Have You Prayed for your Country Today? 8

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19,20; New King James Version

What are you doing to turn this country from its sinful ways? Are you confessing your sins, asking others to pray for you? Do you challenge those believers who are sinning with love and compassion, and pray for them?

There are plenty of people in the world who not only disbelieve the existence of a god, but they also deny Him. Others believe, but also believe they are “not good enough” or they simply refuse to humble themselves. These people need all of us to help them correct their “stinking thinking” so they too, may walk with the Lord.

No one can buy, borrow or steal their way into heaven. We can only beg. We must choose to beg. And the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ will give His grace to the humble. Then, while in faith and with the power of the Holy Spirit, we will repent and bear fruit.

Continue to pray for our neighbors, our politicians, and our land. Confront one another when we fall short, encourage one another, and love one another. God’s will be done.

© 2009 David Etenburn.

Have You Prayed for your Country Today? 7

"Go and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. Isaiah 38:5; New King James Version.

King Hezekiah was just told by the Lord he was to die and not recover from a serious illness. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, humbling himself and the Lord rewarded Hezekiah with healing.

This is an example of the Lord’s mercy. Today, it appears that the world is doomed, the rise of the anti-christ is near, and the only thing we have to live for is to patiently wait for our Lord to return.

These are without a doubt the most troubling times the world has ever seen, and we, who have read God’s word, know they will get much worse. But I also see evidence that God is being merciful to those that honor Him.

Dubai, with all of its oil wealth, is having a serious cash flow crisis, which could topple it. The Greek economy is on the verge of collapse and could take the Euro with it. South Africa’s woes are just beginning. Zimbabwe has a currency that requires 10,000,000,000 to one US dollar…we can’t even buy paper napkins that cheap! And Somalia doesn’t even have a functioning government anymore.  Good heavens, we're doomed!

But wait. Through all of this, it appears in spite of all the debt America owes to the rest of the world, the very IOUs America owes to the world are not being called in as would be expected, and they should be. The value of the dollar continues to fall, but nowhere on the verge of collapse…for the moment.  In fact, it appears the rest of the world is starting to place their faith and trust in the dollar again!  If so, we could see commodity prices fall, interest rates remain low, and the economy recover beyond anything we could have imagined!  This would clearly be the hand of God on us all.

The Lord may be merciful, but He is also just. During this holiday season; from Thanksgiving through Chanukah and Christmas; give praises to the Lord for His mercy on us. Pray for and give to those in need. We may know our fate, but we don’t know when it will happen. We still have the Lord’s ear, and His mercy. We too can get a delay in the Lord’s execution.

© 2009 David Etenburn.

Have You Prayed for your Country Today? 6

Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them. Jeremiah 15:19, New King James

Feeling discouraged? The enemy is closing in on all that you have loved and appreciated about America, and you feel helpless to stop it. That was Jeremiah, just before Jerusalem was to be conquered in 605BC.

God continued to send out Jeremiah to ask the people to repent, but the majority of them chose to go their own way, including their leaders. But God gave Jeremiah these words and more, encouraging him to serve God, not his peers.

Note Jeremiah 15:20,21 below:

And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall;

And they will fight against you,

But they shall not prevail against you;

For I am with you to save you

And deliver you," says the LORD.

"I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,

And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible."

I’d say that’s a fair reward for sticking up for God! God has our front in this battle as well as our rear. Follow the Lord, not your worldly peers. Let them follow you, so you may lead them to the Lord.

Pray for all Americans: followers of the Lord, that they may remain strong, and for the Lord’s protection over them. Pray for the unrepentant that they may turn from their wicked ways and join us in Christ. Finally, pray for the persecuted Christians around the world, who need God’s blessings most of all.

© 2009 David Etenburn.