identity and great blessings to the regions. The grace on my Ekklesia will now accelerate and it will validate that My kingdom is among them. My rule protects them and My power sustains them. My presence fills them and My glory surrounds them. Those who rule with Me will see their regions realign. They will participate in supernatural realignments that I have planned.’”

Tim says, “Holy Spirit is resetting our way of thinking. We need to think with an authoritative, ruling, reigning, and governmental mindset. He wants us to think spiritually minded thoughts, functioning with wisdom in a natural world.

“While our emphasis is on the nation’s realignment with our God, perhaps you need realignment in your own life today. This word also pertains to you. Souls that are bound and twisted with the lies of the enemy will unwind. Misshaped hearts will be reshaped, reborn, and freed. Twisted destiny will be reformed and aligned with His purpose. Hearts that are bound in disillusionment will awaken and beat with meaning. You will have a focused vision and clear pathways before you. You will see signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.”
https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-21-2021

Break the Power of the Wicked and Uphold the Righteous

Righteous God,

You are our salvation and stronghold, our deliverer and refuge.  Today we pray that you will break the power of the wicked around us.  Destroy wrongdoers and their ideological offspring; destroy the future of sinners and the corrupt.  Uphold the righteous by your merciful hand and do not forsake your faithful ones.  We pray in the powerful name of Christ, Amen!

"Do not fret because of those who are evil

    or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,

    like green plants they will soon die away.

    for those who are evil will be destroyed,

    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

The wicked plot against the righteous

    and gnash their teeth at them;

but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

    for he knows their day is coming.   

The wicked draw the sword

    and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

    to slay those whose ways are upright.

But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

    and their bows will be broken.

The power of the wicked will be broken,

    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

the wicked will perish:

    They will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;

    the offspring of the wicked will perish.

The Lord will not leave [the righteous] in the power of the wicked.

Sinners will be destroyed;

    there will be no future for the wicked.

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;

    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

The Lord helps them and delivers them;

    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

    because they take refuge in him.

Turn from evil and do good;

    then you will dwell in the land forever.

For the Lord loves the just

    and will not forsake his faithful ones.

The righteous will inherit the land

    and dwell in it forever.

Hope in the Lord

    and keep his way.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

    a future awaits those who seek peace.

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,

    and their inheritance will endure forever.

In times of disaster they will not wither;

    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

The Lord makes firm the steps

    of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,

    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

    or their children begging bread.

"Trust in the Lord and do good;

    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,

    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

    trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord

    and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

The power of the wicked will be broken,

    but the Lord upholds the righteous."

(adapted from Psalm 37 NIV)

April 17, 2021 Prayer - Praise and Protection

 Sovereign Lord,

Who are we, Sovereign Lord, and what are our families, that you have brought us this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of your servants - mere humans! For the sake of your word and according to our will, you have done great things.  How great you are, Sovereign Lord!  There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.  You have established your people as your very own forever and you have become their God.  Sovereign Lord, you are God!  Your covenant is trustworthy and you have promised good things to your servants.  Now be pleased to bless the houses of your servants that they may continue forever in your sight.  Contend, Lord, with those who contend with us; fight against those who fight against us.  Take up shield and armor; arise and come to the aid of your servants and families. May those who seek our lives - physically, mentally, emotionally, or our societal systems, livelihoods, and relationships - be disgraced and put to shame.  May those who plot the ruin of your children be turned back in dismay. May their path be dark and slippery with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.  May all who exalt themselves over your children be clothed with shame and disgrace.  May we who delight in our vindication in your eyes shout for joy and gladness, always saying, "The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servants."  Our tongues will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.   Your Love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep.  With you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.  Continue your love to those who know you, continue your righteousness to the upright in heart, your servants and families.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen. 

adapted from 2 Samuel 7:18-24, 28-29 NIV, Psalm 35:1-6 & 26-28 NIV, Psalm 36:5-7, 10 NIV

April 15, 2021 Prayer - Mountain-Moving God

 Mountain-Moving God,

Your voice roars to the ends of the earth, thundering and resounding as you hold nothing back. You work in marvelous ways and do great things beyond our understanding. Our hearts are grieved because much of this world doesn’t live according to the commandments to love you and love each other.  And much of the world is enslaved to the forces of evl as the enemy of our souls seeks to kill, steal, and destroy.  Yet we know that you desire to give all those you love the abundant life lived in relationship with you through the work of Christ Jesus.  Thank you that your plans stand forever; there is no wisdom, insight or plot that can succeed against your purposes throughout this generation and generations to come.  Thank you for your invitation to each of us to become your children and to glorify you by serving your good Kingdom purposes here on Earth.  Thank you for filling us with Holy Spirit to help us do what you call us to do, and thank you for the gift of prayer, in which we can hear your voice and your plans for our lives. 

Help us to live in a humble posture of prayer, obsessively abiding in Jesus, so we can know what you say about the world around us. Keep our hearts pure as we pray, research, and influence this world for your Kingdom.  Help us be salt and light, boldly sharing your Love and Good News, even as we move forward in faith. Forgive us for our cowardice, meekness, and fear when we have not boldly proclaimed the Good News of Great Joy that you are for this world.  

Go before us to level the wickedness in the “Mountains of Culture.”  Impel your people to boldly step into the culture in the realms of arts & entertainment, business, the Church, education, families, government, and media & social media.  In Jesus’s name we pray that you will break the power of the wicked in those mountains.  Uphold, protect, and bless your people as they work to change the culture of each mountain from evil to Righteousness. Cause revival and reformation to fall on those places of darkness and evil, wickedness and corruption.  Provoke your Word-and-Spirit Jesus-followers to invade places of darkness and spread the Light of your Truth, Wisdom, and Righteousness into those places.  Give us courage to pray in faith for miracles in this culture.  Help us to prayerfully, lovingly, gracefully, and intentionally change these societal mountains of influence so that they are filled with your Righteousness, Truth, Salvation, Wealth, Health, Justice, and Sound Minds.  Help us to “ROAR” in faith; may your Revival, Outpouring, Awakening, and Reformation be poured out in this nation, causing the hearts of men, women, and children to be tuned into your heart. 

We boldly come before you asking for miracles in this day.  We pray in Jesus’s name that you will free your Church from the demonic spirit of fear she has been under and give her boldness and courage to stand firmly on the Word of God.   We pray in Jesus’s name that you will cause the lukewarm Church leaders and congregants to repent and to move in faith to fulfill Jesus’s call to and go and make Word-and-Spirit Jesus-followers.   We pray in Jesus’s name that you will stop the momentum of the enemy and confuse and divide the demonic voices in our society so they cannot work together for evil.  And we pray in Jesus’s name that you will cause Word-and-Spirit Christians to stay in this fight as empowered warriors, believing you, and refusing to yield one iota of faith to doubt and unbelief.  

Thank you that you are at the head of your army, that your forces are beyond number, and that the army that obeys your command is mighty.   Thank you that, even when we face battles and earthy or spiritual foes, when we put our trust in you, you say we will endure.   Even when we are engaged in the battles of this life, remind us that our power comes from you.  When we feel hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, remind us that we are not crushed, in despair, abandoned or destroyed because you, our Lord and God, are with us.  May you, our fountain of hope, fill us to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as we trust in you. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround our lives and the life of this nation with your super-abundance until we radiate with hope and the mountains are turned to righteousness! In the strong name of Christ we pray, AMEN and AMEN!!

“Listen! Listen to the roar of [God’s] voice,

    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven

    and sends it to the ends of the earth.

After that comes the sound of his roar;

    he thunders with his majestic voice.

When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;

    he does great things beyond our understanding.” (Job 37:2-5 NIV)

“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:30 NIV).

“The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:10-11 NIV)

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22: 37-39 NKJV)

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)

“The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command.” (Joel 2:11 NIV)

“Put your trust in the Lord your God and you will endure.” (2 Chronicles 20:20 NASB)

“I will go before you and level the mountains.” (Isaiah 45:2 NRSV) 

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31 NASB)

““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 NASB)

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart... But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:1, 7-9 NIV) 

“The power of the wicked will be broken,

    but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:17 NIV)

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your old men will dream dreams,

    your young men will see visions.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29 NIV)

“Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!” (Romans 15:13 TPT)