Dec 23, 2021 – Prayer Focus
Thursday, December 23, 2021 – The 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call
“A CALL TO THE WALL…ONE NATION UNDER GOD”
1-712-770-4340 Code: 543555 # (Ongoing call…24 hours a day!)
We begin our hour by praising and giving thanks to God!
“She brought forth her firstborn Son,
and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger.”
Luke 2:7
We sing: Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love You, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky, and stay by my cradle until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask You to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Your tender care, and lead us to heaven, to live with You there.
~~~
The key assignment for the 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call is to intercede hourly
for the safety and security of our duly elected President, Donald John Trump,
and to pray for that which pertains to our nation!
We pray for his protection, for our First Lady, Melania, and their marriage
and for all the members of their family.
We cover them all with the Blood of Jesus.
We ask that in every situation and decision, President Trump will be led by the Holy Spirit!
May he hear the truth about the “vaccines” and act accordingly, leading our people out of darkness.
Pray.
We pray for Governor Ron De Santis’ wife and Florida’s First Lady, Casey DeSantis,
who has been diagnosed with breast cancer! We ask for her complete healing and full restoration!
Pray.
For protection, provision, and peace for Professor / Patriot David Clements and his family!
Pray.
That God will “make a way, where there seems to be no way”
for Pastor Ioan and David to return to the United States!
Pray.
Strategic Focus for Thursday
WELCOME THE KING OF GLORY INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
The Restoration of the American Republic – Part 43
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:1-7
Take a moment to reflect on the passage we just read, then offer individual prayers of thanksgiving!
At some point in childhood, many of our children (and perhaps we, ourselves, donned shawls, headdresses, and fake beards to act out the “nativity scene” in front of doting parents and grandparents. Whether performed live in the sanctuaries of congregations or at school or set up as little figurines in a home creche or as a life-size tableau in front of a church, these scenes are reflective of the Christmas holidays. Today we thank God for all the children’s lives (including our own), that have been and are being impacted by this experience.
We pray::
- For all those little ones who innocently step into the roles “Mary”, “Joseph”, “shepherds, sheep, angels, twinkling stars, and wise men”. May each of their lives be deeply impacted by this role-playing, and let it be a stepping stone into their future relationship with the Lord, as their Savior and Redeemer! Pray.
*** Invite people to share their personal experiences in similar role-playing when they were children!
It was St. Francis of Assisi who staged the first “nativity scene” in 1223…almost a thousand years ago!
We have a historical account of Francis’ nativity scene in the book: The Life of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan monk who was born five years before Francis’ death.
According to Bonaventure’s biography, St. Francis got permission from Pope Honorious III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals – an ox and an ass – in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio. He then invited the villagers to come gaze upon the scene while he preached. It is said that Francis was so overcome by emotion, that he called the infant, Jesus, “the babe of Bethlehem.”
We pray:
- Thank God for those heroes of the faith who were inspired to do creative things that would draw the attention of people to the real REASON FOR THE SEASON…the arrival of the Promised Redeemer! Pray.
The nativity scene’s popularity took off from there, and within a couple of centuries, spread throughout Europe. The “familiar cast of characters” — three wise men and shepherds — arriving at the Nativity scene is not biblically accurate. Of the New Testament’s four gospels, only Matthew and Luke describe Jesus’ birth.
- Matthew mentions wise men, while Luke comments on shepherds. But nowhere in the Bible do shepherds and wise men appear together.
- What’s worse, no one mentions oxen, cattle, or other farmyard friends in conjunction with Jesus’ birth.
Luckily for the children cast as King #2 or as a “random shepherd”, artistic license is allowed.
Today, we look at a true historical part of the nativity scene: the “manger”…the place in which the newborn infant, Jesus, was laid. Mangers are open troughs from which animals feed. In ancient Israel, they were made of stone, not the wood that we see in modern-day nativity scenes. They were certainly not what you’d call “comfortable”, but they provided great protection.
Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, was FAMOUS for its UNBLEMISHED LAMBS. The manger’s strength and ability to afford the protection the newborn lands needed was why the Jewish priests would put the lambs in them. And…those were not just any lambs, but the unblemished, perfect lambs that were used in Temple sacrifice. Pray.
These flawless lambs were gently wrapped up tightly in cloths and laid in the manger, to keep them safe. A parallel is found in Jesus’ birth story.
“She brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger.”
Luke 2:7
Pray.
The only time “manger” is mentioned in scripture is when the angel came and spoke to the shepherds.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:10-12
Pray.
The shepherds would have understood this powerful parallel!
They KNEW what the cloth and the manger meant! This baby would be THE PERFECT LAMB OF GOD!
“They came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. “
Luke 2:16
Pray.
The Messiah, who would sacrifice His life for the sins of the whole world, wasn’t just a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. He was GOD: perfect, sinless and holy, humbling Himself to become the perfect sacrifice to reconcile us back to Himself!!
That Perfect Lamb is the Reason we celebrate Christmas! It’s all about HIM!
Pray.
We pray:
- That as we see Christmas plays this year, we will help the little ones involved in the role-playing to understand what an honor it is to recreate the story of such a Holy Night! Pray.
- That we will retell the story of Christ’s birth with our families, reminding them that the greatest GIFT of all is Jesus…and because of Him, we give one other gifts on His birthday! Pray.
- As the Spirit touches our hearts throughout this week, we will release the LOVE of GOD over this nation, and together, experience His HABITATION in our midst! Pray.
- We release the LOVE OF GOD to overwhelm those faux leaders, including Biden, Harris, Pelosi, Schumer, Fauci, and all who are now children of darkness. Let them respond to His grace, and be saved…or let them be removed, so they can do our nation no more harm! Pray.
- For an “appointed place” and an “appointed time” for our meeting with President Trump! Pray.
(Resource: Smithsonian Magazine)
~~~
HINENI, ADONAI! HERE I AM, LORD!
ENGAGING IN A WARFARE OF LOVE! THE BATTLE OF THE BRIDE!
KADIMA! ONWARD…FORWARD!
“LAYNA!” LIGHT AND TRUTH!
BE STRONG…COURAGEOUS…BRAVE!
UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!
GOD’S CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE!
MARANATHA! COME, LORD JESUS!
BE READY! REVIVAL IS COMING!
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
ONE NEW MAN!
VICTORY!
STANDING IN THE GAP!
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