“The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.” Psalm 103:6

…thank you, Lord, that your Word doesn’t return unto you void but accomplishes the thing for which you sent it…

We believe in the almighty, supernatural power that is God’s…

We believe that He can succeed for us “against all odds.”

We know that He’s instructed us to use His powerful Word–

that it can change those things that have adversely occurred.

Jesus gave us kingdom authority over all the enemy’s power…

So we take authority and plant the Word, for righteousness to flower.

Many wrongs have been occurring over our beloved U.S.A.,

but we use the sword of the Spirit against them continually after we pray.

P. A. Oltrogge

(“…faith without works is dead,” from James 2:20–A minister has shared that affirming the Word of God by saying it IS doing a “work”). Jesus said, “It is written” and quoted the Word.

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  Luke 10:19

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….” Ephesians 6:14-18

“He guards the paths of justice. And preserves the way of His saints.” Proverbs 2:8

“It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.” Proverbs 21:15

“There is no (human) wisdom or understanding or counsel (that can prevail) against the Lord.”  Proverbs 21:30 AMP

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all.” Proverbs 28:5

“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness.” Psalm 31:1

“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12 (and all of Psalm 33)

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

.,,Scriptures: NKJV or as noted

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Remember ever, and always, that your country was founded…by the stern, old Puritans who made the deck of the Mayflower an altar of the living God, and whose first act on touching the soil of the new world was to offer on bended knees thanksgiving to Almighty God. Henry Wilson, 18th U.S. Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant

God would graciously pour out His Holy Spirit on us to bring us to a thorough Repentance and effectual Reformation that our iniquities may not be our ruin; that He would restore, preserve and secure the Liberties of this and all the other British American colonies, and make the Land a mountain of Holiness, and Habitation of Righteousness forever. Jonathan Trumball, American Poet

While we give praise to God, the supreme disposer of all events, for His interposition on our behalf, let us guard against the dangerous error of trusting in, or boasting of, an arm of flesh….If your case is just, if your principles are pure, and if your conduct is prudent, you need not fear the multitude of opposing hosts. John Witherspoon, A Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Never forget, Americans, that yours is a spiritual country. Yes, I know you’re a practical people. Like others, I’ve marvelled at your factories, your skyscrapers, and your arsenals. But underlying everything else is the fact that America began as a God-loving, God-fearing, God-worshipping people. General Romulo, General of the Philippines

Direct my thought, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit… Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ. George Washington, 1st U.S. President

Remember that God is our only sure trust. Mary Washington, George Washington’s Mother

If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear up temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and the love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity. Daniel Webster, American Politician

Oh, Lord, Thou hast told us how to pray. Help us to shut the door, shutting out the world, and the enemy and any fear or doubt which spoils prayer. May there be no distance between our souls and Thee. John Wanamaker, American Merchant and U.S. Postmaster General from 1889-93

There are a good many problems before the American people today, and before me as President, but I expect to find the solution to those problems just in the proportion that I am faithful in the study of the Word of God. Woodrow Wilson, 28th U,S. President

We all can pray. We all should pray. We should ask the fulfillment of God’s will. We should ask for courage, wisdom, for the quietness of soul which comes alone to them who place their lives in His hands. Harry Truman, 33rd U.S. President

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Quotations from “Pray for Our Nation,”
available at:  www.faithandflame.com

On this Mother’s Day, Mary’s life came to mind as an example of trusting in God, as she learned of being chosen by Him to give birth to His Son, Jesus, Lord of all….

Mary changed the course of this entire earth,
by accepting God’s plan for the virgin birth.
Her agreement with the angel’s words affirmed God’s will,
and the words that she spoke are often quoted still.
She declared herself to be God’s handmaid or servant;
in her, the Lord had found a heart that was fervent.
She had faith the Lord loved her and all of mankind;
she trusted in God’s heart and not her own mind.
She was just a young woman of a tender age,
but she stepped out in faith onto the world’s center stage.
Though startled at first by the angelic visitation,
her faith in God was strong enough to take up her station.
Likewise, it’s wise today to ask the Lord to help us find
the plans and purposes for our lives that He has in mind.
By doing so, we ensure that we’re on His sure quest,
for our loving Designer knows which plans are the best.
Jesus called His disciples to leave earthly pursuits
to follow Him and put down strong spiritual roots.
What He has for our lives can be discerned by His Word;
and through the power of the Holy Spirit, He also can be heard.
The more that we listen to Him, the more we obey,
the brighter the dawn grows to the full day.

P. A. Oltrogge

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” Proverbs 4:18 NASB

“And in the sixth month, the angel, Gabriel, was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.’ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’ Then said Mary unto the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’ And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:26-38 KJV

(Later, at a visit to Elisabeth, her cousin)

“And Mary said:

‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.’” Luke 1:46-55 NKJV

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

“If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:22-27

To assist orphans and widows in Ukraine, another shipment of food and supplies is being planned to go into difficult to reach places in Ukraine in just three days via:

http://www.jerusalemprayerteam.org

“Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….” Ephesians 6:10-18

Remember that we are able to quench all of the wicked one’s fiery darts…with the sword of the Spirit upon our lips and by the shield of faith that’s alive in our hearts.

God’s Word is preeminent and as powerful as He has declared it to be. Therefore, I can “say unto this mountain,” be removed…and be cast into the sea!

P. A. Oltrogge

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:23-25

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:12-15

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

“Then said the Lord unto me, ‘Thou hast well seen; For I will hasten my word to perform it.’” Jeremiah 1:12 KJV

“‘No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the Lord’s servants. Their victory comes from Me,’ declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17 GW 

“Surely he (Jesus) took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10

Scriptures NKJV or as noted

Aware of the many concerns for the United States of America, we’ve been praying and will persevere with praise to and faith and hope in God. As someone recently shared, “I don’t just believe in miracles–I count on them!”

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“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” 

I’m so glad to have been born in the wonderful United States–a country from which came so very many “greats.”

Inventors, teachers, ministers, and those of every profession, found in this blessed country great freedom of expression.

Great national leaders were strategic in guiding the nation, and military “greats” led in many a wartime situation.

And diligent mothers and fathers, who were never well-known, supported the lives of young Americans until they were grown.

Great farmers have cultivated bountiful crops in America’s fertile soil, while many people have been blessed by their important toil.

And with scenic lands of “fruited plains” to mountains very high…the United States is blessed with beauty from rivers to the sky.

But what has made it greatest has been its foundation in the Lord…and our fervent prayer is that its faith in Him will be fully restored.

May all of America find in the Bible its truth that sets men free…Jesus Christ is our needed Savior and Lord…and true source of liberty!

P. A. Oltrogge

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 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.” words of Jesus in John 10:10 NKJV

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint…” Luke 18:1 KJV

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” John 8:31-32 NKJV

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 NKJV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” spoken by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 KJV

“This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.” 1 John 3:23 NKJV

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
NASB

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12 NKJV

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” …From the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee…
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Info on prayer today:
http://www.emic.org
http://www.kcm.org
http://www.govictory.org

The following are shared by Kim Potter, A New Thing Ministries, and by Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries.

by Kim Potter:

Recently, I was reading through the Psalms when I came across a familiar passage. I have read it hundreds of times I am sure, but that day, I was overwhelmed by the benefits that belong to someone who reads and obeys God’s Word. Let me share that Psalm with you today. 

Psalm 112:1-8 says, Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely, he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

Now, let’s look at the benefits of those who fear God and obey His Word.

Our descendants will be mighty upon the earth.

Our generation will be blessed and empowered to prosper.

Our homes will be filled with riches and wealth.

When darkness attempts to overcome us, God’s light will shine brightly for us.

WE WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN.

We will have an everlasting remembrance.

We will not be afraid of evil tidings or any evil news reports in our land.

Our heart will remain steady and always trusting God, no matter what.

Our heart will be established on God and His Word, and we will have no fear.

God will fight our battles and take care of all our enemies.

Oh, my goodness. The benefits of reading, and obeying God’s Word are incredible, don’t you think? These are the promises to you and I as we spend time in the Word of God and chose to obey and honor it.

The key is no one else can do this for us. It is something we must do for ourselves. We can’t have someone pray these blessings over us – they come only through our actions. If we choose to stay in God’s Word, and obey it, these blessings will be our reward. But we must choose to do what the Bible says. 

Another thing I want to point out is this. This Psalm begins with three powerful words.

Praise the Lord.

We must praise the Lord even before we see these promises manifest in our life. We praise Him for what He has declared over us because He is a good and faithful God and He does not and cannot lie.

My friend, I am not saying you must spend hours in the Bible each day, most people cannot do that. I am saying you must make God’s Word a priority and choose to obey His Word. Even if you take one scripture a week and meditate on it – you are getting the Word of God inside of you – and it will be life-changing. 

Mediate on the Word of God, do what it says, and you will make your way prosperous and have good success. That is your promise along with all these other benefits. Isn’t that amazing! And so worth the effort. 

Today, decide to mediate on God’s Word – get it deep inside your mind and heart, then, declare His promises over you and your family! Amen!

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by Gloria Copeland:

“And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.” Luke 12:42-44 KJV

We often praise God for His faithfulness. We’re thankful that we can always count on Him to be there for us. But we rarely consider the fact that He needs us to be faithful too.

It’s true. God needs people He can count on. He needs faithful and wise stewards He can trust over His household. In this final hour, He needs faithful believers to team up with, so He can manifest Himself in the earth more than ever before.

“Oh Gloria, God doesn’t need me!”

Yes, He does. Ever since the Creation, when He gave man dominion over the earth, He’s needed people to work with Him to get His will done here. You can see that all through the Bible. When the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt and He wanted to lead them out, He teamed up with a man, Moses, to get the job done. Moses’ responsibility was to stretch out his hand in the earth and command the will of God to be done.

Why did He choose Moses? Because He needed someone who was faithful and would dare to act on His Word. He needed someone He could count on, and He knew Moses was that kind of man.

Psalm 103:7 says, “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” If Moses hadn’t been faithful to know God’s ways, the children of Israel would never have seen God’s acts!

God needs you just as He needed Moses. He needs you to be faithful and alert to spiritual things. He needs you to be someone He can trust to know His Word and be obedient to it. He needs you to be a steward who will stretch out his hand like Moses did so that He can perform signs and wonders before the people.

Will you be faithful? It’s a decision you have to make. No one can do it for you. Right now, commit yourself to be that wise and faithful servant. Say in your heart and with your mouth, “God, You can count on me.”

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http://www.anewthingministries.com
http://www.kcm.org
http://www.givehim15.com

In preparation for tomorrow’s National Day of Prayer, you may want to visit the website of Dutch Sheets…and regarding concerns about which to pray for the United States, see the prayer points at the Copeland ministry blog and the recent interview with President Trump by Gene Bailey (May 2nd programming):

http://www.govictory.com/flashpoint

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down,

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.

With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.

Ein Gedi Oasis, Israel
Photo/Unsplash

Either before or after reading the poetic thoughts expressed here, you can be blessed to view the story of Pastor Mark Wallace’s healing from covid, in 2020, (the beginning of that pandemic), as well as hearing of other personal encounters he’s experienced as he’s walked with God over the years. He goes on to encourage the viewers of how God wants to lead and guide any believer in Christ regarding their life and destiny within His kingdom now. It can be viewed at: http://www.sidroth.org

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Yes, Christians, in every walk of life, are working to persuade…that “the way” to eternal life for every person has been made.

Because of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection–through Him, our Father God sees any believer in perfection.

And you don’t have to take one Christian’s word alone, for there’ve been many testimonies that conclusively have shown…

that Jesus is alive–His Father is still giving time to decide, to accept His invitation, which is going out worldwide,

to be a part of His kingdom through Jesus, His spotless Lamb–an invitation very graciously extended by the great “I AM.”

Please respond as soon as you can–one thing unknown is the exact date, of when things will come to a close, so it’s very wise not to wait.

There are really just two kingdoms, one of darkness and one of light. Come into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, the only choice that’s right.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6 NKJV

“Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.” 2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 NIV

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John 5:11 NIV

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 NIV

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:36-37 NKJV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 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

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Perhaps you’ve experienced difficult things/disappointments, as we all have at times. May we encourage one another to persevere in believing…

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14 (NASB, Ryrie Study Bible)

Photo: “Little Heaven”
Unsplash

You may have already seen the following if you visit http://www.ifapray.org, but as they suggested to share it, I’ve reprinted it on this blog. You may want to visit the author’s blog for detailed information on other topics….

Lord Jesus, the radar of this world shows constant storms and hurricanes. Certainly, we can prepare our homes, but more importantly, help us prepare our hearts. Give us shelter and peace in your strong arms.

Living in Florida my whole life, I’ve seen my share of storms and hurricanes. By now, I should be used to it. Nevertheless, each time I spy a new one on the radar, a wave of anxiety stirs up within me. What do I worry about? Oh, the usual things–my house, roof, pets, cars, losing power, no air conditioning, downed trees, flooding, and whatever else pops into my head. God has carried me through many rough storms, so why do I fret each time I hear the words hurricane and Florida mentioned together in a sentence?

The Lord is certainly gracious—even with my doubts, He provides encouragement as the eye of the storm is bearing down. When Hurricane Ian began making its way toward Orlando, I had no idea the Lord would use something so small to teach me something really big.

The Little Fig Tree that Could

A few days before the storm arrived, my husband pointed out a juicy fig that had formed on the very top of our fig tree. Noticing it wasn’t ripe, he suggested leaving it on the tree for a week or two. As Hurricane Ian approached Orlando on September 28, 2022, I started thinking about the fig tree and wondered if it would be damaged by the high winds of the storm. The thought crossed my mind that I should go and pick that little fig at the top of the tree before the storm barreled through. But as I made my way toward the tree something stopped me in my tracks. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit whispered, “The little fig will hold on during the storm.” The Holy Spirit’s message reminded me of the story called the The Little Engine that Could. I decided to take a picture of the fig on the tree before the hurricane. If the fig was still there after it passed, I would take another photo as a reminder of the message.

Before the storm hit, I also placed a printed copy of Psalm 91 on the back porch, which was close to the fig tree and several other trees in the backyard. This is my favorite psalm of protection and I figured it was a great reminder that no matter what happened, God’s mighty wings would surround my home.

The storm hit early in the evening and right away I could see gusts of wind battering the fig tree. Hours and hours went by as the tallest branch with the fig dangling from it endured powerful gusts and constant pounding rain. But through it all, that little fig kept hanging on. By 4 a.m. the winds were intensifying and I thought, “Surely this is the end for the little fig.” At that point, however, I couldn’t see through the hammering rain. I decided to go to sleep.

When I woke up three hours later, the winds were still howling, but had slowed down. From the back sliding door, I had a clear view of the fig tree. And guess what? The little fig was still holding on. I couldn’t believe it!

As I walked out to the back porch, I noticed the printed copy of Psalm 91 I had placed there before the storm. It was wet and torn, but still readable.

In that moment I knew the Lord had taught me something quite valuable and it was no coincidence that the Holy Spirit urged me to pay attention to the that little fig, as well as print out the copy of Psalm 91.

What I learned through this experience will change the way I view disasters and difficult situations in my life. Firstly, seeing that little fig being battered by the winds and rain reminded me of how life can be full of storms and hurricanes. Some days, it seems we cannot bear what we are dealing with, whether it be a situation with a family member, or the never-ending fight for our nation and its core values. A one hundred mile-per-hour gust hits us in the face, nearly knocking us to the ground. Through it all, the Lord reminds us to be like the little fig that braced itself to the tree. In the same way, we must brace ourselves when our lives and the world become turbulent. The word brace means to get ready for something which could be difficult or unpleasant by providing added physical support or strength. Middle English describes brace as clasping or fastening tightly. In French, however, the word brace comes from bracier, which means to embrace. This word derives from braciere, which refers to a lining of armor that protects the arm. But even more telling is that in Latin, the word brace is related to bracchia, which means arm.

Before the storm was on the weather radar, the Holy Spirit brought the story of the Exodus to mind. After studying the Ten Plagues, as well as God’s amazing rescue of the Israelites in Egypt, there was an important phrase I noticed that was repeated within the text: I will redeem you with an outstretched arm (Exodus 6:6).  Throughout this story of deliverance, the Lord’s powerful outstretched arm or hand was used to show that God was in complete control and it was HE who would do the saving.

The human arm is often used in scripture to show spiritual power and strength. Yet the source of strength is not in human power, but in Almighty God. There are more than 40 verses that attest to God’s powerful arm. This is revealed beautifully in Isaiah 53, where Jesus is described as the suffering Messiah who would die on the cross. It begins: And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed…he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,  and with his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:1,5). These verses show that God bears His arm by delivering us through his Son Jesus. He not only bears our punishment, but he also takes on the storms that attempt to wreak havoc in our life.

The little fig held on despite the powerful blasts of wind–despite the stinging rain. It held on tightly to the branch at the top of the fig tree. Likewise, Jesus is referred to as the Righteous Branch. We can brace ourselves to Him.

Behold, the Lord God comes with might,  and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him…He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom (Isaiah 40:10-11).

In these difficult times, the Lord will carry us. His ARM is mighty to save. The battered and torn copy of Psalm 91 that lay on my porch after the storm attests to this and even reminds us to hold fast (brace ourselves) to Jesus.

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation (Psalm 91:14-16).

Hurricane Ian brought widespread flooding and severe damage to homes, cars, and buildings. Additionally, many of us were without electrical power during the storm, but with Jesus to hold on to, we weren’t truly powerless. Like “the little fig that could,” we had to hold on tight and ride out the storm. Afterward, we must press on all the more, relying on Jesus to provide what is needed to thrive and survive.

A few days after the storm my son found a beautiful cockatiel outside on the branch of a tree. Likely, he was someone’s lost pet. Perhaps he accidentally flew away before or after the storm. My son gently picked him up and gave him safe shelter inside the house. Exhausted, thirsty, and hungry, the bird eagerly received the food and water my son gave him.

The bird that needed rescue reminded me of Psalm 91:4. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. Then verse 5 says, you will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day. In this dark world of storms, pandemics, and lawless governments, we can rest assured that the strong arm and hand of the Lord is fastened tightly to us, providing nourishment and safe shelter. Interestingly enough, the last word in Psalm 91 is salvation. This is quite revealing because Jesus’ name means salvation.

Yes, the world is out of control, but He is not. The arms of Jesus are perfectly stable and able to SAVE. In disasters, floods, and everyday tribulations, be the “little fig that could” and stand firm with Him.

Prayer Point: Lord, we know the storms and hurricanes of life wear us down with torrents of wind and rain. But even in the flood, you will reach out with your mighty hand so we can take hold of it and be pulled to safety. We trust your sovereignty over all situations.

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Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and homeschooling Mom who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. Her latest book, Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus, was released in June 2021. Photo Credit: Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash.